It is the first time in the event's 26-year history that a marquee has been put up in Alexandra Park - and it may prove a wise move by Round Table organisers with showers forecast over the next few days.

Tim Pilbeam, of the festival's organisation team, said: "It has cost a lot of money for the marquee but the whole concept behind it is that we can put the event on and it doesn't matter what the weather is like.

"Plus it adds hugely to the atmosphere with music and bars under one roof. It will be a fabulous, fun weekend with lots of sideshows too, and of course the big objective is to raise money for local charities."

Thousands of revellers are expected to flock to this year's festival, following a wash-out and poor ticket sales in 2007.

Tonight's line-up starts at 6.30pm with music from Dave Paul, Simon Shaw and Bear followed by Phil Hudson and Which Blair Project.

More local acts will be performing tomorrow afternoon during a family session between noon and 5pm.

Tomorrow night's music will be courtesy of Pugwash, Slam - featuring David Blackman from the 1970s band The Teenbeats - and Buick 6.

Throughout the festival, visitors will be able to try their hand at an array of side shows and a variety of food will be on offer, including fish and chips, burgers, paella and fish rolls.

Some 100 different types of beer will be on sale and 130 barrels of real ale - each containing 72 pints - as well as lager and cider will provide festival-goers with liquid refreshment.

Inspector Dave Gill, of Hastings Police, said: "We want people to have a good time, but would ask them to drink responsibly, act responsibly, and be considerate to local residents.

"If you are driving to the event think about who is going to be the designated driver, find a sensible parking spot and remove all valuables from your car."

Now only available on the gate, tickets for the evening sessions cost £10 or £5 for Saturday afternoons.

A Saturday afternoon family ticket - for a maximum of four people - costs £10.
Visit www.hbmf.co.uk for more details.

The organisers are grateful to the following sponsors:
FGS Group
AB Electrical & Security
Priory Meadow
Millbrook
Swallow Security
OWM&M Ltd
DWD Mobiles
Chalvington Comm Ltd
Bio Medical Computing
Deutsch UK
Littlewood Fencing Limited
CPS Partnership Limited
Senlac Lifts
Sellens French
Scott James Glass
Ashdown Hurrey
Spectrum Financial Services
Glassline
C J Consultants
Imperial Motor Company
Hastings Windows
Taybar
Trilobyte
Ray Bowles Carpentry
Martin & Bowles
Gibbons Mannington
Chapmans Limited
J S Steel
SBG Limited
SLS Fabrications
Sussex Iron Craft
Astec Computing
Elva Recovery
Informed Financial Advice
Airtemp Air Conditioning
SLM Toyota
Bartletts SEAT
M&S Electrical
Elite Scaffolding
Speedy Hire
Blacklands Fire
Kings Church
NatWest Bank
M W Distribution
Barletts Seat
Green Campbell Fisk
Telham Training
East View Housing Management
The Mortgage Ladder
Booker & Best
Quench (UK) Limited
AM Gooch Upholstery
Rock-a-Nore Fisheries
Track-It Fleet Management
Swan Timber
Barretts Glass & Glazing South London
Richard Page photography
White Brewing Company
Flavours of India