Every year a crowd of fisherman and fishing community members gather in Astoria, Oregon, to share stories, recite poetry and sing music. FisherPoets, founded by a small group of Pacific Northwest fisherman in 1998, is an opportunity for the commercial small-boat community, friends and locals to gather together away from the docks. No trips to the store, no scrubbing of decks, no mending of nets. Just friends, family and plenty to drink.

Performers come from as far away as Maine, Connecticut and Arkansas, but most are residents of the Western Coast of the U.S. and Canada. Six venues open their doors for Friday and Saturday evening, including the Astoria event center, a sizable hall where the culminating poetry contest is held. Several thousand people attend the event, making it weekend highlight for usually quiet town most commonly known as the place where the Goonies was filmed. Lack of treasure-laden pirate ships aside, the weekend could not have been more fun.

Check out images from the event below!
Images courtesy of Corey Ridings