Thornton Heath’s much-loved festival of “sound, colour, dance and food” is back for its 19th year.
The Thornton Heath Festival, which takes place on the High Street, is a community event which will take place this Sunday (September 7).
The festival, also described as a carnival, first began in the late 2000s and will offer a wide range of activities and spectacles for visitors to enjoy.
Councillor Callton Young, Vice Chair of the Thornton Heath Festival, told Your Local Guardian: “Thornton Heath Festival is an awesome spectacle of sound, colour, dance, and food, fit for a diverse community.
“It’s a great family day out for everyone.
“This year, we will have a wonderful dance crew, who will get everybody into the carnival spirit.
“We’ll also have the wonderful reggae duo Winnie and Freddie coming along.
“Ashley Tragic will also be there, as well as the very soulful Nicole Williams, Chelsey Shannon Brown, and more.”
Thornton Heath Festival is collaborating with talent-spotting organisation Undiscovered Talent UK this year.
There will also be a fun fair at the festival and a variety of stalls, offering a range of food, including jerk chicken.
Planning for the festival began in April, and the organisers spend months working with the police, council, and the NHS to ensure the event runs smoothly.
Thornton Heath Festival was founded by Tony Rowland, who is the Chairman of the Thornton Heath Business Partnership, and Cllr Callton has been part of it for the last decade.
Cllr Callton added: “I set out with a personal goal to grow it and make it more reflective of the local community.
“So, I ensure that we get lots of talent locally that gives people the platform to go out and perform, and share their talents with the people they live with.
“It’s also a great day out for the youngsters locally.
“Many Thornton Heath families don’t go on holidays, so they really look forward to the festival.
“They’ll be going back to school soon, so it’s rewarding to see them enjoy it.”
With 40 stalls on offer, visitors can try their luck at hook-a-duck, indulge in candy floss, and browse an array of accessories and clothing.
Thornton Heath Festival is aimed at bringing together the local community and showcasing its unique culture.
Callton explained: “Thornton Heath has its own culture.
“It’s kind of unique in that way.
“That’s where the largest West Indian community is, and it’s more than any other ward in London.
“But the festival isn’t just about the West Indian community; it’s much broader than that.
“Some people call it the ‘Thornton Heath Carnival,’ but we call it the ‘Thornton Heath Festival’ because it has a wider appeal.”
The festival will begin at 12pm on Sunday, opened by Civic Mayor Richard Chatterjee, and will run until 6.30pm.
