Yarmouth Clam Fest canceled for second year in a row
File Photo / Jim Neuger
The Yarmouth Clam Festival, scheduled for July 16-18, has been canceled for the second year in a row as a public health precaution.
The Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce for the second year in a row has canceled the Yarmouth Clam Festival, which typically draws up to 150,000 visitors to the Portland suburb each summer.
The three-day festival, which was scheduled for July 16-18 this year, began in 1964 and raises money for local nonprofits. The chamber, town officials, festival stakeholders and support services met last week and decided it was in the best interest of public health to cancel, the chamber said on its Facebook page.
"Together we reviewed general epidemiological projections, discussed the safety of our volunteers, staff, guests and and vendors and shared concerns of our overall operational ability to facilitate an event within unknown state regulations," the post says. "As a group, we came to the unfortunate conclusion that we will not be hosting a 2021 Yarmouth Clam Festival this summer."
The chamber’s board of directors met later in the week and voted to confirm the decision.
"The Yarmouth Clam Festival is a true Maine summer tradition and while we are more disappointed than anyone by this decision, we know that with the love and support of our many fans we will return bigger and better when the time is right," the post said.
Organizers are urging residents to make up for the loss by supporting local businesses and buying Clam Fest Gear online.
"We have some ideas up our sleeves and will keep our Clam Festival friends updated as we approach the summer months," the chamber added.
The chamber has more than 180 business members, and the Clam Festival supports more than 30 nonprofits, including school clubs, churches, cultural and civic organizations — for some of them it's their biggest fundraiser, the chamber said last year. The festival features a road race, vendor booths, a craft fair, food, and a parade at which spectators set out chairs days ahead to stake out viewing spaces.
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