Yarmouth Clam Festival in Maine Gets Better Each and Every Year

Theres no argument about it – everyone agrees. The organizers of the Yarmouth Clam Festival come up with something every year in order to keep the annual event fresh, fun and enjoyable for the more than 150,000 people who attend each summer.

This year is no exception. “Well, we give it a lot of thought because there have been lots of new things introduced over the past 38 years,” said Sarah Steinman, festival director. “But I think weve come up with something pretty special for this years festival,” she added.

In fact, Steinman has come up with a great idea. This year during the festival, which will run from July 16 through July 18, a large butterfly house will be featured – complete with more than 250 butterflies of all sizes and types.

“Its amazing walking into a butterfly house,” Steinman said. “For anyone who hasnt tried it, theyre in for a big surprise.”

Steinman isnt sure what volunteer suggested the idea, shes just happy someone did.

“Were going to have the butterfly house open during the entire festival,” she explained. “Then, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, were going to have a butterfly release. We think it will be colorful, beautiful and fun for all ages.”

Steinman is enthusiastic about the butterfly release, and everything else that will be featured during the three-day event.

“This will be the 39th Annual Yarmouth Clam Festival,” she said, “and its still one of the best attended and most enjoyable events during the entire year in Maine.”

In addition to the butterfly house, the festival will include a Friday night parade, road and canoe races, lots of food – clams are the featured attraction, of course – fireworks, a carnival, a craft show and the ever-popular Diaper Derby.

“Oh, thats lots of fun,” Steinman laughed. “Babies and toddlers are put down on the ground across from someone they know and are encouraged to crawl or whatever as fast as they can across the field.

“There are always many participants and lots of laughs,” she added.

One great thing about the Yarmouth Clam Festival is that it represents a large fund-raiser for 55 non-profit organizations within the town. “Most of the organizations take in the largest portion of their fund-raising for the year during those three days in July,” Steinman said. “Its really great and makes working on the festival so worthwhile.”

Another tradition that has grown over the years is that many families hold reunions during the festival weekend. “Its a huge family reunion weekend,” Steinman said. “We have many families who come together in Yarmouth each year from across the country.

Of course, no clam festival would be complete without the clams, and Yarmouth has plenty of those. There are fried clams, steamed clams, clams served with a shore dinner, clam chowder, clam cakes and clam strips.

Theres also a clam-shucking contest and a festival mascot called Steamy the Clam.

The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, contact the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce at 207-846-3984. You may also e-mail info@yarmouthmaine.org or visit www.clamfestival.com

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May 24, 2004   Posted in: United States NorthEast