"I'm inspired by Carla's suggestions and having the gallery space to host events just seems to work really well."
Ms Donson says the festival is about encouraging people to come out and have fun at what can be a difficult time of year for some.
"Art forms are such inspiring and uplifting things for people and artists tend to be people who lift themselves up with their creativity."
Ms Williams will be hosting a special One Hit Wonder exhibition during Winter Wonderfest from August 13 to September 1 with contributions from 20 local artists.
Space Gallery will also host another popular night market with a line-up of stalls selling local creations and Kirks Pizza will be available to help warm and nourish browsers.
The festival will open with a performance by New Zealand's only all-female bluegrass band, Hot Diggity, playing an afternoon gig at the RSA on Sunday, August 13.
"They perform wearing vintage dresses from the 1940s and 50s, and write all their own music," says Ms Donson.
"They are fabulous and I wanted to book them last year but they couldn't make it.
"This year they happen to be on a national tour and this fits perfectly with their schedule."
The festival will also be hosting The Spinoff website editor and Rants in the Dark parenting blogger Emily Writes.
Winter Wonderfest programmes will be available from The Ladies Rest, Space Gallery and other venues around town next week.
Programmes will also be live on the Women's Network Wanganui and Space Studio and Gallery Facebook pages.