The Friendly Bay Family Day this weekend will be "a good, simple family fun day'' without all "the bells and whistles'', Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says.
Tomorrow, the inaugural Friendly Bay Family Day, organised by the Waitaki District Council, will be held.
Mr Kircher said in league with different groups, including the Waitaki Aquatic Centre and House of Breakthrough Church, the event would provide activities including sandcastle building competitions, a beach dig and food.
The response to the idea of holding a family fun day event at Oamaru Harbour had been overwhelmingly positive, Mr Kircher said.
"There are a lot of people looking forward to it,'' he said.
"We've got a lot of not-for-profit [organisations] running food stalls to help with their fundraising, which is great, and businesses have got in behind it, donating prizes for the activities.''
The focus was on providing a free day for families in the district.
"There will be plenty of free things for the kids to do, including rides on the North Otago Hotel's mini-truck,'' Mr Kircher said.
The family fun day starts at 11am with a beach dig and sandcastle competition.
The Oamaru Lions Club Noddy train will also be running from then.
"We're not aiming for a big event, as far as having all the bells and whistles. It's just a good, simple family fun day,'' Mr Kircher said.
"There will be a lot for people to take part in, or they can just go down there and relax.''
Giant inflatables will be set up on land and in the water from 12.30pm.
He expected the event to be "pretty awesome'' as long as the weather was good, Mr Kircher said.
He hoped it could become an annual event or something that could adapted to run for children and families on New Year's Eve in town.
The annual Port FM Birdman Competition at Oamaru Harbour has been brought forward to run in conjunction with the family fun day.
The first people vying for prizes will launch off Holmes Wharf at 2pm.
