‘Razor Clam and Shellfish Festival 2026: Shellabration’ honors our enjoyable clamming legacy

‘Razor Clam and Shellfish Festival 2026: Shellabration’ honors our enjoyable clamming legacy

Published 10:54 am Sunday, April 19, 2026

LONG BEACH PENINSULA — It was a ‘shellabration’ final weekend for the annual Long Beach Razor Clam Festival, recognizing a deep clamming legacy with the 86th version of occasions centered on commemorating the enduring bivalve.

Fast limits, favorable climate

Sunny climate, calm winds and favorable tides greeted diggers on the morning of April 18, with 1000’s of leisure clam diggers arriving on peninsula seashores in anticipation of the weekend digs.

Clammers reported quick limits — many in lower than 20 minutes — aided by clear ‘shows’ amid a -1.5 peak low tide simply earlier than 8 a.m.

Many first-time clammers took benefit of the free clam digging classes hosted every morning alongside the Bolstad seashore strategy.

“The digging was absolutely phenomenal this year,” stated competition co-organizer Dianna Knight. “Yesterday and today, everyone had their limit in about 20 minutes. The digging lessons were popular, too; it’s a lifetime tradition that helps support our community.”

Turnout for the chowder restaurant and novice chowder competitors was additionally robust, Knight stated, with roughly 10 entries in every class and greater than 500 folks casting votes.

“This is always our biggest event,” Knight stated. “The tent was packed.”

Seafood Fiesta repeats as chowder champs

After greater than 500 votes had been counted, Seafood Fiesta was awarded first place and the enduring, hand-carved wood clam trophy. It was the second yr that the restaurant, positioned at 1917 Pacific Ave. South in Long Beach, received the coveted title.

Ana Avelar, Alexa Avelar and Shayla Flores collected the trophy earlier than a cheering crowd at Veteran’s Field on Saturday night.

“I’m really proud of my parents (Seafood Fiesta owners Ana and Fernando Avelar), they’ve come really far,” stated Alexa Avelar when requested the way it felt to win two years in a row, a uncommon feat in a fierce competitors. “I’m excited to see how this will help them grow.”

Winning the competitors meant just a little extra for the family-owned restaurant, past billboards and bragging rights.

“It’s awesome to represent (our people) and culture,” stated Shayla Flores. “It’s very dear to my heart, just being able to come out here and represent that, especially at times like this. It’s just very important.”

Drop Anchor Seafood & Grill and B&D’s Food Hut completed second and third, respectively, within the restaurant competitors, whereas Harry Smith received the novice chowder competitors.

WDFW’s greatest and smallest razor clam contest winners: Don E. (5.68”) Kevin R. (.65”) on Friday; Rob (5.74”) Tyler: (.48”) on Saturday.