As part of the festival, family-friendly activities will be held at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, National Motor Racing Museum and Bathurst Rail Museum.

The latter will kick off the festivities with a movie night on the opening day of the festival.

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Coordinator Ben O'Regan said the rail museum will be open late on Saturday and have a silent film running that people can watch for the cost of admission.

Entry is $15 for adults, $10 for concessions and $35 for families.

The museum is at the end of the new illumination light walk, which incorporates buildings in Howick, William, George and Keppel streets, as well as Machattie Lane, Pedrotta's Lane and Macquarie Plaza.

There will also be food vans in the vicinity of the rail museum.

"People can follow the trail down Keppel Street to the food vans and enjoy the museum after hours," Mr O'Regan said.

The rail museum will also offer a behind the scenes tour on Tuesday, July 6 as part of the festival. Bookings can be made by calling 6338 2850.

Behind the scenes tours will also be offered at the motoring racing and fossil museums, with these scheduled for Tuesday, June 29 and Thursday, July 8 respectively.

To book, call the museums directly.

The fossil museum will offer two other events, called Nights @ the Museum, on Friday, July 2 and Saturday, July 3.

The doors will be open until 8pm, giving people a chance to explore the museum after dark.

Mayor Bobby Bourke said he was excited to see the footprint of the festival growing to include some of the city's cultural facilities.

"It's good to see that council staff and events staff are looking to do something different each year. I think it will be a good hit," he said.

With around 50 per cent of the festival's attendees usually coming from outside of Bathurst, Cr Bourke is hopeful that these new events might lead to repeat visits to the city's museums after the festival.

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