Tauranga’s kings birthday weekend brings free waterfront entertainment, 1,300 young dancers at Project Hip Hop and a regional basketball tournament to Mercury Baypark and the city centre. Genevieve Whitson said the programme gives people a reason to stay in town for the evening and use the centre’s dining options while the events are under way.
POP! Glow, Go! on the waterfront
POP! Glow, Go! runs from 5pm to 8pm each evening on the Tauranga waterfront and is free and family-friendly. The programme includes two large-scale light installations, fire performances, neon face painting, a photo booth, luminous roaming characters and Have a Glow Circus.
Whitson urged people to “Make the most of the city centre’s dining options and local eateries while you take in the fun,” and added that council parking buildings and on-street parking in the city centre are free after 5pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays. The city centre schedule also moves across the long weekend, with the Tauranga Samba Band roaming The Strand on Friday, Beat St Drummers in Red Square on Saturday, Sophie Maude at Masonic Park on Sunday and Fuse Drummers on Wharf Street on Monday.
Mercury Baypark events
Mercury Baypark hosts the return of Project Hip Hop over the weekend, bringing 1,300 young dancers from across Aotearoa. The competition has grown to 140 crews, a 36 per cent increase on last year, and Project Hip Hop has previously delivered more than 4,000 visitor nights and over $600,000 in visitor spend.
Sarah Martin, the event director and founder, said international crews are entering for the first time. Bombelêla from Brazil will compete, along with three crews from Australia. Martin said, “This represents the beginning of an exciting pathway for greater international participation, while creating opportunities for young dancers to connect, share experiences, and celebrate Hip Hop across cultures.”
Basketball at Baypark
Mercury Baypark also hosts the Mid North U16 and U18 Regional Qualifying Basketball Tournament, run by Tauranga City Basketball. The tournament brings 40 representative teams with coaches, officials and whānau from across the Waikato, Thames Valley, King Country and Bay of Plenty, and teams are competing for qualification to the National Championships.
Amanda West, head of events at Bay Venues, said, “We’re incredibly excited to see Mercury Baypark come alive with two major youth-focused events across King’s Birthday Weekend. From the energy and creativity of Project Hip Hop to the basketball talen”
