Clams and Jams: BOP Organizes Clam Fest Event

by Kerry Torpey on May 3, 2018


Arts & Entertainment


Students enjoy frozen lemonade, fried dough, and kettle corn at Clam Fest.
BRIANNA COLLETTI ’21/THE COWL

by Patrick Fuller ’21

A&E Co-Editor

The rain on  Friday, April 27 did not dampen the spirits of the Board of Programmers (BOP), who were determined to make the annual Clam Jam event at Providence College the best yet.  The on-campus group dedicated to organizing events throughout the year decided to move Clam Jam to Saturday, April 28, combining the event with Friar Fest.

Although the move was likely a logistical pain, it ended up paying off. Sunshine and temperatures in the low 70s drew a massive crowd to the lawn outside of the Smith Center for the Arts.

Hungry students waited in line to devour fried dough, clam cakes, and New England clam chowder from Iggy’s Doughboys and Chowder House. People not fond of seafood found alternatives in Haven Brother’s food truck, which served burgers, hotdogs, and fried sides, the kettle corn tent, or the Big Tony’s Pizza delivered later on in the day.

Students 21+ could indulge in a beer garden with proper ID. Meanwhile, everyone played classic lawn games like Spikeball and KanJam or jumped into one of the inflatable slides.

Although the lines were long and the food ran out quite quickly, it was free food. Bringing good food to college students on a beautiful Saturday afternoon is like throwing a bucket of bait into “Shark Alley.” The shortage of food was clearly not the fault of the planning committee but rather evidence of the estimated 1,500 students who attended throughout the day.  

All of the food and activities were set against live music from the Cape Cod Slackers, a local, multi-instrumental duo who provided covers of classic summer jams. Something about middle-aged guys playing the saxophone at large gatherings seems to complement a nice summer day.

Overall, students had a great time at Clam Fest.  Connor Perron ’21 explained that he had two bowls of chowder before deciding to cut himself off while John MacKeen ’21 raved about the doughboys from Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowder House. More traditional New Englanders like Cameron Smith ’21 asked, “Where are the clams?” expecting to show up to clams in their lone glory, fried or steamed. Nevertheless, the general attitude was positive. The timing, the organization, and the variety of foods, beverages, and activities pleased almost everybody.

Of course, Clam Fest would not have been possible without BOP. Just coming off of organizing the Spring Concert, featuring Galantis, the club threw together another on-campus favorite.  

Matt Mannarino ’18, head of the committee in charge of Clam Fest, surely worked hard to make the day a memorable one for the PC community as students prepare to leave for the summer.  Hopefully Clam Fest will remain a staple event for years to come.