'Wonderful' Tulip Festival not over yet

CREATIVE: Manawa Ashby, 7, (from left) Stacey Ashby, 7, TJ Lee, 9, and Tiari Ashby, 8, coloured in and made windmills at the Rotorua Museum today. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Rotorua's Tulip Festival has been "wonderful" despite the not so co-operative weather, and still has a number of activities coming up this weekend.

Rotorua Lakes Council project manager Brigitte Nelson said there had been a great response to the festival's speakers and tours so far.

She said the gardens themselves had been a highlight "because the tulips are looking so beautiful".

Mrs Nelson said all the children's activities and the talks had been well attended.

The Children's Cupcake Decorating at Sudima Lake Rotorua Hotel had been fully booked.

She said the cooking demonstration with Michael Van de Elzen, a TV foodie sensation and internationally renowned chef, had also been very successful with 80 guests attending.

There had also been a lot of national interest, with people coming from all over New Zealand, Mrs Nelson said.

In general, it had been "wonderful" though the weather had had a big impact, she said.

"I think we could have hoped for better weather."

Rotorua Museum event co-ordinator Kathy Nicholls said the museum did children's arts and crafts every school holidays, and the current ones tied in with the Tulip Festival and two Dutch themed exhibitions on show at the museum.

She said more than 1500 people took part in the crafts and probably more than that for the Dutch-themed school holiday activity trail.

"There's lots of people in town and it's been awesome to see heaps of people out in the gardens, and the tulips look amazing."

Tiari Ashby, 8, took part in windmill and tulip themed arts and crafts at the Rotorua Museum today. She said it was good and she liked getting to colour in.

She said she liked arts and crafts because it was something to do "without annoying our parents".

Manawa Ashby, 7, said the windmills had been fun to colour in but it was hard to fold and make the blades.

Tulip Festival events on tomorrow include John Beech from the Bay of Plenty Garden and Arts Festival speaking, a City Tulips Guided Bike Tour, Rotorua Canopy Tours conservation manager Gary Coker speaking and children's crafts.

Saturday's activities include a Behind the Scenes at NZ Gardener Jo McCarroll talk, a Plenty Flora and Sandara Gardens Bus Tour, Beauty in Design with David Trubridge, sponsored by Steiner Interiors, and a Dutch Market.

On Sunday there will be a City Tulips Guided Bike Tour, Frocks on Bikes and the Tulip Festival Closing Concert.

The closing concert, which is weather dependent, will have local band The Fisher Kings playing in the Band Rotunda.

People can bring a picnic blanket and picnic food, and there will be prizegiving for all the competitions.

To find out more visit www.tulipfestrotorua.co.nz.

To check whether events have been cancelled due to weather, visit www.facebook.com/tulipfestrotorua.

The Details:
-What: Tulip Fest Rotorua
-When: Until Sunday
-Where: Government Gardens