Rotorua's Japanese Playgroup are getting ready to share their culture with the rest of the community.
On January 14 members of the playgroup will be at the Lakefront to host the second Rotorua Summer Festival.
Festival organiser Mika Squibb said the concept behind the event was to allow Japanese families living in Rotorua to celebrate New Year's Day but also to introduce the festivities to New Zealanders.
"Although New Year's Day in Japan is actually in winter, the playgroup decided to hold a Japanese Summer Festival, Natsumatsuri, for the first time in 2017."
She said the day had been a great success so a second festival had been planned.
The Rotorua Summer Festival will feature Japanese food stalls, bouncy castles, and Japanese dress-ups, slime-making and other Japanese activities.
"We are supported by the sister city Beppu," Squibb said.
"The people of Beppu have sent many Japanese toys to share with Rotorua children."
The Rotorua Japanese Playgroup has been in existence for about five years. It started as a coffee group for Japanese mothers and their children living in Rotorua but has evolved into a playgroup that, for the past four years, has received Ministry of Education funding.
The festival has been granted funding from the Rotorua Lakes Council's Neighbourhood Matching Fund, and is supported by the Rotorua Multicultural Council.
"On the day Rice Japanese Kitchen will have a stall, as will Real Fruits Ice Cream and Mandwich," Squibb said.
"The festival is a fun family event for all ages and everyone is welcome."
The Rotorua Summer Festival will be held on January 14, at the Lakefront between 12pm and 4pm.