When it comes to putting on a heck of a celebration, no-one does it better than the Merivale community.

Their annual Christmas Festival returns this Friday, December 12 and will be jam-packed with fun, food, games and a special appearance by man of the hour Hana Koko (Santa Claus).

Merivale Community Centre manager Rachel Palmer is looking forward to the community's Christmas Festival on December 12. Photo by Tracey Hardy.

The festival has been around for the last 10 years and is guaranteed to pull a large crowd.

Merivale Community Centre manager Rachel Palmer says the festival will reflect the community and will have a great multicultural and multi-spiritual feel.

'It's basically to bring the community together in one place to purely celebrate the end of the year and Christmas,” she says.

'There will be lots of food, children's games and I even heard we may have a fire engine coming along so I recommend people may want to bring a towel.”

Rachel says there's a long list of entertainment, including music from local band Empress, the centre's Studio RZ students, plus the winner of this year's Merivale Idol competition.

Many different community groups will also run stalls, plus a number of churches will be present on the day.

There's also a special visit from everyone's favourite jolly fat man Hana Koko, says Rachel.

'Santa will be coming along and his presents have been generously sponsored by the Fraser Cove Warehouse and MP Simon Bridges,” she says.

'I also need to thank Creative Communities because we really couldn't have done this without them.”

Rachel says the whole community have come on board for the festival. Many have donated equipment, will be cooking food and volunteering their time on the day.

'It has been great watching how everyone works together and to all their strengths,” says Rachel.

'We've basically stepped back and the community is driving this festival, it's really nice.”

The Merivale Christmas Festival is at the community centre on Kesteven Ave, on December 12 from 12pm.

For more information, call Merivale Community Centre on: 07 578 6450.