The Maritime Festival is not solely about ships – there is something for all ages as well as live music, street entertainment, arts, crafts, children's activities – and special food cooked up by experts.

Eastern Daily Press: Street scenes of passers by, demonstrators and entertainment from Gt Yarmouth Maritime Festival 2013Street scenes of passers by, demonstrators and entertainment from Gt Yarmouth Maritime Festival 2013 (Image: (c) copyright citizenside.com)

Festival activities and entertainment on South Quay are free but a donation of £1 per visitor towards festival costs is welcomed.

Shanty and maritime music will be performed throughout the weekend at three different venues on South Quay. New visiting shanty groups and singers are Nanne and Ankie from The Netherlands, La Bouline from France and Jenkin's Ear from Guernsey, along with Tom Lewis, who has returned to the UK after 30 years in Canada and Suffolk's John Ward.

Other performers at the festival are Sheringham Shantymen, Capstan Full Strength, The Mollyhawks and The Keelers from Tyneside. Wrentham Brass Band will also be there to start Sunday morning with a maritime programme.

Visitors will be able to enjoy military re-enactments from East Norfolk Militia, street theatre from Inner State, Punch and Judy shows and face painting and balloon modelling.

Eastern Daily Press: Street scenes of passers by, demonstrators and entertainment from Gt Yarmouth Maritime Festival 2013Street scenes of passers by, demonstrators and entertainment from Gt Yarmouth Maritime Festival 2013 (Image: (c) copyright citizenside.com)

Eastern Inshore Fisheries will have a tank full of local marine species to explore, while local artist Ernie Childs will paint a maritime masterpiece before your eyes.

Crafts such as lace making, spinning and gansey knitting as well as maritime wood carving will also be demonstrated and visitors can have a go at making a fisherman's net.

Food features high on the attractions with the Feast of Fish cookery demonstrations from top Norfolk chefs, including at 2pm on the Sunday, Ready, Steady Cook, a competition between Daniel Smith and Mark Dixon hosted by David Clayton from BBC Radio Norfolk.

Visitors in wheelchairs are advised to use the accessible entrances at Middle Gate (to the right of Nottingham Way) and the South Gate at the far end of the festival. There is a 96m long cobbled area towards the North Gate which some wheelchair users may find challenging to navigate.

Eastern Daily Press: Maritime festival 2014Maritime festival 2014 (Image: Archant)

• For more information visit www.maritime-festival.co.uk

• What do you think of the Maritime Festival? Write, with full contact details, to Letters Editor, EDP, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE or email EDPLetters@archant.co.uk