YARMOUTH — Glorious summer weather brought swarms of people to town last weekend to celebrate the 47th annual Clam Festival.

The crowds, estimated at more than 100,000 people for the weekend, filled the streets and mingled with food vendors and the more than 165 crafters. Organizers said turnout for the festival was likely greater than previous years.

“I think this year’s attendance topped last year’s,” Clam Festival Director Mark Primeau said, although there was no official count. “I think that whenever you have five days of nice weather, you’re going to do well. By all accounts, it was a full festival.”

Although it’s too early to tell how the town nonprofits fared at the festival, Town Manager Nat Tupper said he was optimistic.

“I don’t know if it was gangbusters for the financial return to the community, but it seemed to be a very successful year,” Tupper said.

The weather cooperated with festival-goers, with clear skies and temperatures hanging around the mid 70s to low 80s.

Advertisement

Police Chief Michael Morrill said although the warm weather is good for the festival, it can sometimes mean people staying out late after the carnival closes and causing problems. But, he said, this year was largely free of incidents.

“It was a good weekend,” Morrill said. “It was a pretty uneventful Clam Festival for us, and that’s good.”

Despite the masses of people who descend on Yarmouth every year for the festival, Tupper said he’s always impressed by how quickly everything returns to normal.

“As always, I’m amazed at the cleanup,” he said. “I’m just so grateful to everyone that donates their time to come for the festival and comes to clean up.”

Will Graff can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 123 or wgraff@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @W_C_Graff.

Jackson Holmes, 3, watches as the Yarmouth Fire Department’s engines roll past during the annual Clam Festival parade on Friday, July 20.The theme of this year’s Yarmouth Clam Festival parade was “Favorite Children’s Book.” This is the Yarmouth Education Foundation float.Part of the crowd near Handy Andy’s on Yarmouth’s Main Street last Friday evening for the annual Clam Festival parade.Ellie Teare, left, and other members of the Yarmouth Ski Club prepare clams for frying at this year’s Clam Festival.

The crowd builds at the Yarmouth Clam Festival food booths on Saturday afternoon.Cumberland firefighters suffer the consequences during the firefighters muster at the Yarmouth Clam Festival, as the hose is turned on before they can couple their section.Firefighters show what they’re made of during an annual highlight of the Yarmouth Clam Festival, the firefighters muster on Saturday afternoon,.Michael Bales of New York City takes a photo of his 6-year-old daughter Ava at the photo op station set up by the Yarmouth Historical Society at this year’s Clam Festival.

Sidebar Elements


Cara Teller, of Boston, enjoys a steamed clam at the Yarmouth Clam Festival.

Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: