PRESS RELEASE
8TH AUGUST 2007

8th - 9th September 2007 - Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival
Celebrate Great Yarmouth’s Rich Maritime Heritage
Admission is free!
An action packed programme of Shanty songs, bands, entertainers, tall ships, traditional seafood, craft stalls and demonstrations, not forgetting Horatio Herring and much, much more are the fantastic ingredients for Great Yarmouth’s 8th annual Maritime Festival.  This is a spectacular weekend for the family, to celebrate Great Yarmouth’s rich maritime heritage.
This year’s maritime festival takes place on Saturday 8th September 10am - 6pm and Sunday 9th September 10am - 4.30pm Great Yarmouth’s South Quay. 
 Highlights of the festival include:
* Visiting vessels, including the impressive and firm favourite Grand Turk, a replica of an 18th Century frigate which was featured in the TV series "Hornblower".  Other vessels include the regular cargo sailing vessel Albatros, HMS vessels, a Motor torpedo boat and famous Wherries.
* Music from some of the best shanty groups in the UK, including the Shellback Chorus, Sheringham Shantyman, Benny Captstan Full Strength, Monkey’s Orphan and local talents.  The musical programme also includes the Wrentham Brass Band. 
* Craft marquees full of local and visiting craftsmen
* A variety of street entertainment including the Inner State Theatre Company, Balloon modelling and Punch & Judy,
* Re-enactments from East Norfolk Militia and Lifeboat demonstrations by the Gorleston RNLI
* Royal Naval Simulators - experience a ride in a Super X ride simulator
* East Anglian Working Newfoundland Dogs – land demonstrations of the dogs' extraordinary talents
* Marine Model Boat and Maritime Art Exhibition
* Guided heritage walks – Official Heritage Tour Guides will be leading walks around some of the best maritime heritage sites around South Quay.
* The very best in traditional seafood, light refreshments, including beer in “Horatio’s Bar”
Continues….

Brand New Features for 2007
* Cooking Demonstrations
Cooking demonstrations will be held throughout the festival.  Watch top chefs from the region cook up feasts and dishes using Maritime ingredients.

* Heritage Quarter Marquee
Providing a unique opportunity to view a historic selection of maps, prints and memorabilia from Great Yarmouth over the centuries; and displays of history from local firms that have been trading in Great Yarmouth for at past 100 years or more. 

* La Mondiale – The Columbus Run 11 - ROWING CHALLENGE
The ‘Atlantic Challenge’ rowing race is a speed challenge designed to capture the world record for fastest non-powered crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and is scheduled to take place mid to late November this year.

The rowing team will be demonstrating their rowing techniques down the river during the Festival.
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Info for the Editor:
The 2007 Festival is supported by 13 local companies who have become 'Gold Anchor' or 'Silver Darling' sponsors and without their support the festival would not be what it is.  The Official sponsors of the Festival are Screen Print Plus, Gardline Group, PKF, Persimmon, Thrigby Hall & Wildlife Gardens, TV Palmer Ltd, Aldreds, J& H Bunns, Vestas, Bateman Groundworks, SBS, ELM Contracts and A.C Pembroke Builder Ltd  

Media enquiries, please contact:
Nicola Gibson, Tourism Division Greater Yarmouth Borough Council, Maritime House, 25 Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2EN
Tel: 01493 846340; Fax: 01493 858588; E-mail: nmg@great-yarmouth.gov.uk
Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival Website 	www.maritime-festival.co.uk
Great Yarmouth Tourist Information Centre 	Tel: 01493 846347