An amazing world class light festival is being staged in Thornton Heath as part of a night of performances to celebrate Croydon’s bid to become the 2019 borough of culture.

In a major coup, elements of Lumiere London will travel to Thornton Heath where thousands of people are expected to turn out to enjoy a FREE light spectacular.

In 2018 Lumiere London – the outdoor arts event produced by arts charity Artichoke featuring creations from more than 40 light installations – returns over four nights between 18 and 21 January with works exhibited both north and south of the River Thames.

Following Lumiere London, the Thornton Heath Festival of Light will give Londoners a further opportunity to see a version of Leicester Square’s extraordinary Nightlife commission, created by Jo Pocock and the Liverpool Lantern Company, which summons up a rural idyll filled with nocturnal creatures in the centre of the city.

Lanterns from this work will transfer to Trumble Gardens on Brigstock Road on Saturday, January 27, which will be lit up with life size animals and birds, butterflies and giant flowers.

This will include an evening of performances of song and dance showcasing homegrown talent organised by arts partnership CR7 Culture.

This will coincide with the next CR7 Street Market which will be held during the day and evening.

When Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who has been invited to the Thornton Heath extravaganza, announced the return of Lumiere London, he said “I am particularly pleased that this year we are organising community projects in outer London boroughs to ensure that as many Londoners as possible can get involved with this world-class event”.

If Croydon is successful in its cultural bid it has committed to staging over 20 new events and projects. In total it is expected that well over £2.5million would be available throughout 2019 for arts and culture.