Funnell had travelled from Hamilton for the weekend and Grierson is a Tauranga local.
"There is always great music and you just can't beat live music," Grierson said.
She was looking forward to seeing Hipstamatics and Brilleaux take the stage.
The friends have come to the festival for many years but this year's warm weather made it even more enjoyable, they said.
"I don't think there are as many people as last year which is better so you can move around," Funnell said.
Festival director Craig Wilson yesterday told the Bay of Plenty Times the event had been a success.
"Saturday was fantastic and I think today will be even better," he said.
Wilson said it was difficult to calculate the number of visitors who visited The Strand over the weekend but he was pleased with the turnout.
"It's an opportunity for people to see a real range of music from jazz and blues to funk," he said.
The Downtown Carnival was held on Saturday and Sunday and several local and national bands played, including some students who competed in the 41st National Youth Jazz Competition.
"It's always nice to get some travelling youth bands on stage. It's great character-building for them and for some it would have been their first public performances."
The festival wraps up today with the TECT Big Band Bonanza, when Auckland's Queen City Big Band and the RNZAF Jazz Orchestra will perform on the Tauranga Waterfront.
The free event is from 10am and the music will start from 11am.
