The University of California, Davis held its 111th Picnic Day on April 12, 2025, with tens of thousands attending one of the largest student-run events in the country. The event featured a variety of activities, including live performances, exhibits, and demonstrations spread across campus. A highlight was the Strawberry Breeding Program’s annual giveaway, where over 1,000 strawberry plants and 5,000 tomato plants were distributed.
The day began with a parade led by Picnic Day Chair Mina Sarmah, accompanied by the UC Davis marching band’s performance of a popular song. The parade included participants such as the Girl Scouts Golden Sunflower Service Unit and the Northern California DeLorean Motor Club.
New features at the event included the Picnic Day Pit Stop at Russell Field, offering an inflatable maze and food options for visitors. The American Fisheries Society hosted an interactive open house led by Bryson Zheng, who showcased various fish native to the region.
A popular attraction was the sorbet and slime-making station organized by the UC Davis chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Freshmen Morris Jones, Sophia Jordana, Vivian Mai, and T Humble demonstrated the process using liquid nitrogen and explained the science behind it. “Our goal is to get more people interested in chemical engineering and bring more awareness to the major,” said Humble.
The event also featured a marching band contest and a Year of the Eggheads pop-up shop selling merchandise commemorating the 30th anniversary of Robert Arneson’s sculptures.
Picnic Day 2025 highlighted UC Davis’s community engagement and showcased educational and entertaining experiences to attendees.
