Highlights of the festival include:

Held at the Town Quay every September

* Visiting vessels, including the awe-inspring Grand Turk, a replica of an 18th Century frigate which was featured in the TV series "Hornblower".  T
* Other vessels include HMS Quorn (mine hunter and sweeper), the Wherry Maud, Mincarlo (fishing trawler) and the Albatros (North Sea Clipper)
* Music from some of the best shanty groups in the UK, including 'Andsome Cabin Buoys,  Portsmouth Shantymen, Monkey's Orphan, Capstan Full Strength, Jim Mageean, plus  local talents Mollyhawks, Johnny Collins and the Sheringham Shantymen
* Royal Naval Simulators - experience a ride in a Lynx helicopter, Sea Harrier and Royal Marine assault craft
* East Anglian Working Newfoundland Dogs - demonstrations of the dogs' extraordinary swimming, pulling and rescue abilities
* Marine Model Exhibition, a preview of next month's International Marine Model Exhibition
* Craft marquees full of local and visiting craftsmen
* Lifeboat demonstrations by the Caister Volunteer Rescue Service and Gorleston RNLI plus a demonstration of a new hover rescue craft operated by Air Sea Rescue
* Free guided heritage walks - Official Heritage Tour Guides will be leading two different walks around some of the best maritime heritage sites around South Quay.  Both walks, which last around 45 minutes, are free and places can be pre-booked at the Festival Information Office
* Street entertainment from the Inner State Theatre Company, Dusmagrik's "Nautical Nippers" plus Punch & Judy
* The very best in seafood and the beer tent "Horatio's Bar"

A Night On The High Seas
Special evening maritime performance on Saturday 6th September at St George's Theatre starring  'Andsome Cabin Buoys, Jim Mageean, Jonny Collins, Portsmouth Shantymen, Monkey's Orphan, Mollyhawks and the Inner State Theatre Company.  The compere for the evening wil be Radio Norfolk's very own Tony Mallion.  Tickets cost £3 for adults and £2 for concessions and are available from St George's Theatre on 01493 858357

Maritime Art Exhibition
Artists from around the region, such as Peter Beaman, Neil Smalley and the Great Yarmouth Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, will be displaying paintings and other artworks

Maritime Fancy Dress Competition
* Children between the ages of 4 and 12 are invited to enter the competition, which will be taking place on 6th September.  Costumes must have a maritime twist to stand a chance of winning
* All entrants will get a stick of special edition Maritime Festival rock and an exclusive Horatio the Herring badge.  The winner will receive a treasue chest of family tickets for the top children's attractions in the area, including: The Pleasure Beach, Thrigby Wildlife Gardens, The Sealife Centre, Pleasurewood Hills, Fritton Lake Countryworld, The Village Experience, Greyhound Racing at the Yarmouth Stadium, Pettits Animal Adventure Park, Redwings Visitor Centre, Pirates Cove, Joyland and the Hippodrome Circus.  All in all, this passport to fun is worth a massive £300
* Competitors should report to the stage in the market place at 1.00pm on Saturday 6th September.  Costumes will be judged by a celebrity panel of judges including Horatio the Herring.