TRAVERSE CITY -- Howard Kerr and Max McGaugh are on a road trip that began in their Bentonville, Ark. hometown and will conclude in Mackinaw City.

Stops along the way include Chicago and a couple days in Traverse City that coincide with the fifth annual Traverse City Film Festival.

"We got here yesterday," said McGaugh. "We're actually going wherever our wives tell us to. They tell us to stop, we stop."

The foursome hopes to take in wine-tasting, a trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes and, of course, some movies.

"We want to see something new," McGaugh said. "We've seen all the old movies; we want to see something new, something family-oriented."

During the festival, which runs through Sunday, new movies will be shown at five venues in Traverse City, and each night a classic will be shown on the inflatable screen at the Open Space.

"Traverse City is incredibly passionate about film and movies," said Bob Deutsch, president of Outdoor Movies, a Washington, D.C.-based company that's handling lighting, sound and screen chores at the Open Space. "People come down and meet a neighbor they didn't know they had. It's a really ... great way to build community."

The Open Space began to transform on Monday, when the 65-foot screen was set up and vendors such as Paul Barbas, owner of Opa! Coney and Grill raised tents and signs.

Barbas noted differences between the film festival and July's other local tourist magnet, the National Cherry Festival.

"The Film Festival is a little more relaxed," he said. "In regards to the people, you get to see a lot more locals, and we can talk to the customers. It's a completely different animal."

Film Festival lines are common at the Open Space and many of the movie venues, so talking to neighbors is a favorite time-killer for attendees.

"You get to talk to a lot of interesting people and make new friends," said Traverse City resident Margaret Patchin as she waited in line Tuesday for or Woodstock, the opening Film Festival movie. "Everyone's in a friendly mood."

Employees at Cherry Hill Boutique in downtown Traverse City are preparing for "a busy week, lots of sales," saleswoman Kay Wertman said.

Wertman has worked at the Front Street store for eight years. With four previous festivals behind her, she said the event adds to the summer's heavy foot traffic.

"We see it grow every year," said Wertman, who folded shirts at the counter Tuesday morning. "We've probably already seen it start this past weekend."

Jalene Moore, of Traverse City, also has plans for a busy week, with three movies and a panel discussion on her daily calendar.

"I didn't want to push myself too much," said Moore. "I love the documentaries the best, and hearing people talk about the movies they made."

Good weather is expected to grace the festival, with temperatures in the upper 70s each day. Rain could fall Thursday afternoon and evening and again on Sunday.

"Absolutely great. If you had to pick a good stretch of weather, this would be it," said Dave Lawrence, a National Weather Service meteorologist.