Photo by~Patsy Schuyler Ball

It was 200 years ago, in 1811, that John Jacob Astor’s fur trading company laid claim to the area. Since then the city has transformed from a fur trader’s post to a bustling cannery town to a busy World War II hub and then to a popular tourist destination.

Come and join the fun at Astoria’s opening weekend of its 200th Birthday! If lodging in the Astoria area is booked up, concider staying in at Seaside beach rental… it’s just about a 20 min drive away.

Bicentennial Events~ Opening Weekend May 20-22, 2011

Tall Ships Adventure Sails ~ Sail on the Lady Washington or Hawaiian Chieftain for a three-hour family-oriented Adventure Sail. Features a living history experience with demonstrations of tall ship handling, sea shanty singing, and maritime storytelling. Tickets & more info available here.

Heritage Fair ~ Celebrating Astoria’s cultural diversity with food, music, dance performances, art, jewelry, weaving, horse & wagon rides, kids activity tent. Family friendly events all day…

• 9:30 a.m. - Fort Vancouver Pipe Band
• 10:30 a.m. – Portland Taiko (International Japanese Drummers)
• 11:30 a.m. - NW Lion Dancers
• 12:30 p.m. - Riverwalk Parade to 17^th Street Plaza
• 1 –p.m. – Scandinavian Dancers
• 2 –p.m. Kaleinani O ke kukui-Hula Halau Dancing Demonstration
• Birthday cupcakes
• 3- p.m. The Squeezer & the Geezer - Coreen Bergholm & Ken Presthus
• 3:45 p.m. – Wilho Saari –Finnish Kantele
• 4:15 p.m. – Mariachi Band
• Portland Taiko- Toro TK Footsteps

No Entry Fee! Items for sale by individual vendors 9:30 am – 5 pm

Location: Sunset Empire Transit Center Parking Lot, on Marine Drive between 9th, 10th Astor & Bond Streets

This is just the beginning of many fun events to enjoy… For more information on bicentennial events: www.astoria200.org

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

While on your Oregon Coast vacation this summer… be sure to add this to your list of  things to do…  This new exhibit promises fun for the entire family!  It’s an exciting look at the legendary Columbia River entrance, where the forces of the mighty Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean meet… creating one of the most dangerous crossings on the planet. Nothing can compare to the extreme forces of the Columbia River Bar…  waves can exceed 40 feet in height during the worst winter storms!

“You will experience never seen before video of rough water passages, captured while working with the US Coast Guard and the Columbia River Bar Pilots during fierce winter storms” says Museum Senior Curator Jeffrey Smith.

The building itself is a site to see…  located on the Columbia River, displaying a full size Coast Guard Ship amongst a wall of windows… it is truly amazing!

Click here to view the embedded video.

*This information is from the Columbia River Maritime Museum website, where you’ll find all the details needed to plan a most  memorable visit.

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

~ April 23-25, 2010 ~

The Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival will celebrate its 28th Anniversary in 2010.  Enjoy a great spread of northwest cuisine, myriad arts and crafts, a selection of Oregon and Washington’s finest wineries, the beer garden and more…

The Rotary Club of Astoria will be serving their traditional crab dinner all weekend long (price TBD based on Market Value).  Live music will be on the stage in the exhibit hall all weekend!

The Festival is located at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds, on Hwy 202 about 4 miles from the junction with Hwy 101 in Astoria.

HOURS
Friday, April 23 4 – 9 pm $8 general admission
Saturday, April 24 10 – 8 pm $10 general admission
Sunday, April 25 11 – 4 pm $5 general admission

Children under 12 years are free all weekend.  They encourage you to take advantage of  less crowded times on Saturday morning and Sunday when bringing small children to the Festival.  A weekend pass may be purchased for $18 on Friday at the Festival or at the Chamber during the month of April.

Taking the Festival shuttle is encouraged as parking is limited. Parking is $5 per car.

Astoria area lodging  includes a great selection of River View Hotels and lovely Victorian B&B’s.  If you’d like to visit the beach during or your stay…  Seaside and Long Beach are just a short drive away offering vacation rental lodging  with ocean views!   

For more information on Festival Shuttle Service, Location, Entertainment and Vendor Info,  please visit the Astoria Chamber of Commerce website at OldOregon.com.

Event information provided by the Astoria Chamber of Commerce~ Thank you!

*Logo Design by Jeff Miller, Red Dwarf Graphx

Need a spine chilling Halloween Oregon Coast Adventure?

“Haunted Astoria” celebrates its second year for this annual event including… tours of local historic sites, a psychic and paranormal fair at Pier 11, a great classic scary movie at the Historic Liberty Theater, an open mic for ghost stories, a writing contest and special underground tours of the Liberty Theater and the Clatsop County Heritage Museum.

Astoria lodging accommodations include beautiful Victorian style Bed & Breakfast Inns and Hotels with awesome river views… but if you prefer ocean views… Long Beach is just across the bridge (a 10-15min drive) offering miles of sandy beach and plenty of ocean view and ocean front vacation rentals to choose from!

Here is a partial list of the haunted happenings:

Saturday, October 24 Events

• ~Haunted Astoria Tour 3-7 pm various locations
  ~Psychic & Paranormal Fair 3-7pm Pier 11 mall
  ~Film: Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds 7:30pm Liberty Theater
    and following the film:
  ~Open Mic Story Telling at 9:30pm Pier 11 Lounge

 Tour Sites

• ~Heritage Museum
  ~Liberty Theater
  ~Pier 39 – Astoria / Rogue Ales
  ~The Messenger Building at 9th and Astor

For a complete list of details of these scary events coming to Astoria Oregon for Halloween 2009 at OldOregon.com.  Shiver me timbers… see you there!

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!