Face painting, bouncy castles and a gymnastics demonstration were just some of the attractions for parents and young children to Children's Day yesterday.
About 3000 people attended this year's event at Springvale Stadium, which Strategies with Kids - Information for Parents (SKIP) has been co-ordinating for eight years.
Co-ordinator Lynette Archer said the event was a stress-free day for parents to bring their children to, and somewhere organisations could "come and connect with parents on a neutral level".
"You can promote yourself but you must come with an activity as well," Mrs Archer said.
Everything at the event was free, including a sausage sizzle.
Liza Iliffe, also a SKIP coordinator, said parents would often go along to family events but would always have something they needed to spend money on. Children's Day was an event where they did not need to worry about that.
Mrs Archer said there were around 20 stalls this year, with activities including crafts, obstacle courses and colouring.
Mrs Iliffe said: "Rutherford School are using this as an exercise for their young student leaders."
Keelan Tui, 12, was helping run the school's stall, where they were planting vegetable seedlings for children to take home.
"We just guide them through how to keep their seedling healthy so they can eat it," he said.
"We have a whole variety of vegetables."
Keelan said he enjoyed spending time with the children and eating.
Another boy at the stall, Tyler Huff, 12, said the best part of the day was free sausages.
Piper Kenny, 7, was also a fan of the free sausages, while 4-year-old Molly-May Smith-Hogg liked the face painting.
Parents Karen and Craig Taylor had come to Children's Day about four times and said their kids loved it.
Their 10-year-old had insisted they go this year, they said.
Mr Taylor said they had taken four of their six children to this year's event.
Youth manager at the St John stall, Bev Way, said they had been attending Children's Day since it began.
"It's a family affair and I think that's the way. Being out in public is making them more aware of different services that are available for children," she said.
Noah's Ark Early Learning Centre, on the other hand, were there for the first time, and employee Jackie Hall said they had only opened the centre last year.
"It's a good turnout," she said, adding the day was "a chance to meet more of the community".