Thornton Heath Festival 2023 date announced

Posted on 19 July 2023 by Callton Young

Thornton Heath Festival 2023, aka Thornton Heath Carnival, will take place on Sunday, 10 September. Please make a note in your diary.

Speaking on behalf of the Organising Committee Vice Chairman, Cllr. Callton Young, said “I am pleased to announce Thornton Heath Festival is back after initially being interrupted by Lockdown. Our committee stands ready to deliver the best Festival in our seventeen-year history.

We have always produced an awesome spectacle of sound, colour, dance and food, fit for a diverse community. This year we will deepen and broaden that. We will take the opportunity to celebrate Windrush 75 which is important given the largest Windrush population of any Ward in London lives in Thornton Heath Ward. We will also add colour to Croydon’s year as Borough of Culture.”

Please support this great community day out. There will be something for everyone, as well as a brilliant stage line up, a funfair and a variety of stalls including fantastic food.

As usual, the Festival will take place on Thornton Heath High Street and run from noon to 6.30pm.

The street will be closed to traffic for the day from early morning to allow fairground attractions, the stage and stalls to be set up. It will reopen after 8pm.

Please spread the word about Thornton Heath Festival 2023.

To book a stall please click here for a copy of the 2023 booking application form.

Click here for a copy of the form to apply for a temporary street trading licence.

To apply to perform on stage, click here to contact us.

Thornton Heath Festival 2019 Performers

Posted on 27 August 2019 by Callton Young

Every year Thornton Heath Festival aims to deliver good stage entertainment alongside a funfair, a good mix of stalls and, not least, a great range of food and drink. This year will be no different, indeed, should be even better than previous years.

Soca sensation, One The Band, will headline at Thornton Heath Festival 2019. Due to popular demand Winnie and Freddie, (Freddie having sung with international reggae giant Gregory Issacs), will be back for a second year.

Newcomers to Thornton Heath Festival include Cassandra London, Stxkz, Chelsey Shannon Brown and Stunflower!

Cassandra London is an upcoming local singer/songwriter with an incredible talent who is fast making her mark on the reggae scene. She released her debut EP ‘Too Blessed,’ in August 2014 at Brixton’s Hootananny which includes “Just Cool” a song that was self-penned and has since been covered by other singers. Other hits include Made for Me (Snippet) and Is it Too Late.

And we should not forget her exquisite cover versions of Louisa Marks’ 6th Street and Rolls Royce’s Magic Touch, both of which she made her own and nailed.

Cassandra London’s latest single, Music (My Hero), features reggae megastar Frankie Paul, such is her direction of travel.

It has to be said that the future looks bright for yet another musical talent coming from Thornton Heath. Our Festival is blessed with talent.

Stxkz is a south London based grime artist with links with Thornton Heath. He went down a storm at neighbouring Norbury Park’s Peace and Love Festival on 24 August 2019 with tunes like Play Different, Coma and Lights Off Lights On. Given his local popularity, we are lucky to have Stxkz on the Thornton Heath Festival line up too.

Chelsey Shannon Brown is a 24 year old solo singer/ songwriter who graduated in 2016 from The University Of Kent with a Music-Degree! She currently has three original singles to her name, including the brilliant His Story and Intentions. She absolutely loves to perform and is looking forward to Thornton Heath Festival. Can’t wait.

Stunflower is a Psychedelic Rock Roots Trio from South London. The Band comprises Continue reading →

Thornton Heath Festival 2019 date announced

Posted on 14 July 2019 by Callton Young

Thornton Heath Festival 2019 will take place on Sunday, 8 September 2019. Please put it in your diary to avoid missing this annual sensation.

