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Over 100,000 visitors will fill the streets of Yarmouth, Maine, this coming weekend for the 44th Annual Yarmouth Clam Festival, drawing tourists from all over the country and thousands of locals who do not miss the annual tradition.
While a schedule of events is planned for each day of the festival providing great entertainment, there will be artists and craftspeople displaying their works in the streets throughout the festival weekend. For you history buffs, the Yarmouth Historical Society will give guided historical tours of the Town of Yarmouth via Pineland Farms Trolleys.
If you have ever been to the Yarmouth Clam Festival before, you are well aware of the mass amounts of wonderful food to enjoy as you visit the entertainment acts and vendor booth displays. Rather than go into great detail, I have provided the following link featuring a list of all the food vendors and the treats they will have for you Yarmouth Clam Festival Food List. You will note 6 of the booths will feature the famous clams. No worries with the “red tide” concerns this year, as the Yarmouth Clam Festival folks prepare well in advance and have plenty of native clams that were “flash frozen” months ago to preserve the quality and taste for you to enjoy this weekend!!
Friday
The festivities begin with the official opening of the festival at 10am on Friday, July 17th, with singing by the Down East Barbershoppers at Memorial Green. The events of Friday feature a number of music and entertainment acts, carnival rides, horse and wagon rides, and most notably the crowd favorite Battle of the Bands, and the Clam Festival Parade.
The Battle of the Bands will feature six Yarmouth High School bands facing off between 230pm-5pm at Railroad Park, with the winner returning to play Sunday at 2pm during the festivals closing.
This years Clam Festival Parade beginning at 6pm on Main Street will feature area groups and businesses on floats with their interpretation of this years parade theme, “Hats Off to Broadway”.
Saturday
A full packed Saturday kicks off with a Blueberry Pancake Breakfast at Memorial Green (7am-1030am) , and the Canoe & Kayak Race starting at 7am at Yarmouth Town Landing and finishing at The Muddy Rudder. The Kids Fun Run begins at Memorial Green at 715am, where depending on the childrens age they will compete in a half-mile or one-mile run. Beginning at 8am at Memorial Green is the Pat’s Pizza Clam Festival Classic 5 Mile Road Race, a quick flat race and always competitive. Cap off the morning with some music and entertainment, followed by the Clam Shucking Contest set to begin at 1115am on the Library Lawn. In the afternoon, don’t miss out on the entertaining Firefighter’s Muster at 1pm, or Capt’n Eli’s Karaoke Challenge starting at 3pm, and finish off the night with a Fireworks Display beginning at 915pm (note the fireworks are set off from Royal River Park and best viewed from behind the library or Memorial Green).
Sunday
Enjoy another Blueberry Pancake or Flapjack Breakfast at 7am, prior to the 9am start to the 29th Annual Men’s and Women’s Professional Bike Race on Main Street (36 miles loop for men, 21.6 for women). An event not to miss is the highly anticipated Diaper Derby hosted by Lee Goldberg, sportscaster from WCSH6 in Portland, from the Library Lawn beginning at 12pm (note registration begins at 10am). Finish up your festival while listening to the Battle of the Bands winner at 2pm on Memorial Green.
The Yarmouth Clam Festival does have a No Pets Policy with the exception of service animals, so please leave your pets at home.
Other Yarmouth Clam Festival information and news for you…
Yarmouth Clam Festival Home Page
Parking & Directions
Accommodations
Yarmouth Clam Festival Daily Schedules
Press Release – “There will be no shortage of clams for You”
Clam Festival on Twitter
Clam Festival Facebook Page