Plenty to warm up weekend

Mostly dry weather is expected until late on Sunday. Photo / Thinkstock

Rotorua residents have plenty to look forward to this Queen's Birthday weekend - not least a welcome rise in overnight temperatures.

The annual Rotorua Blues Festival enters its third day today, with a set from Bay of Plenty band Harley Cruz at the Lake House Tavern.

For those wanting to flex their own musical muscles, a jam session is also taking place tonight at The Outlaw Bar.

Australian artists Isaiah B Brunt and Andy Phillips will each be performing on "Blues Cruises" aboard the Lakeland Queen during the weekend's festival, which winds down with another jam session at The Outlaw Bar on Monday.

The Outlaw Bar duty manager Krissie Knap was excited about the Blues Festival kicking off in earnest.

"Absolutely looking forward to it. We had the first club night here [Wednesday] night and it was a great success," she said.

She agreed that events such as the Blues Festival were good for keeping up business during the tourist off-season and she was especially pleased The Outlaw was playing such a big part. "We're happy to have them here and, being a musician myself, it's even better. It's great music, with great people."

Music fans attending the evening shows will be happy to know that higher night-time temperatures are set to return to Rotorua after a frosty cold snap.

MetService is forecasting temperatures of 6C tomorrow night and 8C on Sunday, up from the chilly depths of -2C experienced during the week.

Mostly dry weather is expected until late on Sunday, leading into a wet but relatively mild holiday Monday.

MetService meteorologist Emma Blades said a northeasterly flow would mean Rotorua temperatures would pick up slightly during the day but "the biggest difference will be felt at night".

For those still feeling a bit chilly, the Ceroc Xtreme Dance Weekend 2015 promises to get the blood pumping, with a packed schedule of classes and events taking place at Rotorua Primary School.

Organisers promise "some of the best Ceroc dance instructors, competitors and participants from around New Zealand" will be in town to "share a weekend of music and the love of dance".

Rotorua Motels Association chairman Barry Mabey said there was "still a bit of room around" for accommodation but late bookings were always expected over a long weekend.

"I think people will see what the weather is going to do, but it looks like it's going to be okay," he said.