Phillip's hometown of Macksville will host the two-day annual Nambucca River Festival, where organisers will formally acknowledge the huge shadow cast by the star cricketer.

The festival's Rod Edwards said he had talked with Anthony Miles, a spokesperson for the Hughes family, about what might be done this weekend.

"He (Anthony) said: 'keep it simple'," Rod told the Guardian.

And that they will - though it is bound to be a deeply moving gesture for a tight-knit community still struggling to digest the passing of the 25-year-old national representative who was at the top of his game.

A table - with a photo of Phil and a condolence book - will be set up at the festival where people can lay wreathes and record their thoughts.

A minute's silence will also be observed on Saturday night around the time of the floating lantern parade along the Nambucca River.

On Sunday, in what would have been Phillip's 26th birthday, Rod said another minute's silence will be observed, probably in the area around the main stage.

Meanwhile, the Bellingen Cup race meeting at the Bowraville track will go ahead on Saturday after the organisers had considered calling it off.

Nambucca River Jockey Club secretary Greg Doolan said they decided to press ahead with the meeting as they believed that would be what the Hughes family would have wanted.

There was also the factor that the Cup had to be called off last year after it was washed out.

Greg said the club would observe a minute's silence at the non-TAB meeting, and something extra special would be done at the Bowraville Boxing Day meeting.

"Phil always came to the Boxing Day meetings so we'll have a think about what we can do on that day," Greg said.