The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (MSO) will be closing out its current season with the 43rd annual Pepsi Pops concert.
On Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m., gates will open at Old Trace Park overlooking the Ross Barnett Reservoir for attendees to enjoy an evening filled with pop tunes, outdoor activities, and a grand fireworks show to close out the night.
Highlighted at the concert will be the Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. MYSO’s 40 young musicians will entertain early arrivers and picnickers with pre-concert entertainment at 5:45 p.m., followed by David Keary & Friends at 6:30 p.m.
The MSO will take the stage after with a frontier theme galloping through the program’s start. A salute to the armed forces will follow ahead of a brief intermission.
“The Cowboys overture, and the Oklahoma selections and ‘Hoedown’ from Rodeo are all of a piece and, coming out of it, even Apollo 13 — it’s so American. It’s just wide-open spaces,” MSO Maestro Crafton Beck said.
After intermission, the gaze continues skyward, with the theme from Star Trek (2009) and a roundup of popular Star Wars hits. Burt Bacharach’s beloved “This Guy’s in Love with You” and the peppy Italian “Funiculi Funicula” will also be played. “God Bless America” and “Stars and Stripes Forever” will drum up more patriotic fervor for the fireworks finale.
“As a family-owned business, Brown Bottling Group knows the importance of the community,” Brown Bottling Group Executive Vice President Shelley Brown said. “Pepsi Pops provides a night of incredible orchestra sounds performed under the evening sky and it concludes with a tremendous firework display that leaves everyone in amazement. All this with the reservoir set as the backdrop makes for a perfect night out. Mark your calendar for Friday, May 10, at Old Trace Park so you can join us in the fun!”
WLBT anchor Maggie Wade and Mississippi Today cartoon artist Marshall Ramsey will again host the event. Bubbles and glow necklaces are encouraged to be brought to make the evening more fun for the children in attendance.
Chairs, blankets, and picnics are welcome at the park, but glass, alcohol, and tents are prohibited. Food trucks and Pepsi Cola beverages will be on site.
Advance tickets for Pepsi Pops are $15 online and $20 at the gate. Parking in the lot west of the park is free.
