Organisers have had an enthusiastic response from its lantern-making workshops this week, and the festival fires off with a lantern parade, led out by the Tauranga Samba Band, down Chadwick Rd to the Village Square.
The night will be bursting with entertainment including a glow show, laser shows, shadow puppet and the Highly Flammable Reflectrons, glow-in-the-dark circus performers on uni-cycles and hoola-hoops, as well as tethered hot air balloons. New performers include the Fuse Drummers, a school-age group burning beats with their glow in the dark sticks.
Several thousand people usually attend the event every year, coming from all over Tauranga to celebrate with the south-side suburb.
"It's all about fire and light. It's for young and old, for families and the whole community to come out and enjoy a midwinter event," says organiser Sally Benning.
the fine print
What: IlluminART
Where: Greerton Village
When: July 15, 5.30pm-8.30pm
Admission: Free