Grand Rapids Symphony Picnic Pops has Exciting Lineup This Summer

Classic rock comes to Cannonsburg Ski Area for the Grand Rapids Pops 2017 D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops this summer.

The 23rd annual D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops summer season returns in July with an exciting lineup of pop/rock, plus a salute to women in rock with Women Rock, Classical Fireworks, and Mariachi.

Season tickets offering substantial discounts as well as single tickets for all shows are on sale now. Call the Grand Rapids Symphony at (616) 454-9451 ext. 4 during business hours or (616) 885-1241 evenings or go online to PicnicPops.org

Sponsored by GR Outdoor, the Grand Rapids Symphony’s three-concert, all classic rock series opens with The Music of ABBA on July 13-14.

The Music of ABBA features Arrival from Sweden plus guest musicians who originally toured or recorded with ABBA on such songs as Fernando, Knowing Me Knowing You, SOS and Dancing Queen.

Rock rolls on with The Musical Legacy of Chicago on July 20-21.

The Musical Legacy of Chicago stars Brass Transit, an eight-member band from Toronto, founded in 2008 solely to pay tribute to one of the longest-running acts in rock music.

Follow that with one of the most exciting concerts on the road today, the music of Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar, Carly Simon, Heart, and more, in Women Rock on July 27-28.

The show features three of Broadway's brightest stars, Cassidy Catanzaro, Katrina Rose Dideriksen and Shayna Steel.

Capping off the D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops are two one-night only, special events. The shows include the perennially popular Classical Fireworks on Thursday, August 3, conducted by Grand Rapids Symphony music director Marcelo Lehninger.

The season closes out with the marvelous mariachi sound of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán on Saturday, August 5, dubbed the best Mariachi band in the world.

Now based in Mexico City, Mariachi Vargas appeared on Linda Ronstadt’s 1986 album, Canciones de Mi Padre (Songs of My Father), which won the Grammy Award for Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album at the 31st Grammys in 1987.

Gates at Cannonsburg Ski Area open at 5:45 p.m. each night for picnicking and pre-concert entertainment, including free, kid-friendly activities such as face painting, crafts, and a musical instrument petting zoo.

The Picnic Pops always make a summer special. You, your family and friends will have a blast!