39th Annual Essex ClamFest

The Essex ClamFest returns for its 39th year this October, celebrating the region’s cuisine the best way they know how—with a clam chowder competition. The daylong festival features plenty of other community events, too, like a K9 demo by the Essex Police Department, live music, kids’ arts and crafts, artisan vendors, and plenty of food and beer trucks. The chowder competition is at noon (it’s $15 per person to taste the chowders), and participating restaurants include Woodman’s of Essex, JT Farnham’s, Mile Marker One, CK Pearl, and Essex Seafood, among others, and the winner is announced at 3 p.m.