Celebrating its 60th anniversary this past Saturday afternoon, the annual Pare Clambake on Long Lane was everything it was cranked up to be, and then some.

As one bystander pointed out, “It hasn’t lost its flavor.”

Bakemaster Robert Pare, family members and friends deserve a great deal of credit for continuously making this event such a crowd pleaser. This year, according to Pare, more than 300 people attended the event — an all-time record.

“Last year, we had about 240 people in attendance,” he noted, “But this year, we had a lot of requests for tickets. We were completely sold out. We had people here from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and even some of my relatives from Tennessee. There’s a lot of history here with this event.”

“Anyone can buy a ticket for this event,” Pare continued. “Tickets are purchased in advance. We try to accommodate as many as we can.”
As one might expect, the Pare Clambake is hardly a one-man show. A lot of locals chip in to help out, including longtime friends Eric Delekta and Bob Braun.

“Eric has been with us for more than 30 years, and we can always count on Bob for his support,” said Pare.

Also lending a hand were Pare’s son and grandson, Robert Pare Jr., 53, and Robert Pare III, 27. Each enjoyed doing whatever they could to help make this another successful summertime event.

Traditionally, the menu is comprised of Maine clams, New Bedford scrod, saugy franks, assorted sausages, Portuguese chourico, sweet and red bliss potatoes, onions, home-made quahog dressing, sweet corn-on-the-cob, and watermelon.

“The Pavilion here was named after my father, George O. Pare, in 1963, the same year that he passed away,” said Pare. “He did so much for everyone and it’s a great tribute to him. He is dearly missed.”

Bob Pare will turn 84 years old in February, but that doesn’t mean anything to him when it comes to preparing for this event. You have to appreciate his energy and dedication — the same attributes he displayed during his years as Warren Police Chief and as a captain in the Warren Fire Department — in helping make this clambake not only a hallmark event in his native Warren, but throughout the state of Rhode Island.

Looking back at the many people congregated inside the pavilion this past Saturday, Bob Pare straightforwardly said, “I’m still plugging and I got to keep moving. Thankfully, I have all these wonderful family members and friends I can count on and everyone else who attended the bake. That’s what makes this event and the Town of Warren so great.”