Picnic Day (UC Davis) explained

Picnic Day is an annual open house event held in April at the University of California, Davis. Picnic Day was first held on May 22, 1909.^[1] It has grown to be what is believed to be the largest^[2] student-run event in the United States, typically drawing more than 50,000 visitors.^[3] 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 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 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, 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.

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,^[4] 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.^[5] 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.)^[6] There was one accidental death off campus during the 2011 event.^[7]

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
2008Antoinette "Butterscotch" Clinton, Chef Martin Yan
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
2002Robert and Margrit Mondavi
2001Randolph M. Siverson, Ted Adams, Jackie Speier
2000Francisco Rodriguez, Jamila Demby
1999Stephen 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.
1969Emil Mrak
1968Chester O. McCorkle
1967Maynard A Amerine
1966Blaine McGowan
1965Lt. Gov. Glenn M. Anderson
1964Emil Mrak
1963Edwin C. Voorhies
1962Robert Sproul

Source:^[8]

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

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"

External links

Picnic Day at the University of California
Picnic Day on the Davis Wiki
https://web.archive.org/web/20080517052006/http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/v-print/story/868199.html

Notes and References

Web site: University of California Digital History Archives . University of California . May 6, 2008 .
Web site: Party time in Davis . Sacramento Bee . May 6, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080517052006/http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/v-print/story/868199.html . May 17, 2008 . dead . mdy .
Web site: Open house promises 'A Kaleidoscope of Voices' . UC Davis . April 15, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725081016/http://www.ucdavis.edu/spotlight/0408/a_kaleidoscope_of_voices.html . July 25, 2008 .
Web site: 2014-06-09 . What is Aggie Pride? Football Coaches Talk it Over . 2024-05-02 . UC Davis Athletics . en.
Web site: City, UCD police release final Picnic Day statistics. Davis Enterprise. March 15, 2016.
Web site: Picnic Day Safety Updates 2016. picnicday.ucdavis.edu. 2016-05-19.
Web site: WebDev . I. E. T. . 2011-04-18 . UC Davis, city mourn passing of former Aggie Scott Heinig . 2024-05-02 . UC Davis . en.
Web site: Parade Marshals 2010 . April 20, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100501143758/http://picnicday.ucdavis.edu/content/parade-marshals . May 1, 2010 .