The Alaskan Adventure comes to Astoria

Published 6:28 am Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Alaskan Adventure comes to Astoria with an incredible tour Sunday, Oct. 18, along the Columbia River on board the Aleutian Ballad – one of the fishing vessels that appeared on Discovery Channel’s top rated “Deadliest Catch” TV series. Owners Captain David and Danene Lethin are donating their hugely popular tour to Astoria Sunday Market with proceeds benefiting the 2010 Pacific Commercial Fishermen’s Festival.

“The Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour is the No. 1 rated tour in Alaska and its reputation is well-earned,” said Astoria Sunday Market Manager Cyndi Mudge. “The captain and his crew are outstanding guides as they demonstrate the fishing and crabbing gear and weave in their emotionally-charged stories about life at sea. Their passion is infectious and the tour is unforgettable.” Tickets are $75 per person. For reservations and information, call (503) 325-1010 or e-mail AstoriaSundayMarket@charter.net

The Aleutian Ballad is a 107-foot crabbing and tender boat that has been outfitted to provide comfortable covered seating for 150 passengers. The tour departs from Pier 39 and will take its passengers on a 2- to 3-hour tour that includes a light lunch.

Proceeds benefit the 2010 Pacific Commercial Fishermen’s Festival, a program of Astoria Sunday Market. According to Mudge, this year’s festival was a huge success. The festival featured a tug-of-war between “Deadliest Catch” and “Ax-Men” celebrities, as well as modern and historic commercial fishing displays, competitions, crafts, food and music.

The Astoria Sunday Market is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization formed to revitalize historic downtown Astoria and to improve the economic viability and vitality of farmers, artists, artisans and other small business operators in the Pacific Northwest. The market is dedicated to creating a vibrant educational marketplace for the community benefit. Astoria Sunday Market features up to 200 vendors along 12th Street in downtown Astoria, every Sunday from May through mid-October.

Visit www.PacificFishermenFestival.com for more information about the Aleutian Ballad Tour and Pacific Commercial Fishermen’s Festival. For more information about Astoria Sunday Market, visit www.AstoriaSundayMarket.com