Palmerston North residents brave the cold to check out the first Thursday Night Street Feast in June, 2016.

Foodies flocked to The Square for Palmerston North's first Thursday Night Street Feast.

Inspired by the night markets of the Far East and London, the Thursday Night Street Feast has proven popular in Lower Hutt, where at its peak in 2015 some 5000 people turned out to sample the wares.

Palmerston North City Council policy planner Keegan Aplin-Thane said the Feast was a huge success, and the size of the crowd had surprised organisers.

David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Palmerston North residents brave the cold to check out the first food truck thursday in the Square.

Roughly 4000 people were expected to attend, but they didn't expect so many people so early.

Aplin-Thane said it was packed out even before the official start at 5.30pm.

"People were trying to get food at 4.30pm and we couldn't get another truck into the middle by 20 past 5."

David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. People line up to get a taste of Saigon.

People packed into the car park in front of the war memorial almost shoulder to shoulder and it was hard to tell where the lines ended and the crowd began.

Adding to the crowd were people getting off the inter-regional buses nearby.

"It's actually their tea break stop, so that's been great for them to get involved, too."

David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Eager customers receive their food.

The Street Feast was originally planned to roll out a week earlier but was rained off.

Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said he was delighted the event had attracted foodies, artists and entertainers into The Square.

"It's very exciting, and at least the weather is starting to work with us."

He said the Street Feast fitted in well with the city's multicultural society, and Smith was sure the mix of flavours from around the world and local entertainment would be a big hit.

Palmerston North man Stuart Lindsay navigated his way through the crowd, trying to get to as many food trucks as possible before he had to head back to work at the hospital.

"It's fantastic ... my favourite so far is Evil Stepson's ribs. I'd like to see this happen again, and again."

The people drawn in for the event could be a bonus for retailers as Thursdays are also The Plaza's late-night shopping days.

Plaza Shopping Centre manager Andrew Heaphy said a lot of CBD businesses had followed suit, but there tended to be fewer evening shoppers than in summer.

"In winter, the hardest job is getting people up off the couch. If this attracts more people into the CBD, then it's great [for us]."