By: The Dirt
Picnic Day—one of the most storied days of the year in Davis for UC students and local families—is packed to the brim with hands-on activities all across campus.
There’s a lot to see and do, from old favorites (like getting your water analyzed) to new adventures (tasting different types of coffee at the brand new UC Davis Coffee Center).
Show up early or risk sweating it out in long lines to paint with maggots, eat liquid nitrogen sorbet, and watch the Doxie Derby.
Most Picnic Day events start at 9 a.m. and end before 5 p.m. The opening ceremony is held at 9:30 a.m. in the UC Davis Quad, and the parade begins at 10 a.m.
Feeling overwhelmed by all the activity options? Yeah, us too. We’ve poured through all the scheduled activities to help you curate your best Picnic Day itinerary.
Did you know?
Picnic Day is the largest student run event in the country. It started in 1909 and is one of UC Davis’ most revered traditions and serves as the university’s annual Open House for prospective and current students & the community.
Annual Pancake Breakfast:
Start Picnic Day with another hometown tradition—the Davis Odd Fellows annual Pancake Breakfast! This tradition started in the 1950’s and has been going strong ever since, offering a meal of pancakes, sausage, coffee, juice, and sliced oranges for $5/person, reflecting prices from a generation ago. Kids under 5 eat free. Buy your ticket with cash at the door from 8a—10:30a. 415 Second Street, Davis.
Here’s what we’re most looking forward to:
- Picnic Day Fashion Show; Events at 11a and 1p. Cruess Hall Courtyard.
- Coffee: See, Smell, Touch, & Taste; 8:30a—1p. UC Davis Coffee Center.
- Meat Me in Davis! at the Meat Lab; 10a—3p. Cole Facility.
- Maggot Art; 9a—5p. Briggs Hall Courtyard.
- Tomato Plant Giveaway; 9a—1p. PES lawn.
- Strawberry Plant Giveaway; 9a—10:30a. PES lawn.
- Free Water Analysis; 8a—12p. PES Courtyard.
- Doxie Derby; 12p—2p, University Credit Union Center
- Liquid Nitrogen Sorbet; 8a—5p. Bainer Hall Lawn.
- Meteorologist Cosplay Greenscreen; 10a—4p. Hoagland Hall 124.
- The Science of Chocolate; 8a—3p. PES Building.
- Obstacle Course: Astronaut Training Session; 10a—10:30a. Hoagland Lawn.
- Glow in the Dark Space Tattoos; 10a—4p. Hoagland Lawn.
- Friendship Bracelets; 10a—4p. Hoagland Lawn.
- Decorate a Flying Rocket; 10a—4p. Hoagland Lawn.
- Wood Car Painting and Racing; 10a—4p. Hoagland Lawn.
- Human Development and VR Media Lab; 10a—4p. Hoagland Lawn.
- Synth Petting Zoo sound experience; 10a—1p. UC Davis Sound Lab.
- Slime Time; 8a—4p. Lawn between Crocker Nuclear Laboratory & Bainer Hall.
- Archaeology and Printmaking; 9:30a—3:30p. Young Hall Lawn.
- Bug Doctor; 9a—5p. Briggs Hall.
- Glowing insects; 9a—5p. Briggs Hall.
- Pollinator exhibit; 9a—5p. Briggs Hall.
- Laser Maze; 10a—2p. Kemper Hall.
- ImPeckable Chicken Showcase; 10a—4p. Hutchison Field.
- Frisbee Dog Contest; 10:30a—1:30p. Hutchison Field.
- Meet Bats with NorCal Bats; 10a—4p. Hutchison Field.
- Orphan Kitten Project; 10a—3p. Giedt Hall.
Through the Looking Glass
This year’s Picnic Day Fashion Show “Through the Looking Glass” blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. “[It] invites you to step into a world of whimsical creativity,” Sara Lindstrom, President & Executive Director of the Fashion and Design society at UC Davis, said.
The event showcases fashion created and executed by the 13 Department of Design undergraduate students in the Signature Collection course. The show is presented live outdoors at 11a & 1p. Tickets are $12—15; free standing room is available.
The UC Davis Design Museum in Cruess Hall will also be open from 12p—4p for Picnic Day attendants to view the exhibit “Visual Journals: 2010—2024”.
