The Croydon Carnival of Cultures 2023, promised to be louder and prouder than previous years as the parade took to the streets of Croydon on 30 July.
As well as a variety of food and craft stalls, uplifting performances from the Brit School and local dance groups also added to the festivities.
The town, which currently boasts the title of ‘London Borough of Culture’, hosted several events throughout the year to celebrate the rich culture and diversity of the South London borough.
Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, who took part in the parade thanked ‘Culture Croydon’ for organising the event, which he hailed as a success.
He said: “It’s been a fantastic day at Croydon Carnival with a really good atmosphere.
“For the first time the carnival paraded through the town centre to London Rd, where we were treated to a star-studded line up of entertainment.”
We spoke with two stallholders who expressed their thoughts about the carnival and what impact it had on the Croydon community.
Dexter Simms, is a business consultant who has been a long-standing supporter of the Croydon Carnival and has witnessed the significant changes over the years.
Valarie John is the owner of Speechless Fashion, a brand specialising in African printed clothing and accessories.
Listen to their interviews and a round up of the day’s festivities in the video report below.
To find out more about the London Borough of Culture visit www.culturecroydon.com
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