UC Davis alumni flock back to campus for Homecoming Weekend, and school spirit soars especially during the football game.
This year, Homecoming Weekend takes place Oct. 12-13. Alumni are encouraged to join current students to cheer on their football team, facing off against the Idaho State Bengals on Saturday afternoon.
The weekend also promises to bring back age-old traditions. Notably, the night before the game, pajama-clad students and alumni take to the streets of Davis. This annual parade, known as Pajamarino, is one of UC Davis’ longest-standing traditions, dating back to 1912. That year, students sneaked out of their dorms in pajamas to welcome returning alumni at the train station. The tradition stuck, and by 1916 it was an official kick-off event for Homecoming Weekend.
In recent years, its starting point has been Central Park. This year Pajamarino begins on campus at Vanderhoef Quad and makes its way to the E Street Plaza in Davis. The parade joins up with Discover Davis, showcasing the various city businesses.
106th Pajamarino
Friday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m.
Starts at Vanderhoef Quad, across from the Mondavi Center
The annual pajama rally held the day before homecoming, when students and alumni parade downtown.
Discover Davis
Friday, Oct. 12, 4:30 p.m.
E Street, between Second and Third streets
A celebration of Davis, this event, in partnership with the Cal Aggie Alumni Association, will feature performances by the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! and a mascot dance-off contest.
Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Dinner
Friday, Oct. 12, 6 p.m.
Multipurpose room at the International Center
The Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Fame, established in 1980, celebrates Aggies for athletic achievement during their time at UC Davis. This year’s inductees are water polo goalkeeper Mike DeJong, receiver Charley Enos, track and field athlete Ashley Hearn, baseball team captain Jason Shapiro, volleyball player Betsy Sedlak, and former athletics director Greg Warzecka. The seventh recipient of the Aggie Legacy Award is Mike Belloti, a former UC Davis wide receiver who later served as University of Oregon's athletics director and worked as an ESPN/ABC analyst.
Parent and Family Day
Saturday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m.
Activities and Recreation Center
Parent and Family Day showcases lectures from speakers Andrew Perroy, COO of Hopsy, and Mark Servis, vice dean for medical education at UC Davis Health, alongside a student panel. The morning’s lectures conclude with a parent-student lunch.
Ninth Annual Brewfest
Sunday, Oct. 13, 1 p.m.
Outside Aggie Stadium
Adults over 21 can partake in the ninth annual Brewfest, presented by Davis Beer Week. The event, which celebrates UC Davis’s reputation as a top academic brewing program, boasts a wide array of beers for tasting. It will also honor Charlie Bamforth, the Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences in the Department of Food Science and Technology, and a lead instructor in Continuing and Professional Education’s brewing program.
Football: UC Davis vs Idaho State
Sunday, Oct. 13, 4 p.m.
Aggie Stadium
This year's football game pits two Big Sky Conference teams against one another. Code AGGIEFAMILY ensures discounted football game and Brewfest tickets (a ticket to Brewfest includes a ticket to the game).