Festival Vice Chairman, Cllr. Callton Young, said ‘Thornton Heath Festival aka ‘Thornton Heath Carnival‘ is an awesome spectacle of sound, colour, dance and food. It is not to be missed’. The Festival has been safely under good management for over a decade. It has something for everyone regardless of age, gender or ethnic background.’ He is encouraging lovers of festivals, carnival and fun in general, to put 8 September 2019 in their diaries and to spread the word about this premier local event

Flagz Mas Band
Thanus
Chidren take over the Stage
Flagz Mas Band
Callton with reveller
Crowd dancing to Socca
Miss Desire
Tamil Cultural Dancers
Kids take over the stage
One The Band
Triniboi Joocie
Flagz Mas Band
Leah McKenzie
Ms Desire
Skillosophi
Salsa Naturally
Ain High Academy
Taylor-Leigh Sandiford
Chantel
Dan-I
TH Festival Poet’s Point
Tony, Debbie & Pat
Kimberley SK

Festival Chairman Tony Rowland said ‘the Festival will take place on Thornton Heath High Street as usual and run from noon until 6.30pm. The street will be closed off for the full day, starting from early morning to allow fairground attractions, the stage and stalls to set up – and then to allow Festival goers to fully enjoy this big day out uninterrupted’.

To book a stall please click here for a copy of the 2019 booking application form.

Click here for a copy of the form to apply for a temporary street trading licence.

To apply to perform on stage, click here to contact us.

Thornton Heath Festival 2018 Hits the Spot

Posted on 25 September 2018 by Callton Young

Thornton Heath Festival 2018 was spectacular as it was successful, made possible by the hard work of a small team of organising volunteers: Tony Rowland, Cllr. Callton Young, Hon Alderman Adrian Dennis, Cllr. Pat Clouder, Agnes Forbes, Cllr. Karen Jewitt and Neil Athron.

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One The Band played out Thornton Heath Festival 2018 in what turned out to be a live Soca-fest of a-grand-finale featuring international Soca artists, Ms Desire, DJ Frisco and S Rise!

20180909_182632 One The Band

Ms Desire sang hits like ‘Doing Me’ and ‘Do Whu You Want’ – along with champion, DJ Frisco. Thornton Heath was spoilt for talent as S Rise took to the stage to sing hit song ‘I am Winning’.

20180909_183552 As the crowd demanded more, Ms Desire sang ‘ My Team’, another of her Soca sensations, as a parting gift. Working the crowd, she got everyone singing, hands over hearts, that they ‘are the best’; ‘Thornton Heath is the Best’. We all left bursting with pride for our community. What a perfect end to a perfect day!

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Thornton Heath Festival 2018: Date announced

Posted on 8 April 2018 by Callton Young

The date of Thornton Heath Festival 2018 has been announced. It’s Sunday, 9 September 2018. Please put it in your diary.

Speaking today, Festival Chairman Tony Rowland said ‘as usual the event will take place on Thornton Heath High Street and run from noon until 6pm. The road will be closed off for the day to fit in as many attractions as possible and to allow Festival goers to fully enjoy themselves without interruption’.

Vice Chairman, Callton Young, said ‘Thornton Heath Festival has evolved to become an awesome spectacle of sounds, colour, dance and food and is a ‘must go’. There is something for everyone to enjoy regardless of age, gender or ethnic background.’ He is urging Festival regulars to block 9 September 2018 off in their diaries and to spread the word about what is now undoubtedly Croydon’s premier annual street festival.

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Together with other key Management Committee members, Adrian Dennis, Pat Clouder, Agnes Forbes, Karen Jewitt, Tony and Callton are working to make Thornton Heath Festival 2018 the best one in its eleven year history.

Thornton Heath Festival 2017 a Resounding Success

Posted on 16 September 2017 by Callton Young

When heavy rain was forecast for Sunday 3 September, Thornton Heath Festival 2017 stood every chance of being a wash-out for the first time in a decade! Key members of the Festival Management Committee, Tony Rowland, Cllr. Callton Young OBE, Cllr. Pat Clouder, Hon. Alderman Adrian Dennis, Karen Barnett and Cllr. Karen Jewitt were therefore on tenterhooks as Thornton Heath High Street was closed to traffic at 6am that morning, to make preparation for the day ahead.

