Chelsea Winter, Tami Neilson, Te Radar, a circus troupe and the star of the Tinā movie (Anapela Polata’ivao) are amongst those set to delight at this year’s Tauranga Arts Festival.

The festival was launched in Tauranga last night when its jam-packed programme was revealed.

Tickets are now on sale for what the festival’s general manager Sarah Cotter promised would be an event full of “variety and vibrancy”.

It will be held at various locations from Omokoroa to Tauranga and Mt Maunganui over the October 23 - November 2 period.

“Basically, we are saying that if you are wondering what to do over Labour Weekend, check out www.taurangafestival.co.nz and just stay home. Enjoy our festival,” said Cotter.

Ozi Ozaa will bring highlife and Afrofunk to the Carrus Crystal Palace. Photo / Supplied

“This is a festival for our community, and we have ensured it is inclusive and accessible with something for everyone. There will be all the fun of the circus and the magic and cleverness of musicians, comedians, actors, writers and more and there are numerous free events, and plenty of whānau-friendly performances.”

Tauranga Arts Festival chair Kathryn Lellman said the festival placed the Tauranga community at its centre and celebrates our own creatives, alongside national and international performers.

New Zealanders set to delight include funny guy Te Radar, cookbook queen Chelsea Winter, applauded writer Catherine Chidgey, singing superstar Tami Neilson, actress Anapela Polata’ivao, musical heavy-weight Jason Te Mete, and comedians Hayley Sproull, Nicola Cheeseman and Rhys Mathewson… to name but some.

Free events include Car-A-Oke – karaoke inside a parked van! Another is Undergrand – a baby grand piano in the wild. This is a roaming, open-air musical event that involves up-and-coming students and seasoned pianists performing wherever the piano takes them – Mt Main Beach at dawn, and in the festival garden at Tauranga waterfront at dusk, for example.

Also free, and in the festival garden, will be Obelisk Natura, a large-scale installation to treat the eyes and ears.

Creation Creation … a comedy addressing life’s biggest questions. Photo / Supplied

Fancy an early morning dance party, a disco night, a battle chorus, a big community singalong called Waiata Mai, plus the opportunity to swing, swoon and sing with crooners celebrating the Rat Pack era? All will be on offer.

The line-up includes a rich literary series, a schools’ programme, and all the fun of the circus.

Cirque Bon Bon (a sell-out internationally) promises a high-octane fusion of circus, dance and comedy suitable for all ages.

The festival will also see the return of the popular, like Zinefest and Poetry Slam (and Tami Neilson), and a new performance, called The Griegol, by Trick of the Light Theatre who have formed a strong Tauranga following.

See www.taurangafestival.co.nz for the full programme.