Dear Columbus Symphony Supporter,

Thank you for joining us for the 2025 Nationwide Picnic with the Pops / Popcorn Pops season. We are excited to see you all in the beautiful Columbus Commons for another summer of amazing concerts!

The Nationwide Picnic with the Pops season opens with A Boy Ban Symphony (June 14), celebrating the timeless hits of iconic boy bands, featuring Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees, Erik-Michael Estrada of O-Town, and Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC. On June 21, the “Biggest Boss” Rick Ross lands in Columbus for “Hip Hop Symphony,” a one-of-a-kind night featuring his chart-topping hits, elevated with the lush sounds of the Columbus Symphony. Yacht Rock Symphony with Ambrosia (June 28) features the original artists who shaped one of rock’s most iconic eras, while funk and soul legends Tower of Power (July 5) will have you on your feet and dancing under the downtown stars. Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony (July 12) will lead audiences through an innovative multimedia journey though the songs, life, and stories of the iconic Dolly Parton, and The Music of Journey (July 19) will feature a high-energy evening full of the hits of one of the top-selling rock groups of all time. Finally, TBDBITL joins the Symphony for two nights of fight songs and traditions, as we celebrate the National Championship and have the first tailgate of the upcoming season at two concerts with The Ohio State University Marching Band on July 25 & 26. 

Nationwide Popcorn Pops returns with two special family concerts: Name That Tune! (June 20) and Where the Wild Things Play (July 18). Children will enjoy free popcorn and pre-concert activities. Stay around after the concerts for free screenings of family films, presented by the Columbus Commons.

Please join the Columbus Symphony at additional events all summer long, including Summer Night Music Concerts at venues throughout central Ohio and free outdoor Community Concerts in Columbus parks. We are also looking forward to the 2025-26 Masterworks Series - we have an incredible season planned, and subscriptions are currently on sale. You won’t want to miss a single concert! Please visit www.columbussymphony.com for full information on upcoming concerts and programs.

Everything we do is made possible through the exceptional support of our community. On behalf of the entire CSO family, thank YOU for being a part of the Columbus Symphony.

Please enjoy tonight’s performance!

Stuart Chafetz

Principal Pops Conductor