A Christmas event is aiming to spread more happiness and cheer through community involvement during the festive season.

Tauranga Christmas in the Park, which is a not-for-profit charity event run by Little Big Events, is into its sixth year, with a whole new line-up of performances.

With just a gold coin donation or a non-perishable food item and present donation to enter, locals will be helping out several charities, including Women's refugee, Homes of Hope, Tauranga Food Bank, Sharkti and Good Neighbours.

Little Big Events director Rachelle Duff says the event is an opportunity for the community to get behind several good causes.

'Not being able to afford things can really make or break Christmas for some people, so knowing that you've given just one little family a Christmas is quite special,” says Rachelle.

This year there will be live performances by Avalanche City, Modern Maori quartet, the Randy Matthews band and Ruchter City Rebels.

There will also be activities, such as face painting, a carnival area, bar, Little Big Market, youth area and Santa's grotto with a photo booth.

Rachelle says they are working with More FM again, where they will be running the campaign Full the Bus, which visits different businesses for donations.

'It encourages everyone in the workforce to give prior to the event, which is really cool because the more we can get, the more we can give.

'We have such an active community in the Bay of Plenty, and it's about time that we started celebrating that.”

The Tauranga Christmas in the Park event will be held on Saturday, December 9, from 1-8pm at Blake Park.