What are my food options at Picnic at the Pops?

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 Greens on tenth!

We have an authorized caterer to pre-order meals for the evening. Pre-ordered meals will be available for easy pick-up after the grounds open at 5:00pm.

Food Trucks & booths

We will also have food trucks & booths on site during the concert. Below are this year’s featured options.

Sinaloense food truck

Local taco truck based in Modesto and Salida that serves up delicious tacos and street food inspired by Sinaloa, Mexico.

Yogurt mill froyo truck

Known for serving delicious frozen yogurt in the Central Valley since 1984.

Dale’s gourmet kettle popcorn

Dale's Gourmet Kettle Popcorn is a family-owned business based in Modesto, serving up irresistibly fresh kettle corn and refreshing agua frescas.

What time should I arrive and how long does the event last?

• 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.

• The concert begins at 7:30pm and runs for approximately 2 hours with a 20-minute intermission.

What is parking like at Picnic at the Pops?

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 two 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. This parking lot may be delayed exiting for pedestrian safety.

Parking attendants will direct you to the closest parking lot.

important notice about parking:

This year we will have a limited amount of parking available for our concert attendees. We highly encourage carpooling or taking a rideshare service of your choice to the concert. For more information about our designated drop-off / pick-up space, click here.
Please plan on walking up to 3/4 mile from the parking lot to the concert site.

What is this year's wine list?

Picnic at the POPS! 2025 Wines:

This event’s wine was generously donated by GALLO and all proceeds from drink sales benefit the Modesto Symphony Orchestra.

If you’re planning to enjoy alcoholic beverages, please be prepared to show your ID for a 21+ wristband. Alcohol will only be served to those with the 21+ wristband.

• Cans

  • High Noon Sun Sips: Real Vodka Seltzers made with real juice! Offered in crisp and refreshing summer flavors of Peach and Black Cherry. (355 ml can)

• Bubbles

  • La Marca Prosecco: Crisp, clean palate with fruity flavors of green apple, juicy peach and ripe lemon, framed by hints of minerality and sweetness. (D.O.C, 187 ml mini bottle)  

• Sweet

  • Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato: Gallo Family Vineyards California Moscato is bursting with delicious notes of peach, honey, and ripe citrus – in a delightfully light style. (California, 750 ml bottle)

• Rosé

  • Dark Horse California Rosé: Dry, fruit-forward Rosé that is brilliant ruby red in color, offering aromas of strawberry, pomegranate and rose petals. (California, 750 ml bottle)

• White

  • Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc opens with hints of Meyer lemon and bright, fresh-snipped green herbs, the crisp, expressive palate adds fruit notes of ripe mandarin, grapefruit, tropical passionfruit and sweet kiwi. Hints of lemongrass emerge before the long refreshing finish.

  • Clos du Bois Chardonnay: Clos du Bois Chardonnay is a bright wine that leads with aromas of apple blossom and Meyer lemon. The mouthfeel is silky with notes of ripe pear with hints of butter and toasted oak. The finish is long with apple compote accented with lemon zest.

• Red

  • Louis M. Martini Winery Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Beautifully balanced, with an acidic structure that holds up nicely to the abundant fruit. The lively nose boasts aromas of blackberry, plum, and black cherry with hints of vanilla.

  • Mark West Pinot Noir: Mark West Pinot Noir offers delightful aromas of black cherry, strawberry and plum. Medium bodies with soft tannins.

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More information about beverages at Picnic:

• If you’re planning to enjoy alcoholic beverages, please be prepared to show your ID for a 21+ wristband. Alcohol will only be served to those with the 21+ wristband.

• The bar will close at the end of intermission. You must be in line for the bar before intermission ends to redeem your scrip.

• For on-site purchases, cash and credit payments will be accepted. There are no ATMs on the grounds.

• There are no refunds.

• Alcohol must be consumed on-site.

Can I take an Uber or Lyft to the concert?

Yes! We encourage you to use 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 roundabout in front of the Dry Creek Building.

