The population of Crawford could increase tenfold this weekend as anti-war and pro-Bush protesters stream into town for vigils and rallies.

As many as 7,000 demonstrators could gather in and around the town of about 700 people near the President’s Central Texas ranch, and local authorities spent the day Friday making plans to deal with the crowds and the potential for problems.

The combination of high summer temperatures and high emotions could lead to confrontations that authorities hope to defuse quickly.

Click Here To Read What Central Texans Have To Say About The Crawford Protests

Momentum for the weekend of demonstrations both for and against the war and the President’s policy on Iraq has been building ever since Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, Calif. began what at first was a quiet vigil along a rural roadside, demanding a meeting with the President about the death of her son Casey, 24, a 1st Cavalry Division soldier who was killed in 2004 in Iraq.

Sheehan’s protest quickly attracted the attention of the White House press corps and within days was receiving national and international attention and generating local and national controversy.

Other anti-war demonstrators joined Sheehan’s vigil at “Camp Casey” while Bush supporters countered by erecting their own camp in downtown Crawford.

Dubbed “Fort Qualls,” it is named in honor of Temple Marine Lance Cpl. Louis Qualls, who died in action in Iraq.

Sheehan drew even more fire from Bush supporters when she appeared in a TV spot that aired on commercial and cable stations in the Central Texas market.

The group Gold Star Families for Peace paid for the ad time and also placed spots earlier this week on stations in Salt Lake City, Utah and Boise, Idaho, where the President made speeches defending the war and the need to keep U.S. troops in Iraq until conditions stabilize.

The group spent $67,000 this week to run the ad nationally on CNN and the Fox News Channel

Bush supporters, in response, produced their own ad this week featuring Louis Qualls’ father Gary, who accuses Sheehan of cruelty and challenges her to a debate.

Sheehan’s protest has attracted some high visibility supporters including folksinger Joan Baez and rebel musician Steve Earle.

The Rev. Al Sharpton will reportedly visit Camp Casey this weekend.

But the growing anti-Sheehan protest has drawn support from around the country as well.

Gregg Garvey of Keystone Heights, Fla., was among those who came to join the Bush supporters.

He lost his 23-year-old son to battle in Iraq in 2003.

"People have said, 'Enough is enough – enough Bush bashing,’” he said.

He says Sheehan’s protest "does not represent all of America."

A caravan of Bush supporters that left San Francisco on Monday is due to arrive in Central Texas Saturday morning.

The “You Don’t Speak for me, Cindy!” caravan, which is sponsored by Move America Forward, has made several stops along the way to rally in support of troops and in opposition to Sheehan.

The group plans a rally from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday at the Crawford Community Center and a vigil at dusk in front of the sculpture, “Freedoms Angel of Steadfast Love,” which is dedicated to victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Another group of pro-Bush demonstrators set up an encampment Thursday called “Camp Reality” and distributed 500 yard signs supporting Bush and the war effort, many of which quickly appeared on fences along Crawford-area roads.

An effort was also underway Friday to bring families who lost loved ones both in the Iraq war and in the 9/11 attacks to Crawford for a rally in support of U.S. troops.

Sheehan, meanwhile, told NBC that she plans a “day of remembrance” Saturday to honor soldiers who have died in Iraq.

She says she will leave Central Texas on Wednesday on a bus tour that will end in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 24.

Click Here For Louis Qualls Memorial Fund Web Site

Click Here For Move America Forward Web Site

Click Here For Gold Star Families For Peace Web Site

Click Here For White House Web Site

Click Here For Grassfire.Org Web Site