An annual free Christmas Day dinner on Cortes Island has become a community tradition since its inception 20 years ago and demand remains high for this season's event.

Founder Jim Kearney says it all began when he longed to re-create the kind of Christmas celebration he had with relatives.

The event started with Kearney funding the occasion himself, but over the years support from local businesses, cash donations from community members and volunteer efforts have become the mainstay, supporting the dinner financially.

Traditionally, the event was staged at the Gorge Community Hall in Whaletown and began Christmas morning with a roaring fire and live music welcoming hundreds of patrons through the course of the day leading up to Christmas dinner.

As CKTZ News discovers, during the pandemic, organizers have had to become innovative in order for the popular and much anticipated event to continue.

Listen to the CKTZ story below to learn more: