Tonight's light festival Winter Nights Winter Lights has been cancelled due to the strong wind warnings and the heavy rain forecast.

Tauranga City Council has advised members of the public to stay safe and warm tonight while strong winds, heavy rain and king tide arrive today.

'But fear not, we will be back as planned on Monday night from 6pm to 10pm with the weather looking significantly better,” says Tauranga City Council.

The free, all-ages event, presented by Tauranga City Council, showcases a spectrum of interactive light installations, live entertainment, food and more on four consecutive nights.

From lighting designer Alexandra Heaney's interactive light installation Sweep to the lighted pou at the other end of the Strand, there is colour, music, projected images, dancing, food and entertainment.

Sweep' comprises one hundred acrylic tubes, standing four metres tall with three sections of light implanted inside (all LED- controllable) each stem.

In addition to Sweep, an outdoor projection has turned a wall in Masonic Park into a temporary art installation, unique to Tauranga.

The animated projection by local artist Sam Emerson highlights features, events and scenes that are unique to Tauranga.

Fuse Drumming and food trucks add to the vibrancy.

Event details at www.mytauranga.co.nz/WNWL