Picnic Day is an annual open house event held in April at the

University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis (UC Davis, UCD, or Davis) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Davis, California, United States. It is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University ...

. Picnic Day was first held on May 22, 1909. It has grown to be what is believed to be the largest student-run event in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, typically drawing more than 50,000 visitors. In 2009, around 125,000 visitors attended Picnic Daya new attendance record. In 2020, Picnic Day 106 was cancelled due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. The in-person event returned in 2022 with Picnic Day 108.

Events and attractions

Most departments put on exhibitions, competitions, or presentations to introduce themselves to the public. Due in large part to UC Davis' reputation as one of the finest

veterinary medicine Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, medical diagnosis, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all a ...

institutions in the country, Picnic Day features dozens of exhibitions featuring animals, including the famed geep, a goat-sheep chimera. Other parts of the celebration include a

parade A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually some variety ...

, Dachshund racing, equestrian demonstrations, and a Battle of the Bands.

Organization

Picnic Day is organized by a board of directors consisting of 1820 students, ranging from different backgrounds and talents. Directors are full-time students and active participants of other extra-curricular activities and events in UC Davis. Every year, the board of directors selects a theme that will reflect the mission and vision of that year's Picnic Day. UCDPicnicDay2016

Parade marshals

Since 1962, the board of directors elects one or more parade marshals to be the distinguished guest(s) of Picnic Day. A subcommittee of directors evaluates a pool of candidates from different backgrounds. In selecting the parade marshal(s), the subcommittee is looking for individual(s) who show commitment to their work, personify the current theme, represent Aggie Pride, have contributed to the campus and Davis community, and, most of all, are role models to society. Picnic Day has selected individuals engaged in the arts, sciences, politics and other fields.

Safety concerns

The size of the event has sparked some controversy. In 2010, there were 545 calls to police. Davis enacted a Safety Enhancement Zone (SEZ) around downtown and doubled fines for certain infractions committed on Picnic Day in the zone. In 2016, the SEZ was expanded. The northern margin of the zone was moved to Covell Blvd. (up from 8th St.) and the western margin was moved to State Route 113 (over from Anderson Rd.) There was one accidental death off campus during the 2011 event.

Past parade marshals

* 2024Sheri Atkinson * 2023Cecelia Maikai-Beard * 2022Nam Tran * 2021Maisha T. Winn, Lawrence Torry Winn * 2020Jamie Peyton * 2019Sarah T. Steward * 2018Thomas Famula, Michelle Famula * 2017Bryan Enderle, Isao Fujimoto * 2016Ramsey Mussallam * 2015Jane Eadie, Richard Kossak * 2014Sandy Holman, Hal & Carol Sconyers * 2013Richard McCapes and Babe Slater * 2012Ruth Asmundson, Rich Engel, Cathy West * 2011Mark Champagne, Jim Sochor * 2010Tom and Meg Stallard * 2009Gabriella Wong, Robert “Bob” Black * 2008 Antoinette "Butterscotch" Clinton, Chef

Martin Yan Martin Yan (; born 22 December 1948) is a Chinese-American chef and food writer. He has hosted his award-winning PBS-TV cooking show '' Yan Can Cook'' since 1982. Early years and education With ancestral roots in Hoiping, Yan was born in ...

* 2007Yvonne Marsh, Bay Butler, Dr. Bryan Jenkins * 2006Dr. Douglas Gross, Steven James Tingus, Lois Wolk, Dr. Liz Applegate * 2005Jack Farmer, Kelly Albin, Dawn Imamoto * 2004Professor Niels Pedersen, Dr. Stylianos Spyradakis, Klea Bertakis * 2003John Boe, Richard & Evelyn Rominger * 2002 Robert and Margrit Mondavi * 2001Randolph M. Siverson, Ted Adams, Jackie Speier * 2000Francisco Rodriguez, Jamila Demby * 1999 Stephen Robinson, Mayra Welch, Thomas Duncan * 1998Deanne Vochatzer, Vic Fazio, Yvonne Lee, Celeste Turner Wright * 1997Delaine Eastin, Dennis Mceil, Ann Veneman, Ken Verosub * 1996Carol Wall * 1995Ida Mae Hunter, Peter Dietrich * 1994Tom Dutton, Darby Morrisroe * 1993Orville and Erna Thompson * 1992Wayne and Jaque Bartholomew * 1991Fred Wood * 1990Harry O. Walker * 1989Leslie Campbell * 1988Ted Hullar * 1987James H. Meyer * 1986Warren D. Mooney * 1985Jim Sochor * 1984Harry J. Colvin, Jr. * 1983Philip Dubois * 1982Marilyn Etzler * 1981Gary Ford * 1980Lawrence Shepard * 1979Arnold Sillman * 1978Bob Krieger * 1977Ruth Anderson * 1976Thomas L. Allen * 1975Celeste Turner Wright * 1974Dick Lewis * 1973G. Ledyard Stebbins * 1972Chancellor Meyer * 1971Wilson Riles * 1970Earl Warren, Sr. * 1969 Emil Mrak * 1968Chester O. McCorkle * 1967Maynard A Amerine * 1966Blaine McGowan * 1965Lt. Gov. Glenn M. Anderson * 1964Emil Mrak * 1963Edwin C. Voorhies * 1962Robert Sproul Source:

