Croydon Music Festival moved indoors amid "mini-Glastonbury" fears
A JUBILEE themed summer festival is being moved indoors - amid fear wet weather could turn it into a "mini-Glastonbury".
Croydon Music Festival had hoped to attract 3,000 people to listen to swing, jazz and blues on picturesque park Haling Grove.
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Croydon Music Festival has been moved inside amid fears wet weather could turn it into a "mini-Glastonbury"
Instead gloomy forecasts of rain until mid-July have forced organisers from the Eleanor Shorter Fund to move the event to a conference hall in the town centre, cutting tickets to just 500.
Event coordinator Cllr Lynne Hale said: "The whole idea behind the Jubilee celebration was to use the beautiful grounds of Haling Grove but the torrential downpours over the past few weeks have put the whole event in jeopardy, which is very disappointing.
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"Holding the event indoors will be a different concept but also gives us the opportunity to offer a longer musical programme, as the licence runs later into the evening."
The festival will now be held at Croydon Conference Centre from 2pm on June 23.
Acts include The Pasadena Roof Orchestra the X-Factor's John Wilding and a host of other singers and bands.
Despite moving inside there will still be a hog roast and Pimms alongside a full bar and other food.
The Met Office have said rain is likely to continue for most of the next 30 days, with "no clear signal" for a dry spell up to mid-July.
Edward Handley, chairman of the Eleanor Shorter Fund, said: "We were getting very concerned about trying to run this event in a soggy field and the potential risk of causing damage to the site with the driving of heavy vehicles and the erection of staging, as well as the potential hazard of many hundreds of people sliding about in muddy conditions.
"We had no wish to create a mini-Glastonbury at Haling Grove.
"Having consulted with the Met Office, it appears unlikely the rain will stop falling over the next week and we have decided that rather than abandon the whole idea it would be much better to transfer to an indoor venue.
"We are very grateful to Croydon Conference Centre for accommodating the event at such short notice."
Tickets for the festival remain at £25 for VIP entry, £10 general and a family ticket for two adults and two children will cost £30. They can be bought online at www.croydonfestival.co.uk.
The new-look event replaces Croydon Summer Festival, which attracted 50,000 people to Lloyd Park each year before it was scrapped by the council in 2010.
Comments
by Aer123456
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 11:21PM
“So glad to hear that the NA Carnival went well. We'll try to get to the next one. Let's hope there will be a write-up & pix.
I hear there were very few people at the Haling Grove replacement "indoor event" - a pal said it was mainly Councillors on a freebie. So who paid for everything? Silly question - I expect we did, the ratepayers!
I think a serious investigation is required about the whole day and prior non-arrangements. And still nobody seems to know where the Croydon Conference Centre is, which obviously didn't help on the PR front for the "Haling Grove Saturday" What a disaster!”
by NACarnival
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 10:47PM
“Aer123456 - the Carnival was a great success thank you :)
The vast majority of the rain fell overnight leaving the breeze and sunny skies to clear the slightly boggy underfoot both Saturday and Sunday - not that this marred what was a great, family-orientated fun and trouble free weekend.
The faces of the kids entering the competitions, crowds watching the arena acts, and arrival of the Procession and fantastically decorated floats accompanying those walking the route made it all worthwhile :) I do hope there will be a write-up and photographs to follow.”
by Aer123456
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 1:20PM
“SORRY - my earlier comment meant to say:
So how many people did go to the re-arranged event and where on earth is Croydon Conference Centre?
INSTEAD OF
So how people people did go to the re-arranged event and where on earth is Croydon Conference Centre?”
by Aer123456
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 12:18PM
“Goodness - 3,000 people to Haling Grove for a "mediocre" concert? That was asking a lot as there was little or no advertising in the area.
So how people people did go to the re-arranged event and where on earth is Croydon Conference Centre?
As readers say, bring back the Lloyd Park event and hope the New Addington festival went well.
Will there be any reviews of the weekend events mentioned here?
At least the sun is shining today!”
by Krystal333
Friday, June 15 2012, 12:01AM
“And, just because you pay an entry fee does not make you 'better' or less of a troublemaker, especially as the music festival has a licensed bar!
Other events held on that day won't have the opportunity of being able to change venue at the last minute - at the Carnival we huddle under umbrellas or nip into a marquee ;)”
by LAFANTASTICA
Thursday, June 14 2012, 5:09PM
“I am not judging people. This is what I was told. There were always loads of police when the festivals were held at Lloyds Park.”
by The3rd
Thursday, June 14 2012, 4:40PM
“Anne - just because an event is free, doesnt mean that everyone that attends is a trouble maker. You shouldnt judge people.”
by LAFANTASTICA
Thursday, June 14 2012, 3:12PM
“They are not snobbish at all. Nothing wrong with paying an entrance fee. It keeps out any troublemakers.”
by Krystal333
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 11:36PM
“Then come to New Addington's one 23rd and 24th June! It's got good old fashioned competitions for the kids, and some for adults! Always loads to see in the arena, loads of different kinds of stalls, and a boot sale and fun fair :)”
by The3rd
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 3:52PM
“The best festivals there pre 2010 before the council scrapped them.
They were good for all the family. The newer ones are bit snobbish and do not reflect the towns folk.”