Croydon Heritage Festival Pic: The Whitgift Foundation

Croydon will celebrate its diversity and rich culture with over 100 events during the Croydon Heritage Festival, which runs from June 20 to 28.

The festival is returning to Croydon for the third time. This year the theme is Famous Croydon. Over 70 organisations will join to celebrate and enjoy the festival. The Whitgift Foundation, the organiser of this event, has been preparing it “since November last year.”

Catherine Shirley, the head of marketing and communications at the Whitgift Foundation, said: “The aim is to celebrate Croydon past, present and future. Croydon has an incredible but often forgotten or overlooked history and heritage. We want to promote this to the local community and beyond.”

“There’s a jam packed programme, many of which are free,” Shirley said.

“We can’t wait to get underway this Saturday when Croydon town centre will be filled with music and performance for Croydon Heritage Day to launch the festival.”

The highlights of the Croydon Heritage Day on 20 June will include family friendly performances, local craft and tasty food stalls. The entry to the event is free.

Croydon Heritage Exhibition in Whitgift Shopping Centre will display uncovered famous faces and places across the borough. Art from current and budding artists will also be on show.

The festival will feature, a selection of Croydon’s most iconic and historically significant buildings, which will be open to the public. They include Croydon Airport, Croydon’s Famous Tramlink Depot, The Whitgift Almshouses and so on.