Mark your calendars and spread the word… Children’s Day is back on Sunday, 2 March!
Join us for a fun-filled celebration of National Children’s Day in the heart of our city. This free event will be packed with exciting activities including performances, face painting, arts and crafts, superheroes and more.
With multiple zones spread across the city centre, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Bring the whānau along and make this a day to remember.
Zones and maps
Arts and Crafts Zone - The Cargo Shed
Little artists will love the arts and crafts zone and can enjoy hands on creative activities. You can have snaps taken in the photobooth, enjoy a poi and weaving workshop, friendship bracelet making, boogie at the family disco and more. Check out the programme below for timings.
Event Zone - The Strand
The event zone is a world of discovery and learning. You can talk with the everyday superheroes who do amazing work in our city. From Envirohub, Tautokomai, Coast Guard, and the Harbour master to Tauranga city council teams including Waterline Education, Kerbside Waste and Sustainability, the Museum crew, Community Development, and the Travel Safe team alongside the NZ Police. Climb into a rubbish truck, check out the inside of a police car or participate in the number of educational experiences on offer. Keep an eye out for roving superheroes and have your face painted if you’d like.
Performance Zone - Tauranga Waterfront
Families and budding performers can listen, dance, sing along and soak up the atmosphere at the performance zone where a variety of acts including cultural performances, fuse drumming, music and dance will light up the stage throughout the event. Check out the programme below for timings.
Activity Zone - Tauranga Waterfront, The Strand
Head along to the activity zone for some good old-fashioned fun! Learn to juggle and test your circus skills with Circus in a Flash, have a go at fun first football, check out what’s on offer at the play trailer, or challenge the whānau to a round of mini golf.
Neon Disco Zone - He Puna Manawa Tauranga Library
Come and boogie your butt off at the neon silent disco. Create an awesome accessory to glow under the black lights before joining the party, and for that extra pop, wear a white or fluro shirt. There are three channels to choose from to get you moving and grooving. Sessions will run every 15 minutes and there’s a craft and scavenger hunt to enjoy while you wait for your boogie session.
Please note: the first session of the day from 10am – 10.15am will be a low sensory session with all flashing lights turned off, so head along at 10am if this session is best for your child.
Construction Zone - Te Manawataki o Te Papa site off Willow Street
Back by popular demand thanks to LT McGuinness is the construction zone. Watch your kids light up at the sight of construction machinery and witness their joy in being allowed to climb in and check out the impressive machines. This is an exciting opportunity to go behind the hoardings and see the city’s new library and community hub coming to life. You can also get your face painted here too!
Low Sensory Space - Red Square, 1 Devonport Road
The Low Sensory Space is a small indoor zone for any tamariki needing some sensory restriction to chill. There will be beanbags, fidget items, playdough, a lego table and bricks, and a colouring table. There will also be Library packs placed on separate desks for those who prefer to be a little more secluded.
Feeling hungry?
Mr Whippy and Oshie & G’s food trucks will be located in the Performance Zone. Feel free to bring your own picnic or enjoy one of the many hospitality offerings within the city centre.
Performance and Arts and Crafts Zones
Check out the awesome line up of performances and workshops running throughout the event. Mayor Mahé Drysdale will officially open the event at 10am at the Performance Zone on the waterfront.
Join the Facebook event to stay in the loop.
Please note, photography and videography will be taken at this event and may be used for marketing purposes.
Parking
All parking in Tauranga city centre is free after 5pm and all weekend. Check out the map below for parking options near Tauranga waterfront and The Strand. For full parking information visit tauranga.govt.nz/parking.
Please note: there will be a road closure in place on The Strand for the event from 5am to 6pm on Sunday, 2 March as indicated below.
Mobility parking
Mobility parks are located in all the parking buildings and on street. For more mobility parking options, check out the website.
In addition to existing mobility parking, there will be extra temporary mobility parks in place for this event. These can be accessed through the road closure point on the corner of Hamilton Street and Willow Street by showing your mobility card. There is also a drop off zone on Harington Street.
For further information on accessibility around the city check out the Tauranga Access Map.
Bike parking
If you are biking in, there’s free bike parking at the Bikebox shelters located on The Strand opposite Hamilton Street and at 1 Devonport Road near Red Square. Each bike shelter provides weather protection for 10 bikes/scooters and are monitored by CCTV cameras.
Grab a bus
If you’d like to add to the adventure and travel by bus, check out your local timetable.
What to bring
- Your kids, friends, whānau and be prepared for the weather!
- Water bottle, sun hats, sunscreen.
- BYO snacks or make a day of it and enjoy a treat at one of the many city centre eateries.
Toilets
Public toilets are available on The Strand, the waterfront and both Spring Street and Elizabeth Street parking buildings.