Picnic Day (UC Davis)

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. It has grown to be what is believed to be the largest student-run event in the United States, typically drawing more than 50,000 visitors. In 2009, around 125,000 visitors attended Picnic Day – a new attendance record. 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.

Contents

• Past parade marshals
• Past themes
• References

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.

Picnic Day is organized by a board of directors that consist of 18–20 students, ranging from different backgrounds and talents. In addition to being involved in Picnic Day, these directors are also full-time students and active participants of other extra-curricular activities and events in UC Davis.

Since 1962, the board of directors elects (a) parade marshal(s) to be the distinguished guest(s) of Picnic Day. A subcommittee of directors evaluates a pool of candidates ranging from different backgrounds. In selecting the parade marshal(s), the subcommittee is looking for individual(s) who: shows passion for his or her job, personifies the current theme, represents Aggie Pride, has made contribution to the campus and Davis community, and, most of all, is a role model to society. Picnic Day has selected individuals who have been involved in various fields such as the arts, sciences, politics, etc.