“It’s a real community come-together,” Whanganui North Rotary Club director of community events Damien Hegley said.
“We get all walks of life across the community coming in to celebrate the Christmas season to join in singing carols.”
Hegley said there would be several special acts and performers, including David Tippy and Sophie Toyne.
The festive evening will end with a lolly scramble for kids by Santa and his elves.
The Mainstreet Whanganui Christmas Parade 2025 is on Sunday, December 7, from 2pm to 4pm through the heart of town.
Spectators can watch the parade of floats from Whanganui businesses, community groups and more.
“This is a chance for us in our little Whanganui bubble to create some festive cheer with the whole community getting behind it,” Mainstreet Whanganui general manager Charlie Meyerhoff said.
The festivities will continue after the parade with a collection of market stalls in Majestic Square until 5pm.
Meyerhoff said people might want to stay in town and buy dinner at the market after the parade.
Mainstreet chose to move the event, which typically takes place on a Saturday, to Sunday this year so it did not conflict with other festivities and businesses in town. It also aligned with free parking on Sundays to help families who may attend.
“Over the years, so many different people have contributed to making this a great event,” she said.
Next up are the Christmas markets on December 13 and 14.
Whanganui River Markets, which runs the weekly Saturday morning markets, will have its annual Christmas version on Saturday, December 13.
Whanganui River Markets trustee and event organiser Annette Main said the Christmas market would run during the regular hours of 8.30am to 1pm on the bank of the awa on Taupō Quay.
It is fully booked, with more than 160 stallholders providing affordable, locally-made gifts, food and other products.
Many of the regular weekly vendors will be set up, along with some new surprises and out-of-towners.
“There’s always going to be a surprise - even if you come every week,” Main said.
Live music will play through the morning and stallholders are encouraged to dress up and decorate their spaces in the holiday spirit.
On Sunday, December 14, the River City Whanganui Christmas Market 2025 will be at the Racecourse in Purnell St from 2pm to 8pm.
It was the biggest evening market in Whanganui, expected to bring in about 8000 visitors, event organiser Kelly Scarrow said.
The event partners with a different charity group each year. This year it is Brass Whanganui.
“It’ll sound like it’s never sounded before,” Scarrow said.
The brass band will play festive music during the event and the gold coin entry fee will go directly to Brass Whanganui.
They will have a stall with raffles and other donation opportunities to help fundraise for renovations to their building, new uniforms, costs for competitions, along with other general costs to keep the programme running.
Scarrow said she was excited about several new vendors who would join a host of food and regular vendors.
“It’ll kind of spice it up a little bit and add to the variety and the vibe of the event.”
She encouraged attendees to bring cash as not all vendors would offer Eftpos.
“It’s that coming together just before Christmas ... on a Sunday afternoon heading into the evening,” she said.
“It’s just such a vibe [and] people are really happy.”
