Alex Slitz/Daily News Tents, truck beds, and suv's, serve as living quarters during the Starry Nights Festival in Bowling Green.

The third annual Starry Nights Music Festival brings local acts and national favorites to a huge audience this weekend just outside Bowling Green.

Local favorites Cage The Elephant, multi-instrumentalist Keller Williams and the rarely performing songwriter Daniel Johnston are headlining the two-day music and camping festival just off Morgantown Road.

Though music didn’t start until Friday morning, hundreds of people had already set up tents in the campsite by early Thursday afternoon.

“Everybody had the same idea to come early, get a good spot, and have a good time,” said Josh Riddle, drummer for The Lost River Cavemen, who played Friday afternoon. “We’ll be here till they kick us out on Sunday.”

What started two years ago as a couple of bands on a single stage for a night has evolved into a full weekend featuring more than 40 bands from across the country, with alternating stages allowing music to be played almost constantly from noon Friday to the early morning Saturday and Sunday.

More than 2,000 people are expected to camp out this weekend to be a part of the festival, which attracted just 500 attendees in 2008.

“It was nice to come camp at a music gathering the last few years,” said Brandon Fish, light technician for Saturday performers Canago. “But it’s great to see Starry Nights has evolved into a real festival with its own personality.”

Mike Barker, a volunteer at the 2009 and 2010 Starry Nights Music Festival, commented on the changes in store for the festival.

“I think everybody’s learned a lot from their mistakes,” Barker said. “We’ve got a fence up now to keep the vendors and concert area comfortable, and we’ve had a bunch of big music trucks and buses swarming in to take care of.

“Just being able to help bring all of these talented local bands to a national spotlight is great though, and it’s gone really smoothly so far,” Barker said.

The festival continues today with performances by Daniel Johnston with Cage The Elephant and Keller Williams and the Keels. Experimental jam-band Zoogma will close out the festival, playing late into Sunday morning.

Camping and parking is still available but limited. Tickets are available onsite for $70.

— For more information, visit www.starrynightsfestival.com.