Picnic at the Pops! FAQs
To help ensure our guests have the best experience possible, we’ve assembled a list of frequently asked questions. Please see below – and don’t hesitate to reach out to Modesto Symphony with any further questions you may have regarding Picnic at the Pops! Call 209.523.4156 or contact us below.
Picnic at the Pops! presented by the Modesto Symphony Orchestra is an annual event that is held on the grounds of the E. & J. Gallo Winery and has been a community favorite since it began in 1994. This family-friendly picnic concert attracts thousands of music-lovers from Modesto and the neighboring communities for an evening of orchestral pops music, dancing, and fun beneath the stars.
Concert attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and enjoy all that the outdoor space has to offer. Outside alcohol is prohibited; wine and an assortment of beverages are available for purchase, with all proceeds benefitting the MSO. For those not looking to pack their own picnic, patrons may pre-order meals or purchase food on-site from local food trucks and vendors.
Tickets are available online, at the Gallo Center Box Office or pick them up when you’re out and about from our ticket outlets.
Picnic at the Pops! Ticket Outlets:
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Office:
911 Thirteenth Street, Modesto, 95354
Monday – Friday
10 am to 4:30 pm
The Village Butcher:
1700 McHenry Ave #65, Modesto, CA 95350
Tuesday – Friday: 10 am to 7 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 4 pm
www.thevillagebutcher209.com
Carnegie Arts Center:
250 N. Broadway, Turlock, CA 95380
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
www.carnegieartsturlock.org
Yes!
General Lawn Seating: $12 (ages 4-17; under 3 is free)
Reserved Lawn Seating: $20 (ages 4-17; under 3 is free)
The Reserved Section is unassigned seating in a roped-off area directly in front of the stage that provides a bit more room to spread out (due to the fixed number of tickets sold) as well as a more direct view of the orchestra and performers. The General Section is also unassigned seating on the lawn outside the roped-off area. Click here to view grounds map.
Parking is available starting at 4:30pm, for more information about where to park, click here.
Grounds open at 5:00pm for patrons to setup their picnic areas. The setup time will be strictly enforced.
Overnight camping is prohibited. The concert begins at 7:30pm and runs for approximately 2 hours with a 20-minute intermission.
Patron parking is available on the grounds starting at 4:30pm. Please have your event ticket ready to present to parking security upon arrival to enter the parking lots. If you purchased a Premiere Parking Pass, please follow the directions on the back of the parking pass or call 209.523.4156 for more information.
There are three General parking entrances:
Yosemite Blvd. & Santa Rosa Ave.
Yosemite Blvd. & Santa Rita Ave.
Accessible Parking (with a state issued placard/plate) is located at Yosemite Blvd. & Morton Drive - then turn left onto Grand Street and follow the signs.
Parking attendants will direct you to the closest parking lot.
Yes! We highly encourage using a RideApp service (like Uber or Lyft), especially if you plan to enjoy our wine offerings at Picnic. We have a designated drop-off and pick-up space for RideApp services only, located in the GREEN Premier Parking Lot 4.
Use address 100 Administration Circle, Modesto and follow the signs for the GREEN parking lot and the designated RideApps drop-off and pick-up.
Blankets
Low-sand chairs (seats lower than 9”, and backs must be lower than 32” from the ground)
If you require a taller lawn chair, please find a seating area that won’t obstruct the view of others behind you. Please see an usher if you have any questions while setting up.
Cooler (for food and non-alcoholic drinks)
Bring a picnic dinner—as simple or elaborate as you’d like!
Sunscreen & Sun-protection
Golden rule: be considerate of others. We want everyone to enjoy the concert and experience.
For more information about our bag check policy, click here.
These items are prohibited:
No outside alcohol. Your bags and personal items will be subject to inspection for alcohol before entering the grounds. Wine generously donated by the E. & J. Gallo Winery and an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase once inside the venue, with all sales benefiting Modesto Symphony Orchestra.
No video and audio recording equipment. Unauthorized recordings of the artists and performance are prohibited.
No professional camera equipment with a detachable lens longer than two inches, tripods, or big zooms.
No drones.
No grills, other cooking devices, or anything with an open flame.
No pets, service animals are allowed.
No fireworks.
No firearms or weapons of any kind.
No sharp knives with a blade longer than four inches.
No large or tall tables.
No umbrellas or shade structures.
No amplified sound, bullhorns, or speakers.
There is no smoking inside the concert area. A smoking area is designated in the parking lot.
No laser pointers.
No items can be used to disturb the peace, endanger other patrons, and/or cause damage to people or property.
All bags entering the event area are subject to inspection. Prohibited items will not be allowed onto the E. & J. Gallo Winery grounds. To learn more about what items are prohibited, click here.
Clear bags are recommended to limit contact points and minimize lines at the gate. There is no size limit for clear bags, we ask only no hardware, branding, or décor is allowed to conceal the bag. There will be an Express Bag Check line for those with clear bags or no bags.
There is no on-site storage available.
Smoking is prohibited on the lawn area. Please see the info table at the event for the designated smoking area on the grounds.
When traveling between the general parking lot and the lawn area please remain on the walking path at all times. The adjacent cart path must remain clear at all times for event security and staff.
For food & wine on-site, cash and card payments are accepted. Cash is preferred. There are no ATMs on the grounds.
You are welcome to pack a picnic and eat on the premises – please remember: no outside alcohol, grills and other cooking devices, or anything with an open flame.
Don’t feel like packing a picnic?
Pre-order meals from The Village Butcher!
We have an authorized caterer to pre-order catered meals for the evening. Pre-ordered meals will be available for easy pick-up after the grounds open at 5:00 pm. Food orders can be placed now through Tuesday, September 5th. Visit ModestoSymphony.org/picnicmenu for the full menu and link to the order form.
Food Trucks & Vendors
We will also have the following food trucks and vendors on-site during the concert.
This event’s wine was generously donated by the E. & J. Gallo Winery and all proceeds from drink sales benefit the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. Click below to read more!
Picnic at the Pops is a true community event, put on for the community with help from our community! If you’re interested in learning more about how to volunteer at Picnic at the Pops! and support the MSO, please visit our Volunteer page!
If you're a local business looking to support Picnic at the Pops, visit our Season Partner page to see which like-minded businesses support the MSO or email Caroline Nickel at cnickel@modestosymphony.org to learn more.
