Waitangi Day, marking the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, will be commemorated across the south on Friday (6 Feb) with community and family focused events.

Invercargill's Waitangi Day Festival will be centered around Esk Street where, from 11am, families can enjoy live music, cultural performances and of course a great selection of food.

Celtic fusion rock band Highland Storm will entertain on the main stage with a lively array of upbeat anthems and rock favorites that are bound to get the blood pumping.

There will also be performances from Ngā Taniwha o Murihiku and Cook Islands cultural group Te Vaka O te Uki Ou.

Te Anau's Waitangi Day Festival will start at 11.30am in Lions Park with an opening ceremony including a Mihi Whakatau/welcome and kapa haka performance by Ngā Herenga Waka Kapa Haka.

This will be followed by a hāngi, arts and crafts stalls, Dr Rock with Tāne Tamati, and an afternoon of storytelling, entertainment, games, weaving, a giant sandpit and waterslide.

Other attractions in the tourist town over the weekend include a Mixed Media Art Exhibition in the old Westpac building - hosted by the Fiordland Arts Charitable Trust, an art display by Mararoa School at the Wapiti Bakery, and bilingual storytime and a collaborative art workshop at Te Anau's Library.