Photos: hundreds at Kāeo's Ngā Purapura Festival

Trying out the musical instruments are, from left, Kawhi Paul, 5, Jose Flavell, Sariah Morgan, 6, and Tiaki Hoey, 7, all from Kaeo. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Hundreds of kids turned out for a chance to get creative at the Ngā Purapura Festival in Kāeo on Saturday. The event offered dozens of free activities including African drumming, mosaic making, flax weaving, clay sculpting, story telling, live music and making musical instruments out of junk. The event was founded last year by a group of playcentre mums concerned that Kāeo kids were missing out on arts events due to financial reasons or distance. Organisers said just under 800 people attended. Photos by Peter de Graaf.

Kylie Penn, of Kerikeri's Illumination Workshop, with a couple of her Mac's Patch puppet characters.

Rob Wigley of musical duo Mr Roberelli is mobbed by kids during an action song.

The boys keep the rhythm in an African drumming workshop.

Weaving flax fish in the workshop tent are, from left, Liane Panui (Kāeo), Myka Putensen (11, Peria) and Jaylee Hills (9, Kāeo).

Kāeo 8-year-old Jodacey Pihama shows off her puppetry skills.

Ten-year-old River Hape from Pupuke discovers some fun accessories in the dress-up corner.

Trying out the musical instruments are, from left, Kawhi Paul, 5, Jose Flavell, Sariah Morgan, 6, and Tiaki Hoey, 7, all from Kaeo. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Derek Mouldey and Kawiti Rush-Rudolph, 7, work on a lagerphone made from a stick, bottle caps and nails in the junk musical instruments workshop. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Eleven-year-old Matthew Trotter from Russell works on a lagerphone made from a stick, bottle caps and nails in the junk musical instruments workshop. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Calla Pilcher of Kaeo and 10-year-old Zoe Fisher of Kerikeri work on a hopscotch mosaic tile for the town's playground. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Seven-year-old Maia Traynor and mum Vicki Crosby of Kaeo work on a hopscotch mosaic tile for the town's playground. Photo / Peter de Graaf