Whichever way you like to spend Labour Weekend there's a plethora of activities to keep you satisfied in the Bay.

Yes – it's the first three-day weekend since way back at the start of June – and the Western Bay of Plenty will be humming.

High profile basketball competition HoopNation has moved to base itself at ASB Baypark, and tips off all long weekend hosting some of the nation's best Basketball talent, including players from the Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns, the full Junior Tall Blacks and Junior Tall Fern squads and ex- Breakers – from today through to Labour Monday.

Today Mount Maunganui's Coronation Park will be packed with enough machines with four wheels to a make a man cray.

Yes – Wheels on Mainstreet is back from 10am-3pm. But this time it will be parked up at the park offering car-lovers upclose glimpses of hotrods, trucks, bikes, classics, custom cars, T-Buckets. You name it, it's will be there.

If you fancy a game of football head to Links Avenue Reserve this weekend. The Tauranga City United Labour Weekend Football tournament is on from 8.50am-5pm today and 8.50-3pm on Sunday. And both participants and spectators can donate football kits to a good cause.

The Mauao Beach Volleyball is on today and tomorrow from 9am-6pm at Mount Maunganui Main Beach. So go watch beach volleyball teams from across New Zealand competing.

And if you head to the beach make sure you keep safe, as lifeguards start their summer season of patrolling. Papamoa Beach Surf Lifesaving Club captain Shaun Smith says the best advice is to swim between the flags. For more safety tips, click here.

The 10th annual Bay Salsa Festival is on today and tomorrow too, at Otumoetai College with all-day classes, activities, celebrations and – of course - dancing. See some of New Zealand's top Latin dance teachers and performers from all around the country taking.

KatiKati will be buzzing this weekend with the local college's reunion hosting a free day of activities today, including the annual Past versus Present competition from 11.30am.

'Saturday's Past Versus Present sports tournament is where past students challenge present students in rugby, hockey, netball and soccer,” says reunion organiser Steve Graveson.

There will also be school tours from 12pm-3pm – assemble outside the Action centre – and Decades photos being taken from 1pm – starting with the 1940s – to 2010-2016 students at 2.10pm.

Plus the Tauranga Kennel Association is hosting its Champion Show, in conjunction with the Bay of Plenty Gun Dog Show Society, at Uretara Domain in Katikati from 9am today and Sunday. This show is set to attract more than 500 dogs of various breeds –and plenty of pooch-lovers.

In Te Puke, the community market is at Jubilee Park from 9am-1pm, offering everything from art and craft to produce and food.

From 2pm until late both today and tomorrow The Hop House and neighbours Vaudeville Bar will jointly host a Hoptober Fest if you like a tipple. Plus there is gourmet pizza and beer matching, bratwurst and pork belly buns with sauerkraut and other delicious snacks available throughout the day, plus roaring open fires in both venues in the evening.

From 5pm-9.30pm tonight Bay residents are invited to celebrate Tauranga's Diwali Festival of Lights at Greerton Marist Sports Club Hall, 117 Oropi Rd.

'This is the most important festival of all for Indians – because it is the festival that celebrates good over evil – and it also marks the Indian New Year,” says event manager Payal Raj, who is running it as a fundraiser for the city's first Hindu temple being built.

Or enjoy a night out for a gold coin donation. Night Owl Cinema's outdoor cinema is a magical experience with food available from Street Food Union, musicians and performers and the screening of the film when the sun goes down.

Come along from 6pm to secure your spot and bring your own bean bags, chairs or picnic rugs to sit on. Remember to rug up warm as even is summer it gets cold in the evenings!

Plus, the International Youth Silent Film Festival is on tonight from 7pm at Baycourt with screenings of the top silent films from around New Zealand with Nathan Avakian, the festival's composer, playing the Mighty Wurlitzer, the largest type of musical instrument in the world.

Also – tonight Baypark Family Speedway season kicks off for 2016 from 6.30pm. The start of an exciting new season will see fields of cars in most classes.

The North Island's best Sprint Car drivers will battle it out in Round One of the six round Champion of Champions Series – and super saloons, saloons, stock cars, mini stocks and six-shooter V6 wingless sprint cars will race too.

High-octane Hamilton rockers Checaine are hitting the road and heading to Mount Maunganui tonight from 8pm. The progressive hard rock four-piece will be bringing their intense rock‘n'roll show to town when their Set Us Free tour stops in at Mount Maunganui's Totara Street performance venue.

And for books, barbecues, beds, bikes and more – more than 3000 items must be sold at Papamoa Rotary's Monster Garage Sale this Sunday from 7am-4pm.

There will be appliances, bric-a-brac, chairs, computers, heaters, dolls, umbrellas, soft toys, lounge suites, tents, pictures, washing machines, outdoor furniture and much, much more for sale. Funds raised will be donated to Papamoa Rotary to support Papamoa youth.

The Monster Garage Sale is at Gordon Spratt Reserve, off Parton Rd.

Wheels on Mainstreet is on today at Coronation Park in Mount Maunganui, from 10am-3pm. Photo: Chris Callinan