Wanganui City Mission lunch all about community

The single biggest Christmas Day event in Whanganui is all about community.

About 450 people turned up to the Wanganui City Mission Christmas lunch at the War Memorial Centre yesterday to eat, listen to festive music and enjoy the day with others.

"It's to bring people together," City Mission's Justin Mulligan said.

"To celebrate Christmas as a community. We can provide a lovely Christmas meal and it's about company as well."

About 100 volunteers helped run the event and provide punters with a meal of ham, chicken, buns and coleslaw.

"Some people have done it for years and years and years and they want to do it again and some are doing it for the first time which is really, really good. We couldn't do it without them," Mr Mulligan said.

Eight-year-old Ananja Iraia was one of more than 400 at the Wanganui City Mission Christmas lunch. Photo/Stuart Munro

"We had huge support from local businesses."

Adelene Iraia was among the crowd with her family and said they came to the City Mission lunch about once every three years.

She said it was good to be around people on Christmas Day and the City Mission always provided a good meal.

"And we go home literally to no dishes. We'll spend the rest of the day with family."

Children also received a gift and there was face-painting, a bouncy castle and Christmas music being played.