Modesto's biggest outdoor concert of the year is adding a tribute to a country music icon. The Modesto Symphony Orchestra's Picnic at the Pops returns to the private grounds of E. & J. Gallo Winery on Sept. 12, and this year's Nashville-themed program will include moments of appreciation for Dolly Parton, who died August 25 at age 80.
The concert, themed Country Hits: Songs from Nashville, was already set to include music from Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Miranda Lambert, The Chicks and Kacey Musgraves before Parton's death, according to the Modesto Bee. Now organizers have planned additional acknowledgment of Parton within the show, and the symphony has said it wants to note her artistry, her impact on the music community and her character. Caroline Nickel, president and CEO of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, said performers are expected to honor Parton during the performance.
A 30-Year Tradition on Private Winery Grounds
Picnic at the Pops happens each September and draws thousands of people from Modesto and surrounding communities, according to the same Modesto Bee report. The event is held on the grounds of E. & J. Gallo Winery at 600 Yosemite Blvd. in Modesto — corporate property that otherwise rarely opens to the public. Founded in Modesto in 1933, Gallo has grown into the world's largest winery, holding nearly 25% of U.S. wine market share, per Vinello.
The Modesto Symphony Orchestra itself dates back to 1931, when it was founded by Frank Mancini, Malin Langstroth and Leonard Fristrom, making the 2025-26 season its 95th anniversary, according to the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra launched the Picnic at the Pops tradition in 1994 and has staged it on the Gallo grounds since 1995. Proceeds from the event benefit the nonprofit orchestra, the Modesto Bee reports.
Who's Performing and What's on the Setlist
The evening will be led by Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray, who joined the orchestra as associate conductor in 2013 before his promotion to principal pops conductor in 2022, according to the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. The Country Hits program is a nationally touring symphonic co-production by Schirmer Theatrical and Greenberg Artists, featuring arrangements by Grammy Award-winning conductor Jeff Tyzik, according to Schirmer Theatrical.
The orchestra will accompany guest artists Rick Brantley and Sarah Darling, both of whom will perform at Picnic at the Pops, per the Modesto Bee. Brantley, a Macon, Georgia, native turned Nashville songwriter who has written for artists including Meat Loaf and David Nail, has headlined the Country Hits symphonic tour since 2022, according to Greenberg Artists. Darling, who moved to Nashville from Iowa at age 19, has made more than 90 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and released a 2019 album that hit No. 1 on the UK Country Chart, according to the Grand Ole Opry.
The 22-song program includes three Dolly Parton classics — “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You” — alongside the other Nashville hits, according to the Modesto Symphony Orchestra's event page.
Tickets, Food and What to Bring
Gates open at 5 p.m. for picnicking, with the concert running about 105 minutes including intermission starting at 7:30 p.m., per the Modesto Bee. General lawn tickets cost $48 for adults and $12 for ages 4 to 17, while reserved lawn seating starts at $75 for adults and $20 for ages 4 to 17. The all-ages concert offers what organizers describe as an evening of music under the stars, with ticket and event details available at modestosymphony.org/picnic.
Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket and a picnic, though outside alcohol is prohibited. Food will be available onsite from Dale's Kettle Corn & Agua Frescas, the Sinaloense food truck and Yogurt Mill, and attendees can preorder meals from Greens on Tenth and Graze Craze. Gallo will also make donated wine, beer and other beverages available for purchase, and the Modesto Children's Museum will offer activities for children and families.
A Symphony With a Wider Community Footprint
Beyond its mainstage pops and classics series, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Association also runs the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, established in 1976, along with educational outreach initiatives that reach more than 15,000 local students annually, according to a program document hosted by Audience Access. That broader mission is part of what ticket sales and donations at events like Picnic at the Pops help sustain.
