Picnic Day 112: your information to the on-campus enjoyable

UC Davis’ largest occasion of the 12 months returns on Saturday, April 18

By VINCE BASADA — [email protected]

April 15, 2026

The 112th Picnic Day is simply across the nook, and as at all times, the annual open home is certain to attract consideration. Some 75,000 persons are anticipated to attend, and this 12 months’s theme, “The Journey Home: Destination Davis,” posits that, ultimately, all roads lead again to campus.

Picnic Day Chair Trinh Vo, a fourth-year psychology main, works year-round with a small group of scholars to plan and execute the occasion. She famous that the staff wished to make this Picnic Day’s theme extra grounded than in earlier years (2025’s theme was “Welcome to Wonderland”).

“It’s focusing on what Davis is for a lot of people,” Vo stated. “It’s like the new home for those who are coming in for college, but it’s also about those who have already been here before us. It’s a good time to make good memories — to be in the ‘good old days’ when you were here, if you [are] an alumni.”

The first Picnic Day was held in 1909, and it’s now one of many largest student-run occasions within the nation. The festivities begin with the Picnic Day Parade, which can kind on the Grandstands on North Quad Avenue (throughout from Wickson Hall). The opening ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m., and the parade kicks off at 10:15 a.m.

Vo stated that the “Journey Home” theme will prolong by way of a lot of the day’s programming. For instance, the Children’s Discovery Fair at Dairy Field will place emphasis on Davis and California-themed actions.

Many fan favourite occasions are again, although not all with out adjustments. The Doxie Derby (on the University Credit Union Center from midday to 2 p.m.) is introducing a $10 admission payment this 12 months, although 300 free tickets shall be handed out on a first-come, first-served foundation. 

The Fashion and Design Society Fashion Show (Cruess Hall, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.), the Chemistry Magic Show (Rock Hall 194, numerous showtimes) and Davis Dance Revolution (Mondavi Center, 7 p.m.) additionally require tickets to be obtained prematurely.

There are new points of interest too; an occasion on the A Street Intramural Field shall be a “smaller Picnic Day” of its personal, in keeping with Vo. It will function bouncy homes, portray actions and a few video games for an opportunity to win prizes.

“You can step away from the main everything that’s happening on campus and still have a lot of fun,” Vo stated. “I heard the prizes are very good. I’m not going to personally say it yet, but I think people should participate. I placed the order for [the prizes], and I want one.”

While the City of Davis has launched a number of new security measures following last year’s shooting at Community Park, UC Davis Police Department (UCDPD) Chief Joseph Farrow stated that there aren’t any new insurance policies in place on campus for 2026. 

Standard heightened safety shall be current round campus, together with Aggie Hosts, safety professionals and police; first help shall be obtainable on the UC Davis Fire Station. Attendees may also textual content “UCDPicnic” to 888-777 to decide in to the college’s WarnMe alert system and obtain emergency security messages through the day.

Farrow famous that the UCDPD is nicely conscious that some might select to drink and celebration on Saturday, however he emphasised that security ought to come first.

“If you indulge in alcohol, please take care of yourself,” Farrow stated. “Don’t drink to excess. It’s going to be hot — don’t go out there and do things. This is not what Picnic Day is really all about. It’s a family-friendly event.”

As for attending to campus on the day of, Unitrans will be running extended weekend service and provide a particular, limitless all-day cross by way of the ZipPass app. Wheelchairs shall be obtainable within the Garrison Room on the second ground of the Memorial Union.

“There’s an abundance of people here, and many of them are first-time visitors who really don’t know where they’re going,” Farrow stated. “So, I caution everybody as they drive and use the arteries to get around campus.”

Some different ideas from veteran attendees: Hydrate nicely and infrequently, reapply sunscreen all through the day and put on a great pair of strolling footwear. This 12 months’s program consists of greater than 200 actions and occasions unfold throughout campus — to get essentially the most out of the day, you’ll have to do a good bit of touring round.

“Just do them one at a time,” Vo stated, on the subject of the Picnic Day actions. “Take your time with them. We have so much to offer.”

And, maybe most significantly, keep in mind the place you park.

“I can’t tell you how many times people will call us and go, ‘I think we parked somewhere over by the vet school,’ and they don’t remember,” Farrow stated. “So we drive them around in our cars, we try to find their car, we locate their cars and try to get them going.”

More data and a full schedule of occasions can be found on the official Picnic Day web site at picnicday.ucdavis.edu.

Written by: Vince Basada — [email protected]