In its 38th year, and its first in-person year since the pandemic, the Lloyd Center for the Environment’s annual clambake saw some big changes.

For starters: no clams. 

Well, at least no classic steamed clams; one of the event’s three food trucks still offered clam cakes and lobster rolls. 

Norman L’heureux, who has been coming to the clambake for around 20 years, said he was “kind of disappointed” when he found out the event wasn’t a classic clambake, but he also understands the change.

“You can’t keep doing the same thing over and over, you’ve got to evolve with the time,” L’heureux said.

That evolution didn’t stop at clams. The July 16 fundraiser also left its typical beachfront digs in favor of a farmhouse aesthetic at Buzzards Bay Brewing in Westport. And while previous clambakes were always held at night, this year’s “Not Your Average Clambake,” as the Lloyd Center called it, took place from 1 to 5 p.m. 

The daytime change was made to make the event more family friendly and “a little more casual,” said Executive Director Rachel Stronach. 

Even if many of the details have changed, the focus and purpose of the event remained the same: teaching visitors about the Lloyd Center’s mission and raising money toward it at the same time. 

“It’s a nice opportunity to let the community kind of understand what the Lloyd Center does,” said Otto W. Schleinkofer, chair of the Lloyd Center’s board of directors.

“It engages the community in the core function of the Lloyd Center, … in celebrating science and education,” said Lloyd Macdonald, whose been going to Lloyd Center clambakes since they started. 

Felicity Forbes Hoyt said this year’s fundraiser was “a long way” from the classic clambake, but she understands that the changes “attract a younger audience”; the classic clambake skewed toward an older crowd, she said.

Still, she maintains that “there’s no evidence of clams” in a clam cake. 

“It’s a great Lloyd Center fundraiser, but it’s a shame it has to be compared to the clambake,” said Felicity's husband Austin. 

At one point, a friend joked at the Hoyts and Macdonald: “If you find any real clams, let me know.”

Felicity recommended changing the fundraiser’s name from clambake in the future, but she still hopes they continue with the new format, as it’s a more effective way to fundraise, she said.

The yearly fundraiser also marks the end of the Lloyd Center’s yearly auction, which closed shortly after the event. 

The money raised from the clambake and auction will go primarily toward the Lloyd Center’s education programs, along with the nearly completed welcome center.