Tucked beneath the trees and surrounded by the sounds of a gentle stream, Pickathon’s Curation experience offers a transportive moment away from the bustle of the main festival. This intimate gathering—part dinner, part performance, all unforgettable—is one of Pickathon’s most beloved traditions.
As you enter this beautiful woodland oasis, a Pickathon DJ weaves a tapestry of sound with their curated vinyl selections, setting the mood for an unforgettable evening. Refreshing beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, await to quench your thirst and spark conversation among friends.
Soon, you’ll be invited to take your seats for a culinary journey. Savor a multi-course feast designed for the occasion, each dish a masterpiece crafted by a hand-picked Portland culinary powerhouse. These creations will tantalize your taste buds as you prepare for the next act. Following this exquisite prelude, a captivating performance by a talented artist takes center stage. Their music, perfectly paired with the preceding feast, will leave you mesmerized.
Following this exquisite prelude, a captivating performance by a talented artist takes center stage. Their music, perfectly paired with the preceding feast, will leave you mesmerized.
But the indulgence doesn’t end there. After the artist’s final note, linger and savor the moment under the enchanting canopy. Mingle with fellow guests, reminisce about the performance, and soak in the unique atmosphere before heading back to the vibrant energy of the main festival.
Chef: Chef Bonnie Morales of Kachka is a James Beard–nominated chef bringing the bold, soulful flavors of her Soviet Jewish heritage to Kachka—one of Portland’s most celebrated restaurants. Known for its inventive takes on dishes from the former USSR, Kachka has become a culinary icon under her leadership.
Artist: Surprise Chef crafts cinematic, groove-heavy instrumentals rooted in ’70s soul, funk, and jazz. Hailing from Melbourne, their sound is warm, immersive, and full of unexpected turns—equal parts vintage and fresh.
DJ: DJs Bri Drennon & Derek Smith set the mood with curated vinyl selections.
Beef Sponsor: Vorfreude Dairy Beef
Alchohol Sponsor: Kachka Vodka
Beverage Sponsors: Public Coast Farms (Beer); Wilderton (NA Spirits); Mate Party (NA Drinks); Maloof (Wine); Straightaway (Cocktails); Autora Mezcal (Cocktails); Holladay (Cocktails); and more!
Chef: Chef Sabrina Quintana & Chef Jonathan Barragan are the chefs behind No Sabo, a Chicano food project blending Mexican flavors with modern technique. Rooted in fine dining and cultural pride, their dishes are a vibrant tribute to heritage and home.
Artist: SML is a genre-blurring artist whose soulful sound blends R&B, indie, and experimental pop into intimate, emotionally rich performances.
DJ: DJ Maxx Bass is a veteran Portland DJ and owner of Clinton Street Record & Stereo, known for genre-spanning vinyl sets that blend funk, disco, house, and rare global cuts into deeply danceable journeys.
Chef: Chef Daniel Green is the chef at Bauman’s on Oak, where he crafts wood-fired pizzas and cider-friendly dishes alongside collaborator Yakira Batres. Formerly of Cafe Olli, Green brings his creative touch to a menu designed to elevate Portland’s cider and dining experience.
Artist: Angela Autumn is a Nashville-based artist from the hills of Pennsylvania, known for blending old-time Appalachian roots with indie, folk, and blues influences. A skilled vocalist and instrumentalist, she’s earned critical acclaim for her raw, timeless sound across releases like Frontiers Woman, The Magnolia Sessions, and her 2023 EP Cowboy Jack Clementine.
DJ: DJ Tom Humphrey is host of the weekly radio show, Backroad to Nowhere on XRAY.fm since 2014. Unvarnished sounds, unsung singers, vanguard traditionalists, buried history.
Chef: Chef Cathy Whims is a six-time James Beard Award finalist and the force behind Portland’s beloved Nostrana, approaching its 20th anniversary in 2025. A champion of Italian cuisine rooted in Pacific Northwest ingredients, she continues to shape the city’s culinary scene through her restaurants, teaching, and her debut cookbook The Italian Summer Kitchen.
Artist: Fruit Bats are the indie folk project of singer-songwriter Eric D. Johnson, blending warm folk-rock and nostalgic melodies since 1997.
DJ: DJ Stonebunny spins all-vinyl sets spanning soul, honky tonk, and Brazilian boogie. A longtime fixture in Portland’s DJ scene, she returns to Pickathon for her fourth year of forest-floor curation.
Chef: Chef Sarah Schafer a James Beard semifinalist and veteran of Gramercy Tavern, Irving Street Kitchen, and Cooperativa, leads Grounded Table—the culinary home of The Ground in downtown McMinnville. Her soulful, ingredient-focused cooking reflects The Ground’s mission to connect farm, food, and community through a seasonal, regenerative menu rooted in the rhythms of its nearby farm.
Farm to Table (all food provided by): Tabula Rasa Farms
Artist: The Rumble is a Grammy-nominated New Orleans ensemble, led by Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr., fusing Mardi Gras Indian funk, brass band grooves, jazz, and hip‑hop into a vibrant celebration of Crescent City culture. Their electrifying sound emerges from a lineage of funk pioneers, delivering both cultural storytelling and high-energy performance.
DJ: Impact Sound DJs—DuMp-TrUcK, Hep Greg, and The Grand Yoni—spin vintage ska, rocksteady, and early reggae on a custom 13,000-watt sound system, blending deep vinyl cuts with a mission to build community through music and culture.
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