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.
Secure your seat at one of five exclusive Curation events—each limited to just 100 guests. Curation access is a special perk and requires a Weekend Pickathon Pass or the corresponding Day Pass for the event date, plus a separate Curation ticket.
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.
Curation Lineup
Friday Dinner, August 1, 7:30PM – 9:00PM
Chef Morales (Kachka) & Surprise Chef | Tickets
A soulful Soviet-inspired feast meets cinematic funk from Melbourne’s Surprise Chef
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.
Farm Sponsor: Organically Grown Company
Today, they are the nation’s only trust-owned and largest wholesale distributor dedicated to organic fresh produce, supporting farms both big and small. Proud of their roots, they boldly live by a purpose-first philosophy—always doing right by the community and the earth. They forge their own path, take care of their people, support organic growers, and advocate for the organic movement, knowing that’s what it takes to create real change.
Alchohol Sponsor: Kachka Vodka
Beer Sponsor: Public Coast Farms
Wine Sponsor: Division Wines
Seltzer Sponsor: Public Coast Farms
N/A Spirits Sponsor: Wilderton
Saturday Brunch, August 2, 10:00AM – 11:30AM
Chef Quintana + Chef Barrahan (No Sabo) & SML | Tickets
LA natives No Sabo and SML unite to celebrate Chicano culture through bold flavors and soulful jazz-infused sound
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 Sabrina Quintana & Chef Jonathan Barragan
Farm Sponsor: Carlton Farms
Handcrafting Memorable Experiences Since 1956. Nestled in the fertile ground of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Carlton Farms has been a trusted premium pork and specialty meats processor for nearly 70 years, committed to placing extra care into everything we do to ensure every dining occasion becomes a memorable moment. From the ethically raised animals we source to how each product is produced, packaged and delivered by the skilled hands of people we call friends, we offer premium pork products with a personal touch for those who want to guarantee that the meals they make, make memories.
Alchohol Sponsor: Autora Mezcal
Beer Sponsor: Public Coast Farms
Wine Sponsor: Rubato
Seltzer Sponsor: Public Coast Farms
N/A Spirits Sponsor: Wilderton
Coffee: 5 farms Irish Cream Liquor
Tea: Maté Party
Saturday Happy Hour, August 2, 4:00PM – 5:30PM
Chef Green & Angela Autumn | All Vegetarian Menu! | Tickets
Chef Daniel Green’s wood-fired fare meets Angela Autumn’s raw, rootsy sound for an evening steeped in craft and tradition through a vegetarian menu
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.
Alchohol Sponsor: Autora Mezcal
Beer Sponsor: Baumans Cider
Wine Sponsor: Domino IV
Seltzer Sponsor: Baumans Cider
N/A Spirits Sponsor: Wilderton
Coffee: Holladay; 5 farms Irish Cream Liquor
Tea: Maté Party
Saturday Dinner, August 2, 7:30PM – 9:00PM
Chef Whims (Nostrana) & Fruit Bats | Tickets
Chef Cathy Whims’ timeless Italian cooking pairs with Fruit Bats’ warm, nostalgic folk for a night of comfort and craft
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.
Alchohol Sponsor: Straightaway
Beer Sponsor: Little Beast
Wine Sponsor: Maloof
Seltzer Sponsor: Little Beast
N/A Spirits Sponsor: Wilderton
Coffee: Holladay; 5 farms Irish Cream Liquor
Tea: Maté Party
Sunday Brunch, August 3, 10:00AM – 11:30AM
Chef Schafer (Grounded Table) & The Rumble | Tickets
Rich soul experience featuring farm-to-table meal with music composed Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.
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.
Farm Sponsor: The Ground aka Source Farms
The Ground is a philosophy of belonging that connects farm, food, and people in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Founded as Tabula Rasa Farms in 2015, it has grown under the stewardship of Brenda Smola-Foti and Frank Foti to include regenerative farming, farm stays, event spaces, wellness offerings, and Grounded Table—a farm-to-table restaurant in downtown McMinnville. Formerly known as Humble Spirit, Grounded Table reflects The Ground’s ethos of renewal and connection through a seasonally inspired, farm-driven menu led by Culinary Director Chef Sarah Schafer. With a focus on nourishing both people and the planet, The Ground offers hospitality in harmony with nature.
Alchohol Sponsor: Holladay
Beer Sponsor: Public Coast Farms
Wine Sponsor: Maloof
QuiQui: Astral Tequila
Seltzer Sponsor: Public Coast Farms
N/A Spirits Sponsor: Wilderton
Coffee: Holladay; 5 farms Irish Cream Liquor
Tea: Maté Party
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