Open house promises ‘A Kaleidoscope of Voices’
Get your photo taken to prove that you and your family belong to the fruits and vegetables of the world. (UC Davis archival photo)
Picnic Day, a venerable Aggie tradition billed as the largest student-run event in the country, arrives on April 19 when more than 50,000 people converge on campus.
This year’s theme, “A Kaleidoscope of Voices,” will become quite apparent, says student Michelle Chan, director of the Picnic Day Board.
“Out of the many voices that are heard, one message of hope and tolerance is expressed,” she says, “just as in a kaleidoscope, a mixture of different shapes come together to form one brilliant image.”
All those different shapes and images will be a part of the Picnic Day showcase that includes a parade, talent shows, a dachshund race, concerts, a chemistry magic show, the Battle of the Bands, a fashion show, more than 150 exhibits, and “fair food” accompanied by biodegradable dishes, cups and utensils.
Student organizers expect to draw families and prospective students for what they hope is a memorable experience.
“When you see it, you’ll never forget Picnic Day,” says student Kim Phung Vo, exhibits director of the Picnic Day Board.
‘When you see it, you’ll never forget Picnic Day.’
Kim Phung Vo, Picnic Day’s exhibits director
First Picnic Day in 1909
The first Picnic Day was held in 1909 when Davisville—as Davis was known in the early 20th century—was a far cry from the busy college town it is today.
Eggheads and academics had yet to become the town’s iconic traits when Molly the cow walked to Berkeley seven years later in 1916 (it took 97 hours). This eyebrow-raising event became one of the legends associated with Picnic Day.
Students have kept campus history in mind when planning for this year, says Leslie Cheng, Picnic Day’s director of special events.
“This year’s event will be awesome,” she promises. “At the end of the day, it’s always as good as the crowd it draws. It is just amazing to see all the stuff you plan on paper come to life.”
She hopes it will not rain. Either way, the show must go on.
Student organizers recommend that visitors to campus prepare for the day as well. Use the schedule to create a game plan, Cheng said, because there is just not enough time in the day to see everything.
Children will have the opportunity to see many unusual animals, such as this Gila monster, at departmental exhibits. (UC Davis archival photo)
Pre-Picnic Day events
For those who cannot make it on April 19, they can get a taste of Picnic Day during the week leading up to it. A cow-milking contest will be held on the Quad noon-1 p.m. April 16, when faculty and community members compete for who can extract the most milk from a single cow.
According to Cheng, each ”milker” will undergo training before competing in the contest in order to ensure the safety of the cows.
The Cal Aggie Alumni Association launches its new Vintage Aggies Wine Club with a wine-tasting event on April 18 that features selections from some participating wineries. The event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the AGR Room of the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.
Perhaps the most well-known activity of the day is the parade. Showcasing 80 organizations including non-profit groups from surrounding communities and a variety of student clubs, the parade will allow spectators to get a sense of what the community of Davis has to offer.
It begins at 10:10 a.m. and covers a 1.5-mile route that passes through the UC Davis campus and parts of downtown Davis.
Picnic Day is also an opportunity to honor some of the bright lights on campus. The Distinguished Faculty Members for Picnic Day 2008 are Charles Bamforth, the Anheuser-Busch Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences and chair of the Food Science and Technology Department; Virginia Hamilton, a continuing lecturer in the Department of Communication; and Andrew Waterhouse, interim chair in the Department of Viticulture and Enology.
In keeping with the diversity theme, the parade marshals are Martin Yan, a world-famous chef known for hosting more than 2,500 cooking shows and writing the award-winning book, Martin Yan’s Feast, and Antoinette “Butterscotch” Clinton, a Davis resident and vocal artist who became a finalist on the NBC show, America’s Got Talent.
‘It is just amazing to see all the stuff you plan on paper come to life.’
Leslie Cheng, Picnic Day’s director of special events
Returning student remembers when
Indeed, the diversity angle extends to the Picnic Day board itself. Take the case of Ronald Bell, a 57-year-old returning student with nine children. He remembers Picnic Day in the 1970s as a monumental party that attracted people from all over California.
“It was incredible in 1972,” said Bell, the board’s entertainment director. “I remember we used to have a basketball tournament that was one of the most popular exhibits of the entire day. People loved the tournament.”
Bell has a particular approach to his role. “We want entertainment that’s wholesome and entertaining, so not to tarnish the UC Davis image.” To accomplish this goal, Bell and his assistants listened to close to 140 CDs and had each band send the board a copy of their lyrics.
For Bell and the others, the dynamic of putting together Picnic Day might be as unforgettable as the day itself promises to be.
Said Chan, “We all help each other. When things get tough in our courses, we’ll distribute the work to others who take up some of the workload. I’m extremely proud of everyone involved.”
In 2007, the Picnic Day motto was “Making Our Mark,” and student planners adopted many socially responsible goals and tactics.
The year before, in 2006, Picnic Day made headlines for its commitment to being environmentally friendly, most notably with a “zero-waste Quad.”
That year, and ever since, Picnic Day organizers teamed with R4, the campus unit that promotes recycling and sustainable waste management, to ensure that every item used on the Quad — from Frisbees to plates and utensils – was made from 100 percent recycled materials or biodegradable cornstarch.