Distinguished Faculty Member

In addition the board of Picnic Day 2008: “A Kaleidoscope of Voices” introduced, for the first time in Picnic Day history, “Distinguished Faculty Member.” This title honors the faculty of UC Davis. * 2008Charles Bamforth, Ph.D., Virginia Hamilton, Ph.D., Andrew Waterhouse, Ph.D.

Past themes

* 2025 "Welcome to Wonderland" * 2024 "Picnic Palooza" * 2023 "Ignite Our Moment" * 2022 "Rediscovering Tomorrow" * 2021 "Discovering Silver Linings" * 2020 "Envisioning Tomorrow" * 2019 "Adventure Awaits" * 2018 "Where the Sun Shines" * 2017 "Growing Together" * 2016 "Cultivating Our Authenticity" * 2015 "Heart of Our Community" * 2014 "100: A Timeless Aggie Tradition" * 2013 "Snapshot" * 2012 "Then, Now, Always" * 2011 "Rewind" * 2010 "Carpe Davis: Seizing Opportunities" * 2009 "Reflections: 100 Years of Aggie Legacy " * 2008 "A Kaleidoscope of Voices" * 2007 "Making our Mark" * 2006 "Celebrate TODAY" * 2005 "LIVE on One Shields Ave" * 2004 "Shifting Gears for 90 years" * 2003 "Rock the Picnic" * 2002 "Open Mind, Open Door" * 2001 "Aggies Shine Together" * 2000 "Life's A Picnic" * 1999 "Moo-ving into the Future" * 1998 "Breaking New Ground" * 1997 "UC Davis Outstanding in Its Fields" * 1996 "Carrying the Torch of Tradition" * 1995 "Down To Earth" * 1994 "Students Shining Through" * 1993 "Faces of the Future" * 1992 "Moovin Ahead" * 1991 "Catch the Spirit, Build a Better U" * 1990 "Shaping Our Environment with Diversity, Tradition and Style" * 1989 "Challenging Our Future Today" * 1988 "Progress Backed By Tradition" * 1987 "On the Move" * 1986 "Reaching New Heights" * 1985 "Setting the Pace" * 1984 "Celebrating Excellence: UCD's Diamond Anniversary" * 1983 "Meeting the Challenge" * 1981 "'81 A Vintage Year" * 1980 "Decade Debut" * 1979 "Aggie Energy" * 1978 "Davis Directions" * 1976 "UCDiversity" * 1975 "Hay Day" * 1974 "Cycles" * 1973 "The Farm Mooves" * 1972 "Remember the First" * 1971 "Memories of the Past... A Challenge to the Future" * 1970 "Blowing in the Wind" * 1969 "Freewheeling & Family" * 1968 "Know Your University and 100 Years Later" * 1967 "Farm" * 1965 "Aggie Country" * 1964 "Today's Aggie Family" * 1963 "Aggie Jubilee" * 1962 "Kaleidoscope '62" * 1961 "Workshop for the World" * 1960 "Foundations for the Future" * 1959 "U-Diversity" * 1958 "Showcase of Progress" * 1957 "Campus Cavalcade" * 1956 "Aggie Milestones" * 1955 "Future Unlimited" * 1954 "California Cornucopia" * 1953 "At Home" * 1952 "Preview of Progress" * 1951 "Harvest of Science" * 1950 "Cavalcade of Agriculture" * 1949 "Research Makes the Difference"

References

External links

Picnic Day
at the University of California * Picnic Day on the Davis Wiki

{{authority control Festivals in California University of California, Davis