NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. -- Eager fans of Nik Wallenda began gathering in Niagara Falls, Ont., more than 12 hours before the aerialist's attempt to be the first person to walk across the falls on a tightrope.

They came armed with lawn chairs, umbrellas, snacks and sunscreen to stake out the best viewing spots.

Muriel Marsh, 81, came from Paris, Ont., about 120 kilometres away, Thursday night and snagged her spot on a hill at 7 a.m. Friday.

It's hot, sunny and she had a long wait ahead, but Marsh said it's worth it.

"To see this fellow walk across on the wire, I think that's fantastic and very brave and very clever," she said. "You'll never have a chance again."

The walk isn't scheduled to start until 10:20 p.m. ET, but Bert Dandy and his family arrived at 10 a.m., and zeroed in on what he deemed the best seat in the house. Sitting in a lawn chair a few down from Marsh, perched on a hill with an unobstructed view of the whole wire, Dandy said people have been offering him $20 per chair -- he has five -- to give up his spot.

No dice, he said.

"This is the one spot that everyone really should be at," Dandy said. "This is a great view...I'm not moving for nobody."

Dandy loaded up the family van Thursday night in Niagara Falls with supplies, went off to work overnight then arrived at the falls. He should be unconscious by now, he said, but he is just too excited.

"I told my kids, I said, 'This is a once-in-a-lifetime event -- for free,"' Dandy said, holding a "Go Nick Go!!" sign.

"I said, 'We've got to get our buns down here. We've got to camp out for many, many hours and get a good spot and see history in the making."

Wallenda will cross from the American side to the Canadian side of the falls at 10:20 p.m. on a 500-metre wire suspended 60 metres above the churning water.

Others have crossed the water on tightropes, but over the gorge downstream and not for more than 100 years.

Wallenda estimates that the walk will cost him $1.3 million -- the pricetag includes the fabrication and installation of the custom-made steel wire, permits and security on both sides of the border as well as travel and marketing.

He is recouping some of the costs through a deal with ABC to air his walk on a live special, which will air on CTV in Canada.

The Niagara Falls Parks Commission expects 120,000 people to gather on the Ontario side of the falls when he attempts his walk.

Wallenda, 33, comes from a long line of aerialists as a member of the Flying Wallenda family, and has big -- though nimble -- shoes to fill.

But it won't be an added burden to Wallenda, his father said.

"I don't think it's a lot of pressure, I think for him it's a lot of pleasure," Terry Troffer said in an interview. "He's just thrilled that he can carry on the family tradition."

During Wallenda's crossing Troffer will be in a control room filled with producers and directors managing the live television special and will have a direct line to his son.

Troffer, himself an accomplished wire walker, will be talking to Wallenda through an ear piece his son will wear, talking him through the wet and windy conditions that are likely to arise.

"I would just be there as a calming voice in the event that he were to feel overwhelmed with several different things coming at him all at once,"' Troffer said.

"Just fatherly advice that any father would give to their son who walks across Niagara Falls," he deadpanned.

Wallenda will be wearing a tether -- ABC insisted, but he isn't pleased -- to keep him from plummeting to his death.