This summer, Pickathon celebrated its 25th year with four unforgettable days of music, art, and community at Pendarvis Farm. While we’ve always known there’s nothing else quite like it, it was especially meaningful to see that truth captured so vividly in Paste Magazine’s recent feature: In a World of Festival Clones, Pickathon Stands Apart.

A Festival Unlike Any Other

Paste’s Josh Jackson spent his first-ever Pickathon wandering between the Galaxy Barn and the Woods Stage, stopping to savor blackberries along the path and marvel at the architecture of our Creative Neighborhoods. What he found is what longtime Pickathon fans already know: while many festivals lean on formula and repetition, Pickathon is constantly reinventing itself.

Stages become works of art, crafted anew each year by teams of local architects and designers. Families discover shaded forest groves, while night owls lose themselves in illuminated courtyards and barn dancefloors. Everywhere you turn, there’s something unexpected — a comedy set, a poetry reading, a pop-up chef dinner, or kids busking in the woods.

The Heartbeat of Discovery

As founder Zale Schoenborn shared, Pickathon has always been about curation — not just booking the obvious headliners, but finding artists that attendees will fall in love with. That meant 2025 was filled with moments like:

• Portugal. The Man, Taj Mahal, Fruit Bats, and Greensky Bluegrass anchoring the lineup.
• Rising voices like Humbird, Hannah Cohen, Being Dead, and Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek playing multiple sets across stages.
• A moving tribute to Portland folk legend Michael Hurley, uniting festival regulars in song.

It’s this balance of legacy and discovery that makes Pickathon special: you may come for one act, but you’ll leave with a dozen new favorites.

Sustainability at the Core

One detail that struck Jackson most wasn’t musical at all — it was the lack of trash. Thanks to reusable plates, metal cups, volunteer-powered systems, and a commitment to reusing materials (even our stages), Pickathon continues to lead the way in sustainable festival culture.

A Quarter Century In, Still Growing Strong

Paste concluded what we’ve always believed: there’s something special happening in the woods of Oregon. A quarter-century on, Pickathon is more than a festival — it’s a community experiment in creativity, sustainability, and connection.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for the 25th anniversary, and to Paste for capturing the spirit of Pickathon in words and photos.

👉 Read the full feature here: In a World of Festival Clones, Pickathon Stands Apart