Event Info
Visit the Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival from 7 to 8 September 2019
The famous Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival is a fantastic free two-day event sited along the historic South Quay of Great Yarmouth. There’s plenty to explore with ships to board, live shanty folk music, fun street theatre exhibitions and demonstrations.
Folk music and shanty songs at the Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival
Shanty folk music is performed throughout the Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival on three separate stages as the town celebrates its proud maritime past, present and future. Shanty songs were traditionally sung by sailors as they raised the mainsheet and set sail on their long journeys to sea. The musical programme is managed by Great Yarmouth based Sue and John Griffiths who have been performing as shanty singers, The Mollyhawks, since the late 1990s.
See ships, boats and visiting vessels at Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival
A fascinating range of vessels are moored alongside South Quay during Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival for visitors to see and in some case board and explore. Additional visiting vessels are currently being confirmed with the Harbourmaster so watch this space for more details. We have confirmed that the fabulous tall ship Minerva will be attending the festival and will be taking bookings for a sail. If you would like to join us please click on the following link to book tickets and for further information on times and prices. Click here to book
Visit the Heritage Quarter
Come along to the Heritage Quarter and experience the history of Great Yarmouth this includes the award winning Time & Tide Museum situated on Blackfriars Road, the Elizabethan House Museum on South Quay. There are plenty of other exciting places on offer so please visit www.great-yarmouth.co.uk
Entertainment & Free Children’s activities at Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival
As well as non-stop shanty music from a wide range of bands, the Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival has a variety of street theatre, costumed characters and performances to keep you and the family entertained with plenty of free activities and crafts.
Town Hall Open for the Weekend
- Great Yarmouth’s prestigious Town Hall which is adjacent to the quayside will be open for the weekend of the festival as well. It will be open from 10am to 5.00pm with the last entry at 4.30pm each day. There will be :
- Self Guided Tour of the Town Hall including access to the Mayor’s Parlour, Council chamber, Supper Room, Rambouillet Room and Assembly Room.
- The Regalia and Town’s Silver will be on display in the Mayor’s Parlour
- You will be able to try on Mayor’s Robes, Hats and Councillor Robes
- Great Yarmouth Art club will be showing a display of Maritime Art in the Atrium
- Model Boat Clubs for Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Norwich
- Knitted Great Yarmouth will be on display in the Assembly Room
- Exhibition from Great Yarmouth Minster Preservation Trust will be on display in the Assembly Room
- Our Maritime Pop Up Café will be serving tea, coffee and Cakes in the Assembly Room.
- At the Front of the Town Hall will be the Winterton Marine Cadets
Maritime crafts, demonstrations and exhibitors
Come and explore a beautiful range of quality maritime themed or locally linked crafts at the Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival.
We’re often seduced by the stunning jewellery on display, although the English wine from our local English Heritage properties is also very appealing.
Crafts include stunning local photography featuring a significant maritime theme, pottery, jewellery and clothes.
We also like to recognise the importance of our maritime related charities who do such sterling work with seafarers past and present. As a large port we’re delighted to welcome our local life boat services, the independent Caister lifeboat and the Hemsby Inshore Rescue as well as the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI.
Charities often include: English Heritage; Lowestoft Maritime Museum; Mission to Seafarers; RNLI; RMA;
Watch a range of demonstrations with lots of fascinating stalls to look at, including some great exhibitions and activities to take part in.
Food & Drink at Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival
A varied selection of food and drink will be available at Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival.