More than 70,000 people are expected to attend the annual Mule Camp Market Festival in downtown Gainesville this weekend.

In preparation for the festival, the city of Gainesville will position barricades on key streets around the square at 5 p.m. today. The barricades will remain in place until 10 p.m. Sunday.

Motorists will be unable to access the square by vehicle once the barricades are in place.

Visitors can access the parking deck on Main Street from Jesse Jewell Parkway.

The roads leading into the square will be blocked off at several intersections. Portions of Washington, Spring, Maple and Main streets will be closed.

The festival is hosted by the Gainesville Jaycees each year as a fundraiser for their Empty Stocking Fund.

"Every year we try to raise money to buy kids clothes at Christmastime," said Bill Rhoads, co-director of Mule Camp Market.

Angela Thompson, Main Street Market manager, said with so many people coming to the square in one weekend there is "absolutely an economic impact."

She makes going to the festival every year a family tradition.

"It transforms downtown. It's really cool," Thompson said.

The festival will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.