Western Bay of Plenty residents are invited to attend a one-day, market-style festival with 20-plus stalls offering everything from jewellery and candles to face-painting and vegan food at Pāpāmoa Sports & Recreation Centre this Saturday, December 10.

The inaugural charity festival – named RescuesPalooza – is a fundraiser to give back to struggling animal rescues and educate the community on the vital work these groups do.

Organisers Misha Gildenberger, Missy Ingram and Fran Harvey say entry to RescuesPalooza – which runs from 11am-4pm inside Pāpāmoa Sports & Recreation Centre – will be via donation of animal food or animal-related supplies at the door, which will be distributed to the rescues.

'We have donkeys, horses, chickens, cats and dog rescues, so you can bring any item related to these animals. The more goods, the merrier!”

The rescue groups will have stalls stocked with products and information about the work they do – with the Misha, Fran and Missy hoping RescuesPalooza educates the Western Bay of Plenty community on the animal rescue work being done locally.

'All three of us have worked in animal care and fostering for years,” says Missy. 'There are so many tough cases and a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes.

'We want to bring the rescue work to the forefront so that people know what's going on.”

RescuesPalooza is this Saturday, December 10, from 11am-4pm at Pāpāmoa Sports & Recreation Centre – event-goers are asked to keep their pets at home, with RescuePalooza being held indoors.

More event details are at: https://www.facebook.com/rescuespalooza