A popular seaside experience is making a return to Croydon this summer after two incredibly successful years.
Costa del Croydon, a free and family-friendly rooftop event, will transform the Centrale Shopping Centre's top floor into an "urban beach" from August 7 to 31.
Returning favourites include a splash zone, mini go-karts, trampolines, and classic seaside games, alongside dance workshops, interactive activities, and a wider range of food and drink from independent vendors.
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New for 2026 is The Beach Club, an adults-only event taking place every Thursday from 5 pm to 8 pm.
The evenings will feature live DJs, cocktails, and entertainment, with themed nights including garage music, drag-hosted lip sync battles, pre-carnival dancehall performances, sip and paint sessions, and music bingo.
Costa del Croydon has also teamed up with Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) for a third year, with community showcase days throughout August highlighting local groups, performers, and talent.
The event is weather-proof, with selected activities moving indoors if rain interrupts the fun.
Dominique Stagg, marketing, PR, and events manager at Centrale & Whitgift, said: "We created Costa Del Croydon to give Croydon residents a free summer experience right in the heart of the town centre.
"Over the last two years, it's become a real summer focal point for the community, with families returning time and time again.
"This year we're excited to introduce The Beach Club nights, creating a new social experience for adults alongside the daytime family offer."
Dominique previously told Your Local Guardian the idea came from seeing how many local families lacked access to outdoor space.
She said: "There are a lot of families in Croydon who don't have access to outdoor spaces.
"A lot of them live in flats and some young people have never seen a beach before, so I wanted to create something different that hasn't been done before in Croydon."
She added that keeping the event free had always been a priority.
Dominique said: "All the events that I do at Centrale, I purposely make them free because there's a lot of families in Croydon that can't afford to go to a lot of the events that are in London.
"So, I always like to put on fun events and give families something for them to do over the half term and school holidays with their kids that doesn't cost a lot.
"That's mainly my motivation."
Tickets are free and released weekly, with a limited number of walk-up spaces available each day.
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