Thornton Heath, you are the best’ rang out around the High Street topping off a spectacular 2018 Thornton Heath festival which attracted thousands of people to this popular annual event. 

As the day wore on the crowds got thicker as the sun continued to shine and the attendance felt higher than in recent years despite there not being a procession. 

 Organisers estimated the numbers at the 11th festival reached 6,000 with plenty to see and do with dozens of stalls up and down the High Street offering food, art, and clothes plus funfair rides for people of all ages along with a new feature  a rock climbing wall for children.

The music and colourful costumes were the main draw  with 13 music acts on the stage opposite the Thomas Farley entertaining the crowds from midday to 6pm. The One The Band played out the festival, featuring international Soca artists Ms Desire, DJ Frisco and S Rise.

Councillor Callton Young, vice chair of the organising committee, said: “As the crowd demanded more, Ms Desire sang ‘ My Team’, another of her Soca sensations, as a parting gift. Working the crowd, she got everyone singing, hands over hearts, that they ‘are the best’; ‘Thornton Heath is the Best’. We all left bursting with pride for our community. What a perfect end to a perfect day!”

There was also a return for  Triniboi Joocie, the national Soca Champion who tore up the stage two years ago, as well as debuts for international reggae star Frederica Tibbs, who teamed up with Winsome Moncrieffe-Mitchell to sing their new cover version of ‘Up Town Top Rankin’.

Chairman of the festival Tony Rowland said that the event, costs around £12,000 to stage covering the cost of road closures, staging and security. 

Local businesses are asked to contribute towards the cost of the festival.