Belfast Maritime Festival Brings Crowds Despite Torrential Rain
The Belfast Maritime Festival 2025 returned to the city’s quaysides last weekend, drawing thousands of visitors to celebrate the city’s seafaring heritage — despite heavy rain that persisted throughout Sunday afternoon.
The three-day event, which ran from Friday, 12 September, to Sunday, 14 September, featured a few tall ships, naval vessels (including the Irish Lights vessel ILV Granuaile), 
live music, food stalls, and family entertainment across Queen’s Quay and Sailortown. Organisers reported strong attendance across the weekend, with Saturday’s clearer skies drawing the biggest crowds.
By contrast, Sunday was very wet indeed. I visited in the afternoon, and the rain was relentless — at times a mist, and at other times a sharp downpour that soaked through coats and shoes. The quayside was slick with water, umbrellas jostled in the crowd, and yet the festival pressed on with good humour. Families pushed prams wrapped in rain covers, children splashed through puddles, and food stalls sent up steam and savoury smells that carried on the damp air.
There was still plenty to see: open-deck tours of the visiting tall ships, live traditional music that lifted spirits in the rain, and exhibitions marking the 120th anniversary of Belfast’s shipbuilding story. One highlight was the sight of naval vessels moored alongside the quayside, their crews welcoming visitors despite the weather.
Speaking to attendees, the mood was stoic but cheerful. “It wouldn’t be Belfast without the rain,” one visitor said. Another described the festival as “wet, but wonderful,” summing up the mix of soggy clothes and resilient enjoyment.
Organisers declared the event a success. A spokesperson said: “We are delighted to see so many people braving the elements to celebrate Belfast’s maritime story. The rain didn’t dampen the spirit — in fact, it added to the atmosphere.”
The Belfast Maritime Festival has become a fixture in the city’s cultural calendar, and plans are already underway for its 2026 return.
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