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    UC Davis Picnic Day

    4.4 (69 reviews)
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    David B.

    Picnic Day 2025 will be April 12. Since its inception in 1909, Picnic Day has become the crown-jewel event of the UC system and the signature event of UC Davis. One of the largest student-run events in the nation, Picnic Day showcases the richness of diversity and achievement at UC Davis and the surrounding community in the areas of research, teaching, service, and campus life. It's a big "open house" and it's a good time.

    Parade: Marching Band
    Aileen M.

    Picnic Day is a popular, annual, student-run event where departments show off their Aggie pride. My family has been attending, on and off, for years. Our favorite events tend to revolve around dogs: Frisbee dogs, K-9 demos, dachshund races. The best way to enjoy UCD Picnic Day is to arrive early for easy parking and pick 2-3 events and go from there! There are demos, presentations, plant give-aways, tours, tastings, bands, food booths, food trucks, and more. This year, we arrived by 9:30 am - early enough to pick up a few free cherry tomato plants and find great seats to watch the start of the Parade. We also participated in an olive-oil tasting, tried samples of chocolate chip ice cream (it could compete with the best commercial premium brands on the market), watched a cool marching band, and listened to a presentation about their wine-making program. No dogs for us this year but we had a great time nonetheless. It's hard not be impressed by UCD as all of the students involved in Picnic Day do a fantastic job showing off their depts.

    Petting Zoo Area
    Kristian D.

    The University of California at Davis holds an annual open house that is called Picnic Day, likely a throwback to the original picnic done over 100 years ago. Now, the university opens its doors to the community for a day of events and exhibits. It takes place all over campus with free parking available throughout campus. Traffic is usually bad, so bike or take the train if you can. There are many events across the campus. Most of the colleges have special displays and interactive exhibits to show off their student activities and to recruit the next generation. The most popular are usually at the agricultural sciences area involving milking cows and a petting zoo. I also enjoy the engineering areas and art displays. Many people also enjoy the wiener dog races and the parade. The university also hosts lots of live music and sport events on Picnic Day. Most of the stuff is very family friendly attracting many kids. Many of which went home with maggot art! Food is a good draw for any event. Picnic Day now attracts a huge number of food trucks along with the student associations set up near the union. Several of the campus dining options are also open on Picnic Day. The event has become much less about the students over the years with the crackdown on parties and booze. There are still lots of students on campus which is pretty cool, but the overall feel is more of a homecoming event for alumni than a student event. I understand that it got out of hand turning into a bacchanalia with lots of Bay Area trash, but it has become a bit too sanitized. It's always a balance, but I wish it was a bit more rough around the edges. It is always fun to pretend I'm a college student again or at least enjoy being around them. I was impressed by some of the college exhibits and excited for the next generation. Picnic Day remains a great regional tradition.

    Even frat house is excited with their bubble house to celebrate Picnic Day!!!
    Vy N.

    UC Davis 100 years Picnic Day is my first Picnic Day!!! This day is THE day of the year that turns the whole town upside down. Literally yesterday was very calm. Today aka Picnic Day has waken up all the partying spirits of not only students but parents! Since this year is my first time, there are 5 things that I wish I could have done to improve or utilize my walkings to see the most events on campus: 1) Briefly go on the UC Davis Picnic Day website at least a day ahead to highlight all events you would like to see. Trust me, on the day of, there will be so many people looking happy, you will be way too excited to follow them! 2) If you are planning to bring your dog, cross out Doxie Derby (the pup race) at the ARC. Unless your dog is a service dog, they will not allow you to bring in your little ones. I had to learn this the hard way, as so many other dog owners. 3) Go to sleep early the night before, because you need to wake up early to catch the parade at 9:30am!!!! 4) Get your sunscreen ready, or go buy an umbrella/ a hat! The weather will be hot (not so much of burning hot). Prepared for your skin away from the sun is healthy for you, since you are expected to be out for HOURS! 5) Bring a bottle of water!!! You will easily get dehydrated. Campus had a variety of places for you to refill your water bottle. Anyways, enjoy the best Aggie tradition! For those who visit Davis for the first time, welcome to the town of awesomeness!

    School of Veterinary Medicine 2010 float
    Denise B.

    After hearing about the legendary Picnic Day at UC Davis for the last two years, I have finally actually attended it. In all senses of the word, it is outrageous. Are you a parent with bab(ies) or kid(s) looking for a wholesome, family activity? Picnic day is perfect for you. Are you a sexy coed, creepy frat boy, overwhelmed student, or semi-sketchy alum who desperately wants to sneak in alcohol and get wasted off your ass? You'll fit right in too. Are you a broke, furloughed, laid off depressed state worker / homeless person / cheapskate? Awesome. A dog? No problem,we've even got communal water bowls for you. What do you get, other than aching feet and calves from walking around this huge campus? Well, some of the few things you can experience, from the normal to crazy, include a parade with floats - some boring, some impeccable, and some just plain old out there, watching (plastic) horses get airlifted to safety on helicopters, miniature ponies, wiener dogs racing at top speed, horses running on treadmills, dogs jumping through obstacle courses, sheep herding, petting zoos of bugs, wacky chemistry shows, moms jogging in flip flops while pushing double strollers, and yelling drunk people. The best part is that the event AND PARKING are FREE! When it falls on a nice day, picnic day is a must-do for UC Davis affiliates, people close to Davis affiliates, and anyone who lives in the area.

