PickFest 17 Hits a High Note Despite Soaking Rain

by Julie Cordingley

Is it picking guitar strings or picking Frecon apples...?  Picking up your friends to help you pick out favorite ciders or beer…? Picking a partner for corn hole or picking which town boutique to visit next? A clever play on words, because Boyertown’s PickFest was all of these! 

The Other Farm Brewery on Philadelphia Avenue just wanted “a chill way to meet up with friends while enjoying Boyertown.” This 17 year tradition took place over a recent weekend and despite the (much needed) rain, there were plenty of loyalists that showed up for the three-day celebration.

In its initial years, PickFest started out as a festival held exclusively at Frecon Farms, and that was awesome in itself, but as the years went on, organizers thought it made more sense to have the bulk of the festivities right in town,  so that fans could experience the Free-Range aspect of visiting the small artisan boutiques and then coming back to hear Home Grown Bluegrass. It was still possible to pick apples at Frecon’s, but also possible to meander down to Stellar House or trek up to the Peppermint Stick Candy Shop, or even just cross the street to Ellixson’s parking lot for their cornhole “Baggin’ and Braggin’ Tournament. 

Vendors selling unique items were another interesting aspect of the music festival.

And because of such proximity, it was possible to return to the music, all day, all ways. Favorites such as James Daniels Trio (which turned out to be a six-person band) was a crowd favorite perhaps due to its home crowd advantage. Two BASH alums, James Daniels and John Tyler, are part of the trio, as well as founding members of the band, Chestnut Grove. 

James Daniel Trio

Fleetwood native Shai Bender exclaimed, “I was excited when I saw that Chestnut Grove was going to be here. I follow their music and they are awesome. So, we decided to come. I talked my sister and mom into coming with me.” Other attendees, namely Emily Heil and Tyler Fox of Spring Mount --and self-admitted avid folk fest goers-- were quick to point out that Hezekiah Jones Family String Band was also on the bill. “They played the Philadelphia Folk Fest which is a big deal.” 

Dan and Jeanene Evans enjoyed the music despite the rain.

A few of the potential eight bands were able to perform outside on the 528 Ramble truck stage, until it became obvious that the rain was not going to stop. Savana Comeriato, the General Manager of the Other Farm, didn’t seem super plussed at the fact that the large and pretty wet crowd needed to move inside due to the skies opening up! She just hoped they let the hostesses know where they were sitting! As long as the music continued, the damp patrons didn’t seem to mind either; they were pretty chill!  

The Bender family (and Alyson Cordingley) were among the many music lovers at the festival.

[All photos by Julie Cordingley.]

It has been over 40 years since a chemist job in Malvern lured Julie Cordingley away from her up state, New York home. She is a proud resident of Gilbertsville! Besides working in industry, at various times she has been a stay-at-home mom, and has just recently retired from Phoenixville Area School District as a (wait for it!) chemistry teacher. It has been a life-long dream to be a writer. She figures she can work at that craft while also traveling with her husband in their drivable RV… a retirement present to herself!

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