<p>The Razor Clam Festival take place in Long Beach, Wash., Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20.</p>

LONG BEACH, Wash. An 8-foot in diameter, 500-pound clam pan will make its comeback for this years Razor Clam Festival, taking place on Washingtons Long Beach Peninsula, Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20.

The Giant Clam Pan is an icon in Long Beach, said Randy Dennis, festival organizer and owner of The Dennis Company. Were happy to see it being restored and used once again to entertain our clam-loving community.

From 2:30 to to 4 p.m. Saturday, the shiny, newer replica of the Clam Pan will be used for a clam fritter cook-off by the Ilwaco High School Culinary Arts Program students. Four celebrity chefs Brock Johnson of Dahlia Lounge, Adrienne Chamberlain of Ettas, Dezi Bonow of Palace Kitchen, and Liam Spence of Lola from Tom Douglas restaurants in Seattle will be the judges. The event will take place in Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Long Beach.

Other highlights include the following:

Free razor clam sighting and digging (8 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday) lessons by local pros; online sign up is suggested at www.razorclamfest.com;

Contests with prizes for the biggest clam dug, the best-looking limit, the number of clams in the tank, and the best student-decorated clam guns;

A first-come, first-served Chowder Taste Off accompanied by the North Coast Blues Band, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday;

Dedication of the Worlds Largest Spitting Clam in the Worlds Largest Frying Pan park, 2 p.m. Saturday;

Strolling Queen La De Das Mermaids and Beards Hollow Pirates offering face painting and games for children Saturday;

More walkabout characters, including Bathing Clam Beauties, Digger the razor clam, and Dennis Duck doing his impression of a clam digger.

Commemorative T-shirts as well as vintage clam festival postcards will be available for purchase. Clamming licenses and equipment are available locally at The Dennis Company in downtown Long Beach.

Over the weekend, Peninsula restaurants will also be featuring razor clam menu items.

Revived in 2013, Long Beachs Razor Clam Festival shares the ins and outs of digging for razor clams while celebrating this tradition. The Razor Clam Festival originated in the 1940s, at which time the Worlds Largest Clam Pan toured the region to promote the event and the city of Long Beach.

Harvesting razor clams is a popular beach activity enjoyed by multiple generations. With its long and expansive beach, the Long Beach Peninsula is one of peoples favorite clamming destinations in the state. A Washington State Fish and Wildlife Shellfish/Seaweed License is required, and a personal limit of the first 15 clams dug is strictly enforced. For more information, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams

Many of us have wonderful memories of digging for razor clams as children, says Andi Day, executive director of the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau. Its great to see this Northwest tradition continue on the Long Beach Peninsula.

For more information about the festival, visit http://longbeachrazorclamfestival.com