Bay Dreams: Festival goers dancing in the rain and looking for love

The music was blasting, the outfits were on point and not even a bit of rain could ruin the party at Bay Dreams yesterday.

Thousands flocked to Trustpower Baypark in Mount Maunganui to see popular acts including Peking Duk, Sub Focus and New Zealand icon Dave Dobbyn at one of summer's biggest music festivals.

The atmosphere at the festival was buoyant and upbeat when the Bay of Plenty Times visited mid-afternoon.

Even when the rain arrived about 3pm festival-goers simply scrambled for plastic ponchos and carried on.

Sam Pou, Nathan Kingsford and Travis Keats from Wellington came prepared for the wettest of weather in lifeguard outfits, complete with inflatable vests.

Sam Pou (left), Nathan Kingsford and Travis Keats, of Wellington, were ready for wet weather at Bay Dreams. Photo / George Novak

When asked the inspiration behind the outfits, Keats said "outrageous is the next best thing".

"It's just a bit random," he said.

"We're looking forward to seeing Fairbrother, it's been perfect so far, you can't beat it."

Terence Potter was another who stood out, dressed in a Winnie the Pooh onesie.

He said his friends laughed at the choice, saying it would be too hot, but he was the one laughing when the rain arrived.

"I'm looking for my honey pot and I still haven't found her," Potter said.

"I'm hoping this costume brings it out and finds me a girl, or a few girls."

The party was on, rain or shine, at Bay Dreams in Mount Maunganui. Photo / George Novak

He said he was most looking forward to Sub Focus performing, after looking up some of the acts in the days leading up to the festival.

"I'm new to this scene, this is my first festival, so I listened to a whole lot of bands and I liked their stuff."

Another looking for love was Rotorua's Charice Paterson who said she hoped she'd find the man of her dreams at Bay Dreams.

Her friend Cidnee Cadman said she was most excited for Peking Duk because "we love their music" and that the rain would not ruin the event for them.

"We don't care, we have ponchos and we're manifesting sunshine."

Brittney Caird (left), Charice Paterson and Cidnee Cadman were dressed to impress at Bay Dreams. Photo / George Novak

It was an overcast day in Tauranga as up to 20,000 people made their way into the venue.

Roads surrounding the venue were congested even as many festivalgoers made their way in on foot.

People were breathalysed on entry and some had to wait an hour to sober up before being allowed in.

A police spokeswoman told the Bay of Plenty Times it had been a quiet day for police at the festival, with "no incidents or arrests of note".

Festival organisers were also contacted for comment.