Bay Dreams crowds to bring delays

With close to 30,000 people expected to attend Tauranga's Bay Dreams music festival today and tomorrow, motorists are being urged to allow for delays.

Bay Dreams, a two-day music festival held at Baypark in Tauranga includes a warm-up party today and the main event tomorrow.

American R&B singer-songwriter and 2018 Grammy nominee Kehlani will headline the January 2 festival, alongside a stellar list of acts including DJ Snake, Machine Gun Kelly, Big Shaq, Foster The People, Flatbush Zombies and $uicideboy$.

Organisers say 3500 people are expected to attend today's warm-up party and 25,000 people are expected at the main event.

Police say that with the extra visitors to the city, drivers should allow for slow progress on the road.

Festival spokesman Shaun Ross said that during the year the event created about 15 jobs and on the week of the event more than 600 people were employed.

This included about 250 security staff, 200 bar staff, a ground crew of about 60-80 people as well as production crew.

He said with this year's event, they were most looking forward to "breaking the record for biggest festival of the summer, with an all-new layout for our venue".

Director Pato Alvarez said as with all of their events, they wanted to "create happiness and good memories for people and quality entertainment in a safe environment".

"This year we are going large and people can expect a much bigger production from previous years, and a new layout."

Planning for next year's event had already begun, with organisers keeping a constant eye on artists who may become the next big act.

Ross said March and April were months when they started to lock in music acts.

Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton issued a reminder to people attending Bay Dreams to "look after themselves and their mates while they're there at the event".

He said with traffic set to be heavier than normal today and tomorrow, particularly around the ASB Baypark Stadium, motorists should allow for lengthy travel delays.

He urged people to ensure they have a plan to get to and from the venue if they are attending and are consuming alcohol.