FAMILIES, charity volunteers and businesses were all eager to take part in the festival with their spirits not being dampened by the weather.
John Dawes, 28, came from his home in West View Road, Hartlepool, with his daughter Katie, four, to see what was on offer.
Lucky Katie even managed to bag herself a couple of huge teddies after playing on the stalls with her dad.
More Maritime Festival 2008>>SLIDESHOW: Veterans brave the weatherSLIDESHOW: Record-breaking hornpipe dancersJohn, who works in Garlands on the marina, said: "Apart from the rain it is great and we have had loads of fun.
"We've even won a couple of teddies but they are a bit wet – I think they may take some drying out."
The Rees family from Seaton Carew are regular visitors to the festival and were determined not to let the weather spoil this year's visit.
Andrew Rees and wife Joanne were with their children Sean, nine, and Sarah, 12.
Andrew, a programmer, said: "We love the festival and always come up to have a look around.
"The children especially love all the army stuff because their grandfather was in the Second World War so they have a big interest in it.
"We knew the weather forecast was going to be bad but that's just one of those things."
Gary Budworth, manager of the Old West Quay pub on the marina, said: "What a shame the weather has been.
"This event is very important to Hartlepool and the people who live here so it is sad that the rain has spoilt it a bit.
"We were expecting to be much busier than we have been but that's the weather for you."
Beryl Sherry, Hartlepool's RNLI chairperson of the RNLI's Hartlepool fundraising committee, was running a stall with fellow volunteers to raise cash for the lifeboat service.
The group had to improvise with yellow raincoats and plastic sheeting as the downpour threatened to soak them and their raffle prizes.
Beryl said: "It's very disappointing isn't it? We wait all this time for this event and then the weather is very unkind to us.
"Sadly we had to pack up early because it was not worth getting wet when most people were just looking for shelter anyway.
"There were lots of people here but you can imagine how busier and nicer it would have been with a bit of sunshine."
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