As the 3rd week in July rolls around, you can always hear the buzz in Yarmouth as they prepare for this years 45th Annual Yarmouth Clam Festival beginning Friday, July 16th and lasting through Sunday, July 18th, at various venues around town. The community spirit is like no other, as more than 3,000 volunteers gather to put on quite a display of community with many of the area school children tending to their organizations booth to help support and raise money for their sports team, music or church group, as well as other community service organizations. Even the small cost to park in town at the event goes to support these groups that give back to the community.
Admission is FREE and there is certainly something for everyone with music, arts and crafts, competitions, and more! And who doesn’t like to eat?? You can taste clams prepared and cooked in many different ways, or if seafood is not your thing there are numerous other treats to enjoy (I’m personally a fried dough fan).
Here is a quick run down of the highlights for each day at the Yarmouth Clam Festival…
Friday, July 16
Clam Festival Parade, 6 PM, Main Street
Saturday, July 17
Pancake Breakfast (both Saturday and Sunday – Memorial Green and First Parish Church)
Clam Festival Canoe and Kayak Race – 6:30 AM, Yarmouth Town Landing
Clam Festival Kids’ Fun Run - 7:15am, Main Street at Memorial Green
30th Annual Pat’s Pizza Clam Festival Classic 5-Mile Road Race – 8AM, Main Street at Town Hall
Maine State Clam Shucking Contest – 11AM (registration 10:30 am), Merrill Memorial Library Lawn Tent
Firefighters’ Muster Competition - 1 PM, Main Street at Memorial Green
Fireworks – 9:15PM, set off from Royal River Park, best viewed from behind the Library, or Memorial Green.
Sunday, July 18
30th Annual Men’s & Women’s Professional Bike Race - 9:00 AM, Main Street at Memorial Green
38th Annual Diaper Derby – Noon, (registration begins at 10 AM), Merrill Memorial Library Lawn Tent
For more information, please visit the Yarmouth Clam Festival website

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.