Use address 154 S Santa Rosa Ave., take Entry 1, and follow the signs to the right for RideApps drop-off and pick-up. From there you will walk approximately 1/4 mile to the event entrance.

 Parking attendants will be available to assist you as you enter and exit the grounds.

Where can I get my Picnic tickets?

Tickets are available online and at the Gallo Center Box Office. We will also sell Picnic tickets at ticket outlets about one month before the concert so you can pick them up when you’re out. Our ticket outlets are:

Carnegie Arts Center

250 N. Broadway Ave., Turlock
Tuesday to Saturday
10 am to 5 pm

Modesto Symphony Orchestra

911 Thirteenth St., Modesto
Monday to Saturday
10 am to 5 pm

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Tickets Prices:

General Lawn Seating: $45 Adult / $12 Youth
Reserved Lawn Seating: $75 Adult / $20 Youth

Groups of 10 or more save 20% off General Lawn Seating tickets. Call the Gallo Center Ticket Office at 209.338.2100 to save on Picnic tickets today!

PRINTED TICKETS REQUIRED!

For this concert, you will need to bring printed tickets for admission and to enter the ground’s parking lots.

We highly encourage you to pick up your printed tickets from the Gallo Center Ticket Office prior to the concert. Ticket Office hours are Monday to Friday, from 10 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from 12 Noon to 6 PM. Any printed tickets left over will be available at will call at the event.

If you ordered before August 1st, your tickets will be mailed to you.

What is the Picnic at the Pops?

Picnic at the Pops! presented by the Modesto Symphony Orchestra is an annual event that is held on the grounds of GALLO and has been a community favorite since it began in 1995. 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.

Are there Youth Tickets for Picnic at the Pops?

Yes!

• General Lawn Seating: Starting at $12 (ages 4-17; under 3 is free)

• Reserved Lawn Seating: Starting at $20 (ages 4-17; under 3 is free)

What is the difference in seating between Reserved and General?

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.

There are designated handicap spaces in each section, please refer to the grounds map below:

View fullsize

What should I bring to the Picnic at the Pops! concert?

• 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.

• A cooler for food and sealed non-alcoholic drinks.

• Bring a picnic dinner—as simple or elaborate as you’d like!

• Sunscreen & Sun-protection

• A wagon to help carry all of your picnic gear. We will have a designated stroller/wagon path from the parking lots.

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.

What should I leave at home?

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 GALLO 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 open or unsealed beverage containers. Reusable cups/bottles are allowed if empty.

• 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.

Is there a bag policy for Picnic at the Pops?

All bags, wagons, and coolers entering the event area are subject to inspection. Prohibited items will not be allowed onto the GALLO 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.

What else do I need to know?

• 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.

How can I be involved with Picnic at the Pops!

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. 

Is Picnic at the Pops included with the MSO Pops Concert Series?

Picnic at the Pops! is not part of the Pops series. The Pops Series includes all of the MSO Pops concerts performed at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Can I bring my pet to your picnic concert?

Unfortunately no, your furry family members must stay home. Service animals are allowed. For more information on service animals, please click here.

Is Picnic at the Pops! a family-friendly concert?

Yes! Picnic at the Pops! is fun for all ages. We offer youth and group pricing discounts.

Youth Pricing (For ages 4-17, kids 3 and under enter free):
General Lawn: $12
Reserved Lawn: $20

Groups of 10 or more save 20% off General Lawn Seating tickets. Please call the Gallo Center for the Arts Ticket Office to purchase your group tickets at 209.338.2100.

Stop by our Light Up the Night MSO Tent to purchase fun glow products benefiting the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra!

Are there discounted tickets?

For Picnic at the Pops! we offer a group discount of 20% for groups of 10 or more in General Lawn seating. For Holiday Candlelight and all MSO concerts at the Gallo Center for the Arts, we offer 15% off. Please call the Gallo Center Box Office at 209-338-2100 to place your order.

Student Tickets: We offer $15 student tickets for most of our Classics Series. Student tickets can be purchased with a student ID at the Ticket Office at least two weeks prior to the concert date based on availability.