Heavy lorries rolled in, ladened with the all important Fun Fair rides. No Thornton Heath Festival is complete without them! Then there was the arrival of the central stage, the stallholders and the band of volunteers who help the day run smoothly. All of this happened under the watchful gaze of our professional group of SIA approved security officers led by Renford.

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Fortunately, rain did not come until the end of the Festival. And by then both revellers and performers alike were in the groove! So the band played on, singers sang on and the crowd danced on, full of the joys! Indeed, this Festival eclipsed many others to become one of the most enjoyable yet! Above are some photos of the best ‘people’ moments towards the very end of Festival as rain started to fall! There were smiles all round!

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Thornton Heath Festival 2017 is Here

Posted on 31 August 2017 by Callton Young

Thornton Heath Festival’s awesome spectacle of sound, colour, dance and food takes place this weekend, Sunday 3 September. It will bring Thornton Heath’s diverse communities together for a fun-packed day by providing something for people of all groups, ages and backgrounds. An online Council poll voted last year’s event the best festival in Croydon by a large margin.

This year’s Festival will be our tenth anniversary! Reaching this milestone is a tribute to the efforts of volunteers like Tony Rowland (Chair), Councillor Callton Young, Councillor Pat Clouder, Hon. Alderman Adrian Dennis, Karen Barnett and a small but changing group of others over the years.

Each year we aim to improve our offer. This year is no different. There will be live music from local band Skillosophi and local performers like Kimberley SK and X Factor star Leah McKenzie (pictured below) and Ben Brown from The Voice.

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Thornton Heath Festival 2017 date announced

Posted on 14 July 2017 by Callton Young

The date of Thornton Heath Festival 2017 has been announced as Sunday, 3 September 2017.

As usual the event will run from noon until 6pm and take place on Thornton Heath High Street. The road will be closed off for the day.

Speaking ahead of a meeting with Town Hall officials to get clearances for the event, Festival Chairman Tony Rowland said ‘the Management Committee is delighted to be delivering yet another fun-filled day for the local community! The Festival is in its 10th year, has always been popular with local residents.

Festival Vice Chairman, Councillor Callton Young OBE, said he was” looking forward to helping to deliver yet another fabulous day for the community. A lot of exceptionally good talent is coming out of Thornton Heath at the moment and the Festival is an opportunity to showcase that and to bring in good acts from further afield to create a great party atmosphere.”

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Thornton Heath Festival is this Sunday

Posted on 1 September 2016 by Callton Young

Well, Well! Thornton Heath was buzzing today as locals stopped to read banners, posters and flyers promoting this year’s Thornton Heath Festival which will take place on Sunday, 4 September. The event will be held on Thornton Heath High Street. It will start at noon and run throughout the afternoon, finishing at 6pm. The street will be closed to traffic.

Organisers have lined up some great artists for the live stage performances. Festival Vice Chairman, Councillor Callton Young OBE, said “last year’s festival was great but this year’s will be fantastic! There will be a distinct Soca vibe with Soca champions like Triniboi Joocie and One The Band, performing live – plus Notting Hill favourites Flagz Mas Band showing us how Soca is danced professionally and getting the crowd involved.” Councillor Pat Clouder, who has been working with the Festival for ten years now, said “the event is a great way of bringing the community together.”

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Thornton Heath Festival 2016 date announced

Posted on 17 May 2016 by Callton Young

The date of Thornton Heath Festival 2016 has been announced!!

Speaking today Festival Chairman Tony Rowland said ‘the Management Committee is planning another fun-filled day for the whole community to take place on 4 September 2016!

It will be bigger and better than ever said Festival Vice Chairman Councillor Callton Young. ‘Last year was good but we will surpass it this year because of solid community support and growing interest among top quality local performers.’ ‘Our local community has much of which to be proud’ he added.

Triniboi Joocie performing at THF 2o15

Another Festival organiser, Councillor Pat Clouder, was just as upbeat about the event.

She said ‘I am so pleased to help produce such an enjoyable day out for the whole community’ Each year the event gets better and better’.

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