A Very Croydon Christmas, 4-6 December 2026, brings a joyous festive weekend of market stalls, global traditions, music, outdoor arts, creative workshops and family activities to Croydon town centre. Now in its fourth year, the much-loved and most welcoming event returns bigger than ever, bringing audiences together in celebration of shared creativity, community and culture.
Visitors can browse the festive Night Market; meet Bjorn the Polar Bear and towering illuminated characters from Colombia and India; sing along with London Mozart Players and Pegasus Opera; make festive craft from Mexico, Africa, Poland, join Jamaican Jonkonnu or help to weave the Christmas Wound & Woven Tree. These highlights combine the familiar with the unexpected, celebrating the diversity, imagination and community spirit that make Croydon unique.
Programme highlights:
Night Market
The weekend begins on Friday evening with a festive Night Market running from 4pm- 9pm along Katharine Street and within the Clocktower’s Braithwaite Hall, with stalls featuring fashion, arts, local produce, vintage vinyl and handmade gifts along with a hog roast, mulled wine and Christmas cocktails. Performances, character walkabouts, DJs and workshops will bring the street to life, with the illuminated clocktower providing a backdrop to the festivities.
Character walkabouts
Encounter some extraordinary festive visitors throughout the weekend. Bjorn the Polar Bear, a life-sized arctic adventurer, will make a return visit to Croydon Clocktower on Sunday. Illuminated characters will bring light and joy to the streets with Global Grooves’ towering bull Nandi – whose name translates from Sanskrit to “joyfulness”; a breathtaking giant Barn Owl, with a four-metre wingspan, gliding above audiences led by Thingamajig Theatre. Visitors can also meet The Luzeros by Cusan Theatre, two giant Latin American carnivalesque figures and Ski Sunday who bring glowing winter characters in a walkabout inspired by alpine ski culture.
Performance and participation
From traditional dance to carnival spectacle, the programme celebrates cultures and communities from across the world. Visitors can join in an energetic Folkdance Remixed Ceilidh and enjoy traditional dance performances with South Norwood’s very own clog dancers, the Old Palace Clog. Character walkabouts of Jamaican Junkanoo will bring Christmas carnival to the Clocktower. Spark! by Worldbeaters will roam the streets in a playful illuminated drumming performance. Poems for Peace will be led by the Muslim Association, and new for this year, poets Shaniqua Benjamin, Beverly Bossanga and Zhanai Wallace will lead young people through a poetry workshop so they can join in this part of the afternoon.
Festive music
A highlight of the weekend is the Christmas Concert in Braithwaite Hall led by a brass quintet from the London Mozart Players and Pegasus Opera. They will be inviting the audience to join in with global songs and Christmas carols for a special festive performance.
Creative workshops
Visitors can learn new skills and create festive keepsakes through a wide variety of artist-led workshops showcasing festive traditions from all over the world. The Christmas Wound & Woven Tree, standing at 4.7m in Croydon Clocktower, invites visitors to join in traditional English craft weaving and contribute to a communal artwork which will decorate the building all through the festive season. Activities also include making clay Christmas decorations with Eastern European motives with Agata Nowak, Persio-Islamic illumination pattern painting with Zahra Halepota and vintage floral headband making with Self Raising Flowers. Visitors can also try their hand at making upcycled jewellery with Chromatica Jewellery, a range of festive Mexican craft workshops with MexiBrits, a Jonkonnu pitchy patchy coat, African paper garlands and collage-making with Belenchuk.
For children and families
Families with young children can enjoy Baby Gospel, an uplifting interactive musical experience featuring festive favourites and opportunities to sing, clap and join in together. Children of all ages can get creative with Polka Theatre’s puppet workshops exploring the Chilean Mapuche myth of Wanglen (in the Mapuche worldview, there is a celebration during the winter solstice called Wiñoy Tripantu linked to this myth to honour the return of a new cycle of nature). Polkawill also run Sensory Storytelling Workshops for SEND children and young people. Atelier Arzu offer face painting whilst Daria Kulesh will share Christmas tales through musical storytelling.
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, said: “A Very Croydon Christmas has become a much-loved part of Croydon’s festive calendar, bringing residents, families and visitors together to celebrate the creativity, diversity and community spirit that make our borough so special. This year’s programme offers something for everyone, from live performances and music to hands-on workshops and family activities, whilst showcasing the rich mix of cultures and traditions that make Croydon unique. I am delighted to see our town centre come alive with activity once again and I encourage everyone to join us for this fantastic weekend of festive celebration.”
