Kings to headline vibe. 2018 festival at Cooks Gardens

Kings will headline vibe. 2018 at Cooks Gardens.

The vibe. music festival is returning to Cooks Gardens this year to kick start summer on the right note.

New Zealand rapper and producer Kings will headline the December 15 event with nomad returning to Whanganui after leading last year's line up.

The Whanganui District Council Youth Committee-run festival debuted in 2017 and organiser Josie Verhaaren said there was "definitely" enough success to build a bigger and better event this year.

Earlybird tickets went on sale on Monday afternoon for a day of entertainment which includes performances from local acts Late Night Tales, Whenua Patuwai, Ra Costelloe, The Remnant and dance crew Aotea Empire.

Vibe. mixes music and entertainment with a focus on youth mental health, with a portion of all tickets sales from the non-profit event going to Youthline - which received a $4500 donation last year.

Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick will speak about mental health while social agencies will be on site to offer information and support.

There will also be food trucks on site but people are still able to bring their own food.

Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick will speak about mental health at the festival. Photo/ Bevan Conley

Verhaaren said she hoped the festival would remove some of the stigma around mental health and asking for help.

About 400 tickets were sold to last year's event but she was hoping to sell least 1000 to vibe. 2018.

"It's been really nice to have some of the ground work in place. Last year it was done completely from scratch and we had no prior experience."

Organiser Josie Verhaaren.

Tickets are available through eventfinda or at the Whanganui i-Site.

Earlybird tickets are $10 or $25 for a family pass and available until November 5.

From then tickets will be $15 or $35 for a family pass.

Organisers are hoping to sell at least 1000 tickets to this year's vibe. music festival.

Gates open at 3pm with music starting at 4pm.