The festival offers programming for all ages. The event has been noted for its sustainability practices: it has eliminated all plastic and single-use food and beverage containers.
History
Warpaint performing at Pickathon 2014
Pickathon started in 1999 as a fundraiser for the FM radio station, KBOO.[3] The first venue was Horning's Hideout, a private park in North Plains, Oregon.[3] Ninety people attended the first event including performers.[3] By 2004 the attendance was in the low hundreds.[3] Pickathon founder Zale Schoenborn suggested it took "a miracle for the festival to survive through those rough first years".[3]
In 2005, Horning's Hideout backed out two months before the 7th annual event was scheduled.[4][3] Festival organizers found a replacement property called Pudding River in Woodburn, Oregon.[5][3] This was the first year with both running water and electricity.[3]
In 2006, the festival relocated to Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, Oregon.[3] A ten-year conditional permit to continue festival at this location was granted in 2024.[6]
The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 refunds were not issued, however ticket holders were given the option to redeem the ticket for future festival or donate to the festival. Ticket holders who did not give a respond by deadline were defaulted to donation. In 2021, refunds were available as an option.[7][8]
Deaths
In August 2019, two arborists employed by GuildWorks died when a boom lift, which was set on an incline, toppled over during the takedown of the festival.[9] In February 2020, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued $31,000 in fines to Pickathon LLC and GuildWorks LLC for failing to follow safety precautions.[10][11] Both companies had "a history of failing to follow proper safety procedures."[10] The companies have disabled two alarms, one which alerts the worker the lift is on an uneven ground and another that prevents the lift from rising if a worker becomes pinned above the lift.[12] OSHA determined safety violations by Pickathon and GuildWorks caused the deaths of the two arborists. One of the arborists family has filed a lawsuit against Pickathon along with several other companies.[13]
Description
Pendarvis Farm is located in Happy Valley, OR. It has been owned by the Pendarvis family for three generations.[14][15]
There are no age restrictions for attendance and is considered an event for the "whole family".[16] It is staffed almost entirely by volunteers.[17] Attendance is limited below capacity to prevent overcrowding. Each artist at the event performs twice at different locations.[18][19][20]
The festival includes a "Refuge Neighborhood" where attendees can receive massages, saunas, cold plunge tanks, sound baths, sound therapy, and somatic movement classes.[24] The "Coyote Neighborhood" is for children, including crafts, archery, wilderness experiences, and a talent show.[16][25][26] The "Market Neighborhood" offers food and drinks from local restaurants and a farmer’s market.[27]
Sustainability
Over the years, the festival organizers try to apply sustainable practices at the event.[28][29] Starting in 2010–11, all plastic and single-use dishware were eliminated, which some believe makes it the first large U.S. festival to do so.[30] Attendees can either bring their own tableware and water bottles or can buy plates and utensils on site.[31] The festival makes use of sustainable fuels, and in 2023 was the first festival to use a zero emission hydrogen generator to power a stage.[32] Solar-powered cell phone charging is available on site,and one of the festival's indoor spaces is also solar-powered.[33]
