50th festival deemed successful

Last weekend’s 50th Yarmouth Clam Festival was a huge success, organizers said in a news release this week. Organizers estimated that more than 125,000 people enjoyed the three-day festival, and it is believed Friday was a record-breaking day in terms of sales and attendance.

About 3,000 volunteers make the festival happen, and it raises tens of thousands of dollars for more than 30 local nonprofits. Some of the highlights of the festival included the parade, arts and crafts show, firefighter’s muster, road and bike races, clam-shucking contests, and a Portland Symphony Orchestra concert.

Reading group choices listed

For those planning their fall-winter reading, Merrill Memorial Library has announced its selections for upcoming Readers Circle book discussions. The group meets the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. The books chosen are:

“The Luncheon of the Boating Party,” by Susan Vreeland, Sept. 24; “Sacre Bleu,” by Christopher Moore, Oct. 29; “The Soloist,” by Mark Salzman, Nov. 19; and “World to Come,” by Dara Horn, Jan. 28, 2016 (no program in December).

The library is located at 215 Main St. For more information, call 846-4763.

Art exhibit

The nine members of the Artisans Collective are exhibiting their art at the Merrill Memorial Library Art Gallery through Sept. 12, during library hours.

The exhibit, called “Artistic Meanderings,” includes oil, watercolor, acrylic, encaustic, photographs, ceramics and floorcloths. The artists participating are Marilyn Bickford, Bob Delaney, Mary Lynn Engel, Amy Handy, Ginny Keegan, Gayl McNally, Maria Reuillard, Eleanor Brown Steele and William Steele.

Artisans Collective, founded in 2011, exhibits throughout the area rather than having a permanent gallery. Artisans Collective meets four times per year.

Farmers market

The Mill Street Market is 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.