Blossoms and sunshine at Cherry Blossom Festival

BLOOMING GOOD: Esther Espin and daughter Hannah Espin, 6, enjoyed the Greerton Cherry Blossom Festival. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Blossoming trees drew a crowd which filled Greerton's main street for the Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday.

The weather turned it on as families wandered the closed-off street lined with hot rods, classic cars and stalls.

The annual event proved popular with hundreds going along. Greerton Village School was again a heavy supporter, hosting the school gala in conjunction with the event.

Stalls, face paint, bouncy castles and pony rides kept parents busy and children happy. The event was extra special for Tauranga girl Hannah Espin who turned 6 on the same day.

Hannah said the best part of the event was getting to see her friends for her birthday. Mum Esther Espin said it was the first time they'd been and they enjoyed "everything about it".

"I love the atmosphere here and all the work the school has done for it. I enjoyed seeing how the schoolchildren were involved in activities and part of the process," she said.

The festival was first held in 2007 to mark the onset of spring and the blossom trees which line Chadwick and Cameron Roads.

The money raised will go towards a digital noticeboard to be installed on the corner of Chadwick and Greerton Rd.