This Christmas season will bring whānau and community together with jingle bells set to ring throughout the Western Bay.

Over the coming weeks, joyful Christmas cheer will be found around Tauranga and Western Bay as various communities host Christmas-based events, with the jolly man in the big red suit expected to appear at most.

From this week onwards, community events will be held across Tauranga City and the wider Western Bay to celebrate Christmas and bring family and friends together.

Katikati, Te Puke, Tauranga City, Omokoroa and Waihī Beach all have Christmas-focused events planned throughout December. Anyone can attend to enjoy time with friends and family, singing Christmas carols and enjoying local community performances and services.

Tauranga City Council venue and events manager Nelita Byrne said having community groups organise family-friendly events during the festive season allows locals and visitors to unite and share a sense of belonging.

“It will be great to see the festive and community spirit on show at various locations across Tauranga and the Western Bay.

“We’re proud to support these events through the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund [TWBCEF] alongside fellow local funders, helping people connect with friends and whānau and celebrate this special time of year with their community.”

The TWBCEF is a collaborative fund created in partnership with funders throughout Tauranga and the Western Bay, consisting of Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, Tauranga City Council, TECT and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

The fund was designed to support and enhance local community events through grants so that locals and visitors would have a broad range of events to experience and enjoy throughout the year.

An array of events is taking place in the lead up to Christmas. Supplied photo

BayTrust CEO Alastair Rhodes said it is a great opportunity to get the family together, pack a picnic and enjoy time in some of the region’s beautiful spaces.

“There will be something for everyone to enjoy, from Katikati’s Christmas Series spreading the joy across multiple weeks to Christmas in the Park in Te Puke where locals and visitors can enjoy a Christmas Parade, local performers, and lots of delicious food.”

Those living in Omokoroa won’t need to go far as they’ll have the Omokoroa Carols in the Park and Waihī Beach residents can enjoy the Waihi Beach Christmas Festival.

For those wanting extra support, Katikati is again hosting a Community Christmas Lunch for those who may not otherwise experience a festive meal this year.

Community Christmas Events and Details:

- Te Puke Christmas Float Parade: November 30, 2024, at Downtown Te Puke, 11am – 12pm.

- Tauranga Christmas in the Park: December 7, 2024, at Soper Reserve, Tauranga, 10am – 4pm.

- Ōmokoroa Carols in the Park: December 7, 2024, at Ōmokoroa Sports Pavilion, 5pm – 8pm.

- Katikati Christmas Series: December 7–28, 2024, at various locations.

- Merivale Christmas Festival: December 8, 2024 at Merivale Community Centre, 10am – 3pm

- Christmas in the Park: December 14, 2024 at Jubilee Park, Te Puke, 3pm – 8pm.

-7 – 28 20 – 21 December 2024 at Waihi Beach. Day 1 4pm – 7pm, Day 2 8.30am – 12.30pm.

Alongside the joys of Christmas events heading the Bay’s way over the coming weeks, the fourth funding round for 2024/2025 was also recently announced with $229,275 granted for 22 upcoming events in addition to the 66 events already funded this year.

Round four funded events include:

- Tauranga Christmas in the Park 2024: December 7, 2024 at Soper Reserve.

- Merivale Christmas Festival: December 8, 2024 at Merivale Community Centre.

- Tauranga Sikh Parade: January 12, 2025 at Tauranga Sikh Temple.

- LGBTIAQ+ Friendly Gala: January 18, 2025 in Bethlehem.

- Waitangi Day Festival 2025: February 6, 2025 at The Historic Village.

- Waitangi Day: February 6, 2025 at Haiku Park Reserve.

- Romeo + Juliet: February 6-16, 2025 at Te Puna Quarry Park Amphitheatre.

- 2nd Asian Food Festival 2025: February 15, 2025 at The Historic Village.

- Central North Island Pipe Band Contest: February 22, 2025 at Soper Reserve.

- The Elixer of Love – A One-Act Opera: February 22 to March 2 2025 at Baycourt.

- Beach Run: March 1, 2025 at Mount Maunganui Main Beach.

- The Welcome Bay Lions Kids Fun Day: March 15, 2025 at Welcome Bay.

- 26th Tauranga Multicultural Festival: March 22, 2025 at The Historic Village.

- Katikati Festival of Cultures 2025: April 5, 2025 at Moore Park, Katikati.

- Jazz Street Party in Katikati: April 12, 2025 in Katikati.

- King & Queen of the Mount: April 27, 2025 at Mount Maunganui Main Beach.

- Asia’s Harmony Festival: 3rd May 2025 at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre.

- Party Time! A Children’s Orchestral Event: May 18-24, 2025 at Baycourt.

- YouthFest 2025: May 24, 2025 in Downtown Tauranga.

- Merivale Matariki: June 16-19, 2025 at Merivale Community Centre.

-T e Kete Matariki 2025: June 20, 2025 at Jubilee Park, Te Puke.

- Philippine Independence Basketball Tournament 2025: June 22, 2025 at Mercury Arena Baypark.

The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund website has more details on these and other supported events. Applications for round five of the TWBCEF are now open through www.communityeventfund.nz

Fund partners are inviting new community event applications to be submitted before the 20 February 2025 cut-off date. Decisions for round five will be released by 20 March 2025.

The maximum funding cap per event is $50,000 for events in Tauranga and $15,000 for Western Bay of Plenty events.