The festival hub main stage at Tauranga Racecourse will be pumping this weekend, rain or shine, with 12 acts booked to perform at Bloom in the Bay.

The broad sweep of musical styles will have wide appeal, from young up-and-coming Tauranga-based band Unit 51 playing rock and reggae-oriented originals, through to brilliant duo Trevor Braunias and Jill Leighton bringing much-loved jazz.

Other acts not to be missed are Wildlanes, Kokomo, Lucky Strike, Catie & Ellie, Te Moana Society, W Dance Company, singer/songwriter Catie, Lucky Strike, Afrolites and Kokomo Unplugged - the acoustic version of the iconic Tauranga kiwi blues and roots band.

With entry only $5, or free for Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival pass holders and under 14s, Bloom in the Bay, sponsored by Craigs Investment Partners, is the ‘go-to' place this weekend until 6pm each day except Sunday when it closes at 3pm.

Relax and chill out at The Tiny House Art Village, with cabins from Freedom Cabins NZ, as well as the trade stalls, bar and food trucks. Most of the site is covered, with performances able to be enjoyed from the grandstands if it rains.

Bloom in the Bay map at Tauranga Racecourse. Image: Supplied.

The Kids' Area has fun garden activities for children to paint rocks, learn about worm farms, beehives, and what plants need to grow.

Bloom in the Bay is an excellent stopover while out on the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival's Garden & Art Trail which features 74 garden and art stops between Katikati and Paengaroa.

The trail is sponsored by Palmers Bethlehem.

Parking at Bloom in the Bay is easy, with the entrance to the festival hub leading through the BOP Floral Art Area, followed by the Festival Gallery, The Weekend Sun Emerging Artist finalists, the Cook Island Tivaevae Wall Art, Tauranga Society of Artists, Tauranga Cake Decorators Guild and on to the Bloom Plaza where trade stalls, a speaker's corner and the Bloom Café await.

Bloom in the Bay will have refreshments, trade stalls, food trucks and a bar. Photo: Supplied.

Speakers over the four days include photographer Kim Westerskov, ‘Bug Man' Ruud Kleinpaste, Luke Judd from Predator Free Bay of Plenty, decoupage artist Marion Murphy, horticulture tutor Emma Cole, home waste solutions expert Leo Murray, Carole Long speaking on NZ dotterels, Shontelle from SweetPea & Jasmine demonstrating making Christmas wreaths and posies, and landscape architect Topsy Steele. There's also a Furoshiki demonstration, and a talk by Geoff Canham and Fiona Lavin on the Waiariki Park project.

Bay of Plenty Floral Art will be providing 10-minute demonstrations nearly every hour creating tin can pockets, Scandinavian Christmas trees and dried flower wreaths.

The Wearable Arts Awards, The Weekend Sun Emerging Artist, and the Hansa Chipper raffle draw winners will be announced from the main stage.

The Kids' area at Bloom in the Bay has fun activities for kids. Photo: Supplied.

The Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival, sponsored by Bayleys, runs from November 17-20.

Purchase tickets at Palmers Bethlehem, Decor Garden World, Pacifica Home and Garden Store, I-site Tauranga, Te Puke Florists, KatchKatikati Information Centre or online at www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz