The 2023 Picnic Day Board wanted to “Ignite the Moment,” and did they ever ... putting on a momentous 109th edition of our campus open house, last Saturday (April 15). A crowd in the tens of thousands turned out in mild weather — sunshine with a high temperature around 70 — for a glimpse into the day-to-day of UC Davis’ work in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts, with a healthy dose of fun thrown in.

Students, staff and faculty all pitched in, organizing exhibits and greeting visitors, handing out strawberry plants, fig plants, tomato plants, grapevines and other goodies, including liquid nitrogen sorbet, and putting our best feet forward, and not just in the parade.

Strategic Communications’ principal photographers Karin Higgins and Gregory Urquiaga roamed the campus from early morning to late in the afternoon, and we asked them to share some of their favorite images. Plus a few from Dateline editor Dave Jones.

First things first

Like 3 peas in a pod

A hands-on day

Fun and games

We love the Doxies