FAMILY FUN: Rotorua resident Beth Millard (left) enjoys a fun day out with family and friends (from left) Roxanne Coker, Tammy-Lee Holmes, Mark Coker, Kate Rasmussen, Sarah Millard and granddaughter Zoe Holmes at the First Big Brunch. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 010114BF2
Live music, picnics and "plenty of fun" was on the menu at yesterday's First Big Brunch.
Hundreds of people turned up to the event at the Rotorua Lakefront, which formed part of the annual GLO Festival.
Rotorua resident Beth Millard said she thought the brunch was a good way of spending time with her friends, daughters and her 19-month-old granddaughter Zoe.
"What a cool thing to do," she said.
"It's such a great way to spend an afternoon, with family, nice food and great music.
"It also gives Zoe the chance to take her new toy car for a spin," she said.
Ms Millard said she initially did not know about the event but decided to go when she heard music coming from the Lakefront as she was showing her family around Eat Streat.
"It's events like this that make you appreciate living in Rotorua.
"There's a lot of events on like this, which sometimes take you by surprise. It's just a great community to live in."
Ms Millard has been living in Rotorua for 30 years and said she enjoyed the array of events the city put on as part of the festive season, including the New Year's Eve fireworks display at the Lakefront.
"The fireworks were spectacular. I watched them from my house and they were just great."
Former Rotorua resident Jean Tregidga, who now lives in Auckland, said she was enjoying spending time back in Rotorua for the holiday season.
She said she thought the brunch was a good way of supporting young, emerging local musicians as well as having a relaxing day out.
"It's good to get outside and listen to something that's not too loud or rowdy," she said.
French tourist Carole Mazerand said she was "very impressed" by the calibre of talent shown by the musicians, as well as the general atmosphere of the event.
"It's really cool. Everyone is having a good time, that's nice to see."
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