    Meat lab
    Vicki L.

    Picnic Day is the nation's largest annual open house event run by students. It's held for one day on a Saturday in April, and is open to anyone (families, children, students from other schools, and pets are all welcome!) Some of the highlights: -Doxy Derby Race -Fashion Show -DDR -Battle of the Bands -Milking a Cow/Goat -Tie Dying Tshirt -Liquid Nitrogen Ice-Cream -Free Strawberry Plants -Early Morning Parade -Entertainment (Dancers, Music, etc) -Meat Lab -Petting of Horses -Chemistry Magic Show -Free stuff For underclassmen and outsiders, it's a chance to do all the cool things listed above. For the upperclassmen who have done it all, it's an excuse to get drunk all day.

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    Ask the Community - UC Davis Picnic Day

    Review Highlights - UC Davis Picnic Day

    Turns out the Doxie Derby was always the most popular event at the ARC Pavilion (Rec Hall) next to the ARC.

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    Davis Bike and Brew Fest

    Davis Bike and Brew Fest

    4.0(3 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Summer isn't quite Summer without a beer festival. Of course the same could be said of every other…read moreseason too. Which is why I had already gone to 4 other beer festivals this year before checking out the Davis Bike and Brew Fest with a fellow beer nerd friend. Being a brewfest veteran, there were quite a few things I noticed that the organizers of this brewfest got right. 1st of all, there was value. Ticket prices were reasonable for 4 1/2 hours of open beer tasting with a good selection of beer vendors to choose from. Additionally, lines for beer were short enough that it was possible to get beer faster than you could drink it. Outside fluids were not allowed in, but there was plenty of free, ice cold water for everyone. Davis' Central Park was a great place to hold the event. As good as it all was, there were a couple snags. There weren't enough porta-potties & the line to take a leak got to be pretty long at times. For food, some food truck/ food stand options were available but it would've been nice to have a couple more. 2013 was the 1st year for this event & hopefully not the last. Beer is big in Davis with UCD having 1 of the very few brewing schools in the entire World. For a town like this, the Davis Bike and Brew Fest is a natural fit.

    Brew festivals are becoming an odd beast. First, you have major brew fests like California Beer…read moreFestival that charge a lot to get in, the crowds are equally large, and most of us never get our money's worth. Then there are small, local festivals that are cheaper but the selection of breweries and vendors is poor. Davis Bike and Brew Fest fits into neither of these categories or perhaps it is best said that it's a combination of both. The ticket price in presale is reasonable $25 and, since it takes place in early August as the highlight of the Davis Beer Week, the school is not in session and the crowds in 3 years that we attended have never been huge. The downside is, of course, the infamous Valley heat that doesn't spare anyone. Like previous two editions, this year was in triple digits again and damn, it was HOT. But the organizers did things right to make the best under the circumstances: - There was plenty of water - The time was 5PM-8PM. A lot of brew fests I've been to start early which is a bad idea - Enough port-a-potties. Might use a couple more but the wait wasn't too bad, if there was one. - There was a lot of seating and several food trucks and tents - The pours were appropriately sized for the heat and most of the breweries brought their lower alcohol beers, more suitable for the heat. - The crowds were civilized, I didn't see more than just few people wasted As for the selection of beers, Sacramento area was the best represented as expected. But surprisingly, plenty of San Diego was in the house as well. Unlimited pours of Alpine Hoppy Birthday (even if it's Green Flash brewed)? Hell yea! If there was an award for hidden gem, it goes to Boneshaker Brewery from Rocklin for their Blood Red Sky. At only 2.5% ABV and nice tartness, this blood orange Berliner Weisse style beer was delightful and a total surprise. And their brewer is a super-nice guy who took the time to answer all our questions with patience. Finally, if Chris White from White Labs is in attendance, this gives legitimacy to any brew festival. And Davis Bike and Brew fest was just the right balance between small and community and more commercial. There was something for everyone and at moments you could totally forget about the heat. Needless to say, we will be back. Even if the weather is the same again....

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    Davis Bike and Brew Fest
    Davis Bike and Brew Fest - It's still early but lines at the beer stands already.

    It's still early but lines at the beer stands already.

    Davis Bike and Brew Fest

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    UC Davis Picnic Day - festivals - Updated May 2026

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