The REAL Tauranga Festival celebrating the Bay during the Rugby World Cup opened today with a tribute concert presenting the work of The Eagles and Joe Cocker.
The REAL festival runs until October 23 in Tauranga and other parts of New Zealand and will showcase a range of events, performances, music, culture, food, sport, childrens' activities, community engagement activities, charity events, fashion, art and more, and will involve people from the Bay of Plenty and beyond.
It will be divided into two major events - the Multicultural Festival, which will run from September 15-18, and the REAL New Zealand Family Festival that will run from October 13-16.
Held on The Strand, there will be four key zones where people can celebrate the REAL Tauranga Festival. Zone A is a family zone, Zone B is an entertainment area, Zone C is for bars and restaurants and Zone D is an interactive adventure zone.
Internationally renowned Batucada Sound Machine will perform on The Strand this Sunday with vocalist and percussionist James Hughes saying people will be "blown away".