Family-Friendly Music Festivals
Photo:
Kids at Pickathon. Credit: Alec Carrier
Pickathon, Happy Valley, Oregon
Dates: Aug. 3–6
Cost: Kids 12 and younger free; teen (ages 13–16) weekend pass, $195; adult weekend pass, $390; camping included in pass price; parking, $105
Post-pandemic Pickathon revamped its programming, moving away from its bluegrass roots to emphasize music discovery by emerging artists across multiple genres. This year’s lineup includes indie-roots powerhouse Watchhouse, old-school soul’s Lee Fields, alt-glam band Dehd, indie-folk darling Madison Cunningham and Zambian psych rockers W.I.T.C.H., along with your new favorite band you haven’t heard of yet. However much the lineup has expanded, the unmatched festival experience of stages and artworks scattered through the fields and woods of Pendarvis Farm hasn’t changed. Besides music, expect amazing family programs (my kids built their own cigar-box guitars there once) and elevated food choices courtesy of Portland’s celebrated food trucks.
Up next: THING, Port Townsend
