Crystal Palace footballers, pop star Gareth Gates and emerging music and dance talent will be part of a huge Christmas Lights turn on Thursday.

The official ceremony begins at 6pm with a synchronised switch-on at the Whitgift Shopping Centre, followed by a pyrotechnics display from the top of Centrale Shopping Centre.

Earlier in the day, from 4.30pm to 6pm, five first-team players from Crystal Palace will be in Whitgift Square, the Whitgift Centre will launch its Ice Castle Grotto, while there will be live music performed from midday throughout the afternoon in the town. 

Confirmed performers include Old Palace Choir, Love 2 Dance and BRIT School dance group Khronos.

Platform, located at the new entrance to East Croydon station in Lansdowne Road, will be illuminated to coincide with the launch and the regular Thursday World Food Market will remain open until 8pm.

A discounted parking rate of £1 will run between 3pm and 7pm at the Whitgift Centre Surface Car Park and from 3.00pm onwards at Centrale Shopping Centre Car Park, as well as in other locations, continuing throught the Christmas period.

Croydon Christmas lights turn on is provided by Croydon Business Improvement District (BID).

Matthew Sims, Croydon BID chief executive, said: "We’ve got a bumper programme of great, all-round activity lined up throughout the afternoon, building up to the fantastic, star-studded switch-on climax which, this year, will go with an extra bang, thanks to the generous support from Centrale Shopping Centre who are funding the dazzling pyrotechnics."

The Whitgift Centre director, Andrew Bauer, expects to see an uplift of 10 to 12 per cent in sales on the day.

The centre saw 70,650 people visit during last year's event, about 16 per cent higher compared to earlier in the week.