Tauranga jazz festival winds down with the sun on the waterfront

One of the bands thrilling the crowd. Gin Rickey Jive at the Tauranga Jazz Festival. Photo / Andrew Warner

People lined the waterfront eating icecream in the sun accompanied by the soulful sounds of Frank Sinatra as Tauranga's National Jazz Festival wound down to a close yesterday.

Even a rainbow was on show for the young families, elderly couples, teenagers and tourists who flocked to the Waterfront Gala - the last hurrah from the Easter weekend festival.

Earlier drizzle cleared up for a large crowd which sat and stood under a marquee to enjoy big bands perform classic hits such a Come Fly With Me, Fly Away as part of the gala performance. Others enjoyed the offerings from food trucks and simply sitting in the sun overlooking the harbour.

Tauranga couple Aileen and Lang Pringle said the gala was a wonderful way to wind down the jazz festival, an event they've attended for years.

"The weather has come right, it has been beautiful. I think this is excellent. It's a shame about the markets because of the rain but the weather was against them."

Outdoor markets planned as part of the gala were called off due to rain which fell earlier in the day. However, the wet weather failed to dampen spirits of the music fans making the most of the revamped waterfront.

"It's nice to see Tauranga full of people," Ms Pringle said.

"It's a fun place to be. This is the first time we've seen the [tidal] steps. They're fabulous."