Plans for Rotorua to become the tulip capital of the country have moved a step closer, with Rotorua's second Rotorua Tulip Festival getting off to a good start.
The Rotorua Tulip Festival's opening weekend was laden with activities including the launch of the Farmers' Market and a visit from a popular New Zealand food celebrity.
TV One Kiwi Living foodie sensation and internationally renowned chef Michael Van de Elzen demonstrated his culinary skills on Friday night at a special, ticketed event.
He also mixed, mingled and enjoyed the flavours and aromas of Rotorua's new farmers' market on Sunday. And those were only two of the exciting events the festival brings.
New Zealand's largest tulip festival began on Saturday and runs until October 9. It incorporates 40 events, and 30 of them are free.
The Rotary Club of Rotorua West president and co-organiser of the festival Pauline Evans said the opening was wonderful and the weather behaved itself in the first part of the day.
"We had many out of towners. People came from Palmerston North, Tauranga, Hamilton and even as far as Wellington.
"At the launch we had about 40 people, I would have spoken to about 60 groups of people during the day."
Mrs Evans said it was hard to know exactly how many people came through.
"It just goes to show if you put something on people will come, despite the rain.
"The gardens look magnificent, the gardeners deserve a massive pat on the back."
She said there was a raft of activities coming up for both adults and children during the festival that people could check out on the website.
"We want to be the tulip capital of New Zealand and we are getting there. The positive vibe that's going on in our city at the moment is great, it's really happening. The town just looks great," Mrs Evans said.