The rich and vibrant past, present and future of Croydon will be celebrated at the first Croydon Heritage Day tomorrow.
The Whitgift Foundation are presenting the day as the centrepiece of the three-week Croydon Heritage Festival, which is showcasing the best the town has to offer.
Taking place from 11am-4pm, North End will be the venue for a host of free heritage-themed activities.
There is a live performance stage featuring local acts including Indian dancing, jazz, opera and drama.
Adults and children will have a chance to wear period fancy dress for the chance to win prizes donated by Centrale.
Judging for the fancy dress will take place at the main stage at 2pm.
The public are also invited to step inside the Whitgift Almshouses (booking required) and Croydon Minster, two of the borough's most historic buildings, for conducted tours throughout the day.
The town's experts will be on hand to tell visitors more about the Croydon's history and the borough's most prominent historic organisations such as Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society and Croydon Airport Society will be manning stalls.
There will also be entertainment up and down North End including stilt walkers, Jose the Clown, Felix and Felix, a Victorian barrow girl and a human statue.
Youngsters are also being encouraged to get involved in the Festival through the Croydon Heritage Challenge.
There is a chance to win a £100 giftcard, courtesy of the Whitgift Centre, by collecting special stickers by attending some of the Festival events and the opportunity to win family tickets to see Peter Pan, courtesy of Fairfield Halls, by entering a special Art competition.
A competition entry card can be collected from Croydon Visitor Centre, Croydon Central Library, and other prominent town centre venues during the Festival.
Martin Corney, chief executive of The Whitgift Foundation, said: "With the support from a number of organisations and groups across the borough we are excited to be hosting the first Croydon Heritage Day as a centrepiece for the three week long Croydon Heritage Festival, and we welcome residents and visitors to come along to celebrate Croydon's past and present.
"For more than 400 years, The Whitgift Foundation has been committed to Croydon by providing education and care to the local community through our schools, care homes and Carers' Information Service.
"We are delighted to be presenting this event to demonstrate our passion for Croydon and to show residents and visitors alike that, as well as a promising future, the borough has a rich past well worth remembering.
"I would like to thank all who have been involved for what promises to be a day out in Croydon to remember."
Croydon Heritage Festival is showcasing the best of the town's history with more than 150 events across the London Borough of Croydon during the three weeks up to Sunday, June 23, 2013.
A full calendar of events can be found at www.croydonheritagefestival.co.uk or you can collect a guide from Croydon Visitor Centre, next to East Croydon station.
The timetable for tomorrow on the main stage is:
11am Aspara Arts
11.20am Speaking Out – Trinity School
12pm CODA
12.20pm Big Beer Band
1pm Absolute Opera
1.40pm Homebrood
2.20pm Mayor's Speech and Fancy Dress Competition
2.40pm Croydon Community Choir
3.05pm London Red
3.40pm Croydon Youth Arts present Croydon Airport
3.45pm Surrey Jive
Other organisations hosting stalls on the day are: Apsara Arts, Bourne Society, Broad Green Residents' Association, Croydon Bowling Club, Croydon College, CODA, Croydon Old Town Business Association, Croydon Soroptimists, Crystal Palace FC Foundation, Croydon People's History Group, East Surrey Family History Society, Healthwatch, Lions Club, St Mary's Church and South End Restaurant Quarter.
