Clam Festival time nears

This year the Yarmouth Clam Festival, July 17-19, marks its 50th anniversary. To honor this, there will be a special $500 cash prize for the most creative, Flashback Friday-themed parade float. The winner will be selected by the parade director. The parade is Friday, July 17, at 6 p.m., and the application can be found at www.clamfestival.com. For more information, call 846-3984.

The Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, are also celebrating a 50th anniversary. A night of baseball will be coupled with a celebration on Wednesday, July 1. There will be a special appearance by the festival mascot, Steamer. To purchase special priced $8 general admission and $9 reserved tickets to the game, email [email protected] or go online to the Yarmouth Clam Festival Facebook page. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Yarmouth Clam Festival.

This year the Portland Symphony Orchestra will be on hand to perform Saturday of the festival, July 18, at 7 p.m., at NYA soccer field behind Craft Show. Special guest artist David Mallet and his sons, the Mallett Brothers Band, will join the symphony for the show, culminating in the largest festival fireworks show ever.

Other festival music includes The Not Dead Yet Band, Friday at noon at Memorial Green tent; Pete Kilpatrick Band, Friday at 7:30 p.m. at NYA tent; The Joint Chiefs, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at NYA tent; Gunther Brown,

Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Green tent; Sorcha, Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Green tent; The Gather Rounders, Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at NYA tent; and Jerks of Grass, Sunday at 4 p.m. at Memorial Green tent.

The Yarmouth Recycling Committee this year will have a larger clam festival recycling/compost collection site inside the food circle opposite the food booths. This site will be staffed with four sorters that will separate returnables, recyclables, and food waste for compost. The committee is seeking volunteers for two-hour shifts on Friday, July 17, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, July 18, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday, July 9, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sign up at this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EfR-FVFoQvllZbMRVpfkvAMkQpN7N0PnmdJjFUVPj5o/edit?usp=sharing.

Farmers market

The new Mill Street Market is now open Thursdays from about 3-6 p.m., through Sept. 24, outside 317 Main Community Music Center on the corner of Mill and Main streets. The farmers market will offer fresh produce, local seafood, Maple’s Gelato, cut flowers, pies and more, as well as live acoustic music. There also will be arts and crafts for kids. For more information, call Market Coordinator Amy Sinclair at 329-7735.

Mascots Steamer and Slugger are reminding residents that the Yarmouth Clam Festival is teaming up with the Portland Sea Dogs to host a special Yarmouth Night on July 1. Buying tickets at https://seadogs.formstack.com/forms/clam_festival will help support the mission of the clam festival. Courtesy photo