The 28th annual FisherPoets Gathering drew capacity crowds to locations throughout Astoria over the weekend.

First held in 1998 — and originally conceived as a cultural reunion for friends in the commercial fishing fleet — the event now draws nearly 100 poets, songwriters and storytellers from fishing communities from the West Coast and around the world. Attendees cram into the city’s pubs, restaurants and galleries to hear songs and stories of the fishing life and the people who live it.

Attendees needed to purchase a FisherPoets button to gain access to any of the events. Not unusually, the buttons sold out over the weekend.