Picnic Day

Picnic Day! Campus spring schedule full
By: Sharon Stello  *  Davis Enterprise  *  March 21, 2008

The season of UC Davis spring festivals is just around the corner. Students are working hard to plan a variety of culture weeks and the campus' biggest event, Picnic Day.

The 94th annual Picnic Day is Saturday, April 19. Believed to be the largest student-run event in the nation, UCD's annual open house is a longtime tradition that typically attracts 50,000 to 60,000 visitors.

The free, all-day event celebrates the achievements of UCD students, staff, and faculty while offering fun activities for the entire community.

"The planning is going great," said Picnic Day [Chair] Michelle Chan. "We actually have the most applications in Picnic Day history."

Organizers have received 106 applications for exhibits, 70 for entertainment groups, and 80 for parade groups, she said.

"We're looking at a pretty big event this year," Chan said. it make me really happy. I'm really proud."

Chan, a sernior, became involved with Picnic Day as an assistant director in her sophomore year. Last year, she served as volunteer director, and then was selected as this year's board chairwoman.

"I think the thing that always captures my interest and make me want to come back for more is the excitement," Chan said, noting the many great people and high energy associated with the event.

Picnic Day starts at [9 a.m.] with a parade, and features more than 150 events, including athletic and animal showcases, departmental exhibits, tours, lectures, performances and demonstrations.

The Doxie Derby, Battle of the Bands, Chemistry Magic Show, and Multicultural Children's Faire are among the perennial favorites. Live bands and a variety of performing artists will entertain visitors on six campus stages.

This year's theme is "Kaleidoscope of Voices," representing the diversity of viewpoints that "enlivens, strengthens and defines the Davis Community," organizers said.

Picnic Day's parade marshals are celebrities with local ties: UCD alum Martin Yan of the popular cooking show "Yan Can Cook" and Davis native Antoinette "Butterscotch" Clinton, the beatboxer/singer who gained national attention as a finalist on the television show "America's Got Talent."

And for the first time, in addition to parade marshals, Picnic Day will recognize distinguished faculty members. This year's honorees include Virginia Hamilton, Charles Bamforth, and Andrew Waterhouse for their achievements in the fields of communication, food science and technology, and viticulture and enology, respectively. They will be part of a special presentation ceremony on a Picnic Day morning and will give guest lectures during the day.

The Picnic Day tradition began in 1909 when UCD, the called the University Farm, invited the surrounding community to view its new dairy barn. Two thousand people attended, bringing along picnic lunches to go with the coffee, cream and sugar provided by the campus.

Through the years, the campus and community have continued that tradition, adding events along the way, but always focused on coming together to celebrate the university's achievements.

For more information, visit the Picnic Day Web site, http://picnicday.ucdavis.edu, or call the Picnic Day office at (530) 752-6320.

Reach Sharon Stello at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (530)752-8043. Comment on this story at www.davisenterprise.com