Croydon is gearing itself up for a weekend of diverse music, exotic food and cultural exploration as preparation for two free festivals get underway.

Lloyd Park is the location for both the World Party and Croydon Mela festivals this weekend which are expected to attract thousands of revellers for two days of cultural entertainment.

World Party brings a mix of jazz, world, funk and dance to the Coombe Road park on Saturday (July 13) with a melting pot of global music between 1pm and 8pm.

Saturday's event also features a green fair, global market, kids area and also boasts surprise international performances on its bill. On Sunday (July 14), a corner of Asia can be found in Lloyd Park when the annual Croydon Mela festival kicks off at 1pm. Traditional food, music, dance and performance art can be found the Mela until 8pm giving visitors a chance to sample a flavour of the Asian culture.

July 10, 2002 10:30