Aug 1-4

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Volunteer

THE 2023 PICKATHON VOLUNTEER APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN!

Pickathon has been collaborating with volunteers for over 20 years and so many elements of the festival are products of those collaborations. This “barn-raising” style cooperation between so many festival-goers plays a major role in creating the magical atmosphere that Pickathon is known for. We wouldn’t be the festival we are without the efforts of each and every one of you, and we feel honored to collaborate with y’all on an experience that truly feels created for the people who build it.

How to apply to volunteer with Pickathon:

  1. Read everything on this page and then click “Apply Now” below.
  2. Provide us with your contact information and an emergency contact.
  3. Tell about your availability and volunteer preferences.
  4. Select between at least two volunteer crews you are interested in and answer their crew specific questions.
  5. Sign the volunteer waiver.
  6. Pay the $35 non-refundable application fee with a credit card.
  7. Submit your application and look forward to late summer days on the farm!

You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer with Pickathon. Since we work with so many volunteers, we are usually able to accept just about everyone who applies. The more flexible you are about your crew and shift assignments, the easier it is for us to find a place for you!

Volunteers are issued a three-day general admission wristband in exchange for working two (or equivalent) volunteer shifts. General admission wristbands are good for admission to Pickathon on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Volunteers who are interested in attending Pickathon on Thursday may choose to work a third shift in exchange for a Thursday ticket add-on. Shifts that require Thursday entry (scheduled on Thursday or before noon on Friday) will be reserved for volunteers who are working a third shift. Volunteers who are accepted to crews that work before or after the festival may complete a third shift on any day their crew works, as scheduled by their crew chief. Volunteers also have the option of purchasing a Thursday ticket at pickathon.com/tickets.

On-site tent camping for one tent is included free with your wristband. You can learn more about camping at Pickathon at pickathon.com/info/camping.

Parking and Transit Shuttle passes are NOT included with your wristband and can be purchased at pickathon.com/tickets. All vehicles must have a parking pass in order to enter in the Welcome Neighborhood parking lot between Thursday August, 3rd and Sunday, August 6th. It’s FREE to bike to Pickathon, but please request a Bike Pass (available at pickathon.com/tickets) so we know how much bike parking to set up!

Keith Bidwell – Farm Food Crew Chief | Pickathon 2016 | Photo by Tim LaBarge

VOLUNTEER FAQ

Q: I only want to come for one day. Can I volunteer just enough for a single-day pass?

A: We only accept volunteers who want to work in exchange for a full weekend pass, but you can purchase single day passes at pickathon.com/tickets.

Q: Do I have to pay a ticket deposit?

A: We do not require a deposit up front, however you do need an active credit card to complete this application in order to pay the application fee. Your payment info is encrypted at that time and securely stored until after the festival at which time it is deleted. Volunteers who cancel their commitment before the first cancellation deadline will not be charged a fee. Volunteers who cancel after the cancellation deadline may be subject to a cancellation fee. Volunteers who no-show for any of their assigned shifts or otherwise fail to complete their commitment will be charged the full cost of a general admission ticket and will be barred from future volunteering at Pickathon.

Q: Am I guaranteed a volunteer position on one of the crews I ranked on my application?

A: We always try to assign and schedule volunteers in accordance with their preferences and most of the time this works out. Occasionally we have issues such as too many applicants to one crew and not enough to another, and in those cases we may need to offer volunteers assignments on crews they didn’t originally rank.

Q: I made a mistake on my application. Can I change it?

A: There is no way for a volunteer to re-access a submitted application, so any changes have to be processed manually by the Volunteer Coordinator. Please double and triple check your answers and personal information before you submit! If you are coordinating schedules or crew choices with friends in hopes of working together, try filling it out side by side to make sure you are both submitting the same crew rankings, availability, and other preferences.

Q: Can I be scheduled to volunteer with my friends?

A: On your application, you can name two additional people you’d like to volunteer with. Make sure to coordinate with your friends, name each other on each application, apply to the same crews, and provide the same availability. We want people to have fun and make our best effort to accommodate these preferences, but this isn’t always possible and we can’t make any guarantees.

Q: If I volunteer before the festival begins, can I set up my tent/campsite early?

A: No. For safety, security, and privacy reasons (the farm is the Pendarvis’s home) we cannot allow volunteers to camp or set up any camping equipment of any sort prior to Thursday, August 3rd. The tents you see set up on the farm prior to Thursday belong to festival site staff who are living and working on the farm full time. Any unaccounted for personal property left on the farm prior to Thursday is subject to removal.

Q: Does my volunteer wristband include a parking or a shuttle pass?

A: Parking and Shuttle passes are NOT included with your general admission wristband. If you would like to purchase a parking or shuttle pass you can do so here: pickathon.com/tickets.

Q: What if I need to cancel?

A: If you are accepted to a crew and then become unable to volunteer, please email BOTH the Volunteer Coordinator (volunteer@pickathon.com) and your specific crew chief right away so that we can work on refilling your position. Depending on how close to the festival weekend you cancel you may be charged a cancellation fee.

Q: What are the cancellation fees?

A:

– On July 26th (1 week before the festival), a $50 cancellation fee will be assessed.

– On August 2nd (1 day before the festival), a $150 cancellation fee will be assessed.

– On or later than Thursday, August 4th will be considered no-shows and the volunteer will be charged the full cost of the ticket.

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