For most of us, Pickathon is about finding a rhythm — wandering between stages, discovering new artists, and soaking up the atmosphere of Pendarvis Farm. But for Portland Mercury writer Holly Hazelwood, the challenge was much bigger: see every single band at our 25th anniversary festival.
She succeeded, clocking in an astonishing 74 sets across nearly 60 artists. In her feature, How to Conquer Pickathon (And Still Love It in the End)!, Hazelwood shares the joys, lessons, and limits of her quest. Here’s how she broke it down:
Ask Yourself, “Why Am I Doing This?”
Seeing every band at Pickathon is no small feat — and Hazelwood admits you have to be a little bit bonkers to try. But for her, the motivation was clear: after a few “laid-back” years of missing great sets, she wanted to wring every last drop out of Pickathon’s milestone year.
Be Prepared to Camp!
If you’re going to chase every act, you have to live Pickathon fully. Hazelwood arrived early on Thursday morning, pitched her tent near Windmill Stage, and set up camp close to the action. For anyone taking on the challenge, the right campsite can be the difference between making it across the farm and missing the magic.
Accept, In Advance, That You Will Be Going Into “Rest Debt”
Over four days, Hazelwood walked 30 miles between stages, often running on just four hours of sleep. Her reminder? Pickathon is both a marathon and a sprint. If you’re trying to see it all, rest is limited — but the rewards are plenty.
Pickathon Is a Marathon AND a Sprint
Thursday may feel like a warm-up day, but Hazelwood notes it’s a key chance to front-load your schedule. By pushing hard early, you free up time later in the weekend to revisit favorites or let serendipity guide you.
Make a Plan—Keep It Loose
Pickathon regulars know: you need a schedule, but you also need to stay flexible. Hazelwood describes abandoning Portugal. The Man for a half-hour with Ben Seretan, and trading a Woods Stage set for Jimetta Rose & the Voices of Creation. Those pivots often lead to the best discoveries.
Accept That You’re Still Missing Something
Even if you catch every band, you can’t catch everything. Hazelwood recalls missing late-night wildness at the Pumphouse and dramatic stage-climbing antics at Galaxy Barn and Cherry Hill. That’s part of the Pickathon experience — knowing the festival always holds more magic than you can possibly capture.
Ask Yourself Again: “Why Am I Doing This?”
For Hazelwood, the answer was simple: to fall in love with music. Pickathon’s curation opened the door to life-changing sets from Jimetta Rose, Ben Seretan, SML, Revival Season, and countless others she might not have discovered anywhere else.
As she writes, “Completing Pickathon is a slog, but it gives anyone willing to try a chance to shake themselves loose of genre expectations… all to better understand the incredible thing happening at Pendarvis every summer.”
👉 Read Holly Hazelwood’s full account in the Portland Mercury.
