NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The CEO of the Country Music Association said this week's CMA Music Festival is on pace to match last year's attendance, based on ticket sales, even with the down economy.

"Last year, when we closed out our year, we were 10 percent ahead of the year before," said CMA CEO Tammy Genovese. "We're tracking right on par with last year, and we feel that's a very positive statement because most of the festivals are down right now."

The country music celebration is being held June 11 to 14 in downtown Nashville.

City representatives said hotels are already filling up like last year. The 2008 CMA Music Fest brought $21 million worth of visitor spending to Nashville last year.

Even though the economy has been in a recession, businesses downtown say the festival is like Christmas in June.

Workers at the downtown Hard Rock Café are anticipating big sales as they serve the big crowds.

"From a normal week, we jump about 150 percent in sales, so it's dramatic. It's our busiest week of the year. It's always our record week and our daily sales record,” said Hard Rock Café general manger Jim McGonagle.

Owners of Mike's Ice Cream, a Mom-and-pop store located at Third Avenue and Broadway, said this week's business will carry them through the rest of the year, even if the rest of the year isn't fiscally successful.

"It's going to be crazy. It's a non-stop line from out to Second Avenue, like, around Cotton Eyed Joe's," said Andrew Crackel of Mike's Ice Cream. "I think everybody here has 11 to 12 hour shifts for all four days."

The ice cream joint was already doing steady business at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday. At Mike's, country music fans can get ice cream until 2 a.m.

If this year's festival matches last year’s attendance, 52,000 fans will attend each day.

Festival tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-CMA-FEST or going online to Ticketmaster.com.

Reporter Aaron Solomon contributed to this story.