MANCHESTER, Tenn. -- Chattanooga artist Roger Alan Wade hit the Troo Music Lounge Stage on Thursday at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, entertaining festivalgoers who'd made it inside to the 700-acre site by early afternoon.

Tennessee Highway Patrol officials said traffic was moving as expected, which was slow but steady.

Even as cars rolled in and music-lovers started unpacking for a three-day stay, workers in the Centeroo area struggled to get ready. They put finishing touches on fencing used to control the expected crowd of nearly 80,000 people, set the sound systems and completed rigging on the 13 stages that will showcase about 120 artists.

Knoxville resident David Stair, 55, said he has attended every Bonnaroo since it began in 2002.

"We started coming for them," he said pointing to one of his two daughters, "but we fell in love with it and bought an old RV. We still camp in the general camping area. It's more fun there."

Mr. Stair said one of the first things he did was hook up with Malcolm Wilson, 60, a Floridian who also has gone the RV route. The two met four years ago at Bonnaroo.

"I go to about four or five festivals a year," Mr. Wilson said.

"I like the people. You get to meet a lot of really interesting people. Plus, you get to hear a lot of acts like (Roger Alan Wade) that you might not have heard of."

For Fuse TV host Steven Smith, the festival is about work and checking out bands that he hasn't been able to catch live at the many festivals he works with Fuse.

This is his second Bonnaroo and said he's been impressed with the organization of the staff and crew.

"This is already 10 times more organized than last year," he said. "Coachella is the creme de la creme as far as organization, but Bonnaroo has impressed."

Mr. Smith said he will be interviewing artists such as The Beastie Boys and Snoop Dogg for live coverage by Fuse throughout the weekend.

Bonnaroo concludes Monday morning.