"Over here there's a very traditional cheesecake called 'serniki', it has yogurt drained overnight, cream cheese, eggs, mandarin and raisins soaked in rum."
Everyone was always interested to try the unusual desserts, Ms Footner said.
Alice Tak-Hewlitt 7, and Elma Lee 8 from Korea at the multicultural festival. Photo/Andrew Warner
A group of volunteers from the Polish Community Trust had been baking all week in preparation for the festival.
All of the proceeds will go towards the Polish school in Tauranga - to keep Polish culture, language, legends and customs alive.
Teacher Magdalena James said the school helped bring "that strange country of Poland" just a little bit closer to New Zealand.
It was Argentinian Adriana Avendano's first time hosting a food stall at the festival.
On offer were mince empanadas - "I made 120 of them and I've already sold half so I think people are liking them," she said.
She said the festival was an opportunity for the community to come together and get to know each other.
Mount Maunganui's Kelsey Wright said she could not decide what food to get and would probably end up trying everything.
"They'll have to wheel me out of here I'll be so full," she laughed.
"It's fascinating to see all the cultures we have here in Tauranga, because often all you see is Europeans. It's good to know the multicultural community are holding on to their customs and traditions and sharing them with us."
The stage set up on the Village Green had a revolving array of cultural performances including Bollywood dancing, belly dancers, Israeli dancing and gypsy dancers.
At least 20 cultures were represented at the festival including Polish, Czech, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Samoan, Indian, Greek and Argentinian.
