Pet Parade, Food Highlight Clambake on Oregon Coast

Published 06/22/2010

(Newport, Oregon) - The 8th Annual Newport Clambake and Seafood BBQ again comes to Newport on July 3, with food and fun on the beach, all with a historical theme.

There will be a wide variety of kids activities, live music, horse drawn wagon rides and lots of food – all in the Nye Beach area, which was once actually a separate village from Newport, back when the two were connected only by a series of wooden planks over a muddy road.

Historically, city-organized clambakes were often held in the summer season in Nye Beach from the late 1800's, until what is apparently known to be the last one, held in 1918. Many of the clambakes took place on the beach, with wooden tables loaded with food. Clams were cooked in the sand, inside a fire pit surrounded by rocks and with seaweed thrown in.

This year’s event begins at 10 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m.

The Clambake and BBQ opens with a pet parade that starts at the Performing Arts Center at 9:45 a.m., ending at the turnaround at 10:30 a.m.

Organizer Linda Neigebauer said the pet parade is open to anyone – and to any kind of animal.

“Anyone can join in,” Neigebauer said. “Last year, we had a goldfish and a hamster. It was really cute. So just come on down and get in the parade.”

Food includes steamed clams, BBQ shrimp, clam chowder, BBQ chicken, hot dogs, shrimp salad, baquettes/crab spread, strawberry shortcake, ice cream and more.

Nye Beach's clambake in the early 1900's (photo courtesy Newport's historical society)

Some non-profit organizations with booths there include: Young Life, Knights of Columbus, Yaquina Bay Optimists, Salvation Army, Friends of Lincoln County Animal Shelter, Newport High School Pole Vault and Track Team.
 
There will be a family art activity at the Visual Arts Center, located on the Turnaround.

Live music plays throughout the event, provided by various local musicians.

Horse drawn wagon rides are $2, going from noon until 3 p.m.

Vendors will be selling tie dye products, jewelry, doggie T¹s, kettle korn, wood carvings,  and more.

A free shuttle to the event will be available at the courthouse, on Olive St., one block from Highway 101.

The Nye Beach clambakes were revived in the last decade, just after a renewal project renovated much of the historic district. One of the key founders, Berniece Hammon, had seen historical photos of it and was inspired to restart the event.

It was typically held in conjunction with Fourth of July events, but in recent years the festival was moved to a day next to the Fourth, and has since morphed into the Newport Clambake and Seafood BBQ.

Sponsors are The News Times, Thompson's Sanitary Service, Circle Tie Dye and Planet Pendants, and The Bank of the West.

Call 541-270-2234 for more information.

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