Goonies Fest in Astoria, Oregon

The 1985 cult classic film The Goonies has been described as a love story to the drizzly Northwestern Oregon city of Astoria. Indeed, the film depicts the town’s historic Victorian homes, the damp chill of the fall and the potential for grand adventure in the nearby caves along the Pacific Ocean. The film follows a group of boys as they follow a treasure map that leads them under the city, narrowly escaping danger every step of the way.

The film is celebrated each year at a festival called The Goondocks, which draws thousands of visitors to this small town. This past June marked the 30^th anniversary of the film, bringing in a large number of visitors.

Annual highlights include visits to sites in the movie, including the Goonies’ house, visits with some of the movie’s actors, movie screenings, world record attempts at the largest Truffle Shuffle dance and tours of film locations. There’s also 80s Con, a convention of comic book artists, film buffs and memorabilia vendors.

Because some of these events require ticket purchases and the number of participants are limited, it’s important to plan in advance. In addition, some events are held outside of Astoria, so it may be necessary to factor in extra travel time.