the third weekend in July in the charming coastal village of Yarmouth, Maine.
This summertime tradition draws visitors from all over the country who come to enjoy
the music and arts, events and competition, and of course, the delicious food.
back to 1966. The festival runs for three
days in early September, in Annapolis.
It's come a long way from giving away
soft-shelled clams on a street corner. At the
time, clams were not used for much more
than chum and the State government
wanted to create a viable market for them.
awareness for the seafood delicacy and this annual event was created. In 1966, the State
passed control of the event on to the Annapolis Chamber of Commerce, which expanded it,
moved it and changed the name to the Maryland Clam Festival.
The focus broadened to include all Maryland seafood, and grew to include arts and crafts,
entertainment, educational displays, games and special attractions, such as wine tasting.
There is a variety of seafood including Maryland's famous blue crabs,shrimp, fish, and, of
course, clams.
activities, but Pismo Beach, California claims it was always
known as the "Clam Capital of the World." Naturally, they have
a clam festival, too, in October. There's entertainment, clam
chowder cook-off, arts & craft vendors, a clam digging contest
for kids, art show, wine tasting, and a clam-themed parade.
Pismo Beach is in Southern California, on the Pacific Ocean.
Pismo means "tar" in the language of the native Chumash
Indians.
At the southern end of Price Street upon first entering Pismo
Beach, a gigantic clam statue greets visitors. Gathering Pismo
Clams was once a major industry in the area, with an average
annual harvest of almost 100,000 clams, from 1916-1947
Clamming is now restricted, due to over-clamming in the past.
Pismo clams are tasty and meaty, but difficult to open. They
have the thickest shell of all the popular clams, and they close
up tightly.They are prepared as chowder, fried, or eaten raw.
Highlands, New Jersey.You can expect four wonderful days of
excellent food, rides and entertainment. The Clamfest midway will be
set up in Huddy Park, on Bay & Waterwitch Avenues.
Many popular Highland’s restaurants, seafood retailers will be on
hand offering festival favorites. These include clams – fried, stuffed,
steamed or on the half shell – and soft shell crab sandwiches,
shrimp, oysters, crab cakes, lobster, scallops, gumbo jambalaya,
chowders, mussels and more.
Although seafood is the highlight, there will be lots for landlubbers to
chow down on, such as ribs, corn on the cob, hot dogs, burgers,
French fries, grilled sausages, pizza, cheese steaks, paninis, tacos,
burritos and homemade sweets and treats.
deserves inclusion for three important reasons:
- They have lots of delicious clams.
- They have lots of delicious beer.
- I live in Milford.
Started in 1975, the Annual Milford Oyster Festival has grown into the
largest one-day festival in Connecticut, and attracts over 50,000
people. The Festival is held on the third Saturday of August every
year and attracts local residents and visitors from around the globe
who want to enjoy the sights, sounds, tastes and history at a family-
oriented event. This year's date is August 18.
The festival has grown from a tiny local one-day celebration of the
oyster and the Milford seaside community, into one of Connecticut’s
summer highlights. Activities include entertainment for children and
music fans, canoe and kayak races, over 200 arts and crafts vendors,
a classic car show and wonderful food offered by civic organizations
and restaurants. The festival provides the venue for many non-profit
organizations to raise money for each of their causes.
Wine Festival in Newport, Oregon on the last full
weekend in February.
2007 will be the 30th year for the festival, held at Rogue
Ales Brewery and Newport Marina at South Beach (south
of Newport across Yaquina Bay).
You must be 21 years or older to attend this event and
must have valid ID. Unlike most festivals, this one is NOT
free.
"Biggest Kitchen Party in Atlantic Canada" boasting Good Friends, Good
Times, Good Music and Lots of World Famous Prince Edward Island
Shellfish. It's held in mid September, in Charlottestown, Prince Edwards
Island.
Treat your taste buds with the culinary delights of the chefs and students of
The Culinary Institute of Canada, featuring interactive Shellfish Culinary
Demos daily and intriguing food stations where visitors can purchase these
culinary delights.
The Food Pavilion will also offer PEI Seafood Chowder, PEI clams, mussels,
and oysters. Full bar service is also available.
restaurants serving delicious clams, shrimp, crab, lobster, oysters, and
more. It's held in early July, in Largo. Non-food activities include live
music of many types, kids' games, and arts-and-crafts exhibits.
village of only 5,000 for an October weekend that revolves around the local oystermen and baymen
who harvest clams and oysters from the harbor.
Theodore Roosevelt, Oyster Bay’s most famous former resident, is the inspiration behind the Oyster
Bay Festival. A local citizens committee held a parade to celebrate Teddy’s 125th birthday in 1983.
The parade aroused so much enthusiasm, that the organizers vowed to make it an annual event.
Renamed in honor of the bivalve that the Bull Moose president so loved to devour, the event took on
the culinary theme it maintains to this day. At first, the Festival was predominantly a local event.
Some downtown restaurants stayed open, a few pubs expanded their hours of operation, and
vendors signed on to sell food, crafts and offer games and rides.
The local secret didn’t stay a secret long, and before long visitors were coming from throughout the
metropolitan area to join in on the fun. Having outgrown downtown, the event relocated to the
waterfront park area in 2003. Festival organizers made the decision to adopt a no-alcohol policy that
established the Festival as a premier family-fun occasion.
