The Tauranga waterfront was buzzing on Saturday for the ANZ Community Day as part of the Tauranga Arts Festival.

The community day was a celebration of the Tauranga Arts Festival's 10th birthday.

Hundreds of people were getting involved in all the activities and interactive displays that lined The Strand.

The street was blocked off to traffic which allowed people of all ages, from grandparents to tots, to roam freely.

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There was something for everyone including market stalls, a dance show and an art treasure hunt.

Capital E's Bloom Garden was placed right in the centre of the festival and proved popular with people of all ages.

Sabrina Martin, or Lemon as she is known in her head gardening role at the Bloom Garden, said she was very pleased with the turnout of participants and the garden was "nearly at capacity".

She said the interactive sculpture garden was a chance for everyone to "play freely" and create whatever they liked.

The garden had more than 2500 bright pink pieces and Ms Martin said she had seen some amazing creations.

Tauranga Arts Festival director Jo Bond said it was great to see so many people enjoying the community day.

"There are a lot of families here, energising the CBD."

Author Rebecca Larsen was enjoying the day with her mum and two sons.

She was sharing her book Row, row, row your waka in the Storytelling Bus and was having fun "rocking around and participating in all the events".

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless cut the birthday cake to the sound of more than 100 people singing "happy birthday".


What was your favourite part about the community day?

"The involvement, the smiles and the imagination."
Viv Quinn, 46, Tauranga


"Seeing Tauranga turn out and support the event."
Sarah Bate, 54, Matua


"It was fun finding our art today."
Torsen Anger (pictured with mum Rebecca Larsen), 3, Papamoa


"When I found the number and got a present in the art treasure hunt."
Logan Anger, 5, Papamoa