Thousands of NZ Garden & Art Festival programmes have rolled off the press in preparation for tonight's official launch.

The launch is the culmination of months of planning for festival organisers, with this year's programme the largest yet, says festival director John Beech.

Kale Print business development manager Ross Hamlyn and Garden & Arts Festival director John Beech with the new brochures. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

'It is also the most comprehensive, full of variety, and one which genuinely represents our festival as a garden and art festival, full of fun and food as well.”

The bright pink festival programmes can be picked up from cafes, garden centres and retail and entertainment outlets across the region.

'The programme outlines every attraction at our festival, both free and ticketed, and has details for booking events or for planning to come to the free ones,” says John.

'The big change this festival is that we have a genuine hub in the Lakes Expo Pavilion. This will be the site of many surprising, amusing and challenging exhibitions and installations.

'We are expecting thousands to take advantage of our invitation to visit and enjoy them.”

The 2014 NZ Garden & Art Festival is the ninth of the biennial event. It runs November 17-23 and combines the much-loved garden trail with artists exhibiting in gardens, plus events in and around Tauranga, including a sculpture symposium on the Mount beachfront.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, September 1.