A New England clambake is a fun and exciting time for the whole family. These get togethers were usually held outside up and down the coast, with most even held right on the beach. Now, however, friends and families are having them right in their backyards or even in a park.

A clam bake is a joyous celebration which is often prepared to commemorate holidays such as Christmas, Hanukah, and New Year's. A clam bake provides an upbeat, leisurely atmosphere in which people can get together and socialize with others.

The party features traditional foods like clams, lobsters, meat, scallops and oysters. They are all steamed in a pit along with other items such as sausage, corn, celery, carrots, onions and potatoes. The meal which results is absolutely delicious. Everyone will love it.

Everything is prepared in a hole shoveled out of the beach. The heat is provided by rocks or comparable material placed at the lowest level. A layer of wet kelp is then placed above that. Frequently, a layer of foil or a grill is placed over the wet layer. Finally, the food is placed over that. The heat from the rocks combined with the water serve as a medium, cooking the food in steam.

From region to region, the difference in a New England clambake differs minutely. Most of the differences center around what type of seafood is in it. Seafood specialties differ from region to region. Some regions use quahogs or mussels for their clam bakes, while others use lobster and clams almost exclusively.

If you are thinking about a clam bake, remember that most communities require authorization for use of public lands. Beaches typically have some cut off time for gatherings, which must be obeyed unless other arrangements have been made. Similarly, many places strictly limit open fires. Worst case scenario, everything must be cooked elsewhere leaving only the set up to occur at the site.

The answer frequently lies in employing a caterer. Caterers get the required permits for you, do the party planning, buy the food and prepare it. Only the task of inviting your guests falls to you. Caterers also deal with providing drinks for your event. You might want to serve beer and wine and an assortment of alcohol-free beverages.

In the end, a New England clambake might be the perfect way to celebrate the holidays. For many families, it is already a holiday tradition. If you've never experienced one, you might find that it becomes your family's newest way to celebrate any momentous occasion.