UC Davis is throwing its 96th Picnic Day, seizing the opportunity to show off all things Aggie — our people, our academics, our campus — with a whole lot of fun thrown in.

This year’s theme is “Carpe Davis: Seizing Opportunities,” a spin on carpe diem, “seize the day” in Latin. The day we are seizing is Saturday, April 17. Parking and admission are free.

Monica Lindholm, who chairs the Picnic Day board of directors, explained: “The theme is a testament to the many opportunities on and around campus, and how UC Davis students are taking advantage of those opportunities.”

With Lindholm and other students in charge, Picnic Day is believed to be the largest student-run festival in the country. Nearly 100,000 people are expected, as usual, for a parade and more than 200 activities, including exhibits and demonstrations, tours and open houses, entertainment and the Multicultural Children’s Faire.

“If you just wander around, you’ll discover events you never thought you would enjoy,” Lindholm said.

Annual favorites include the Chemistry Magic Show (10 and 11:30 a.m., and 1 and 2:30 p.m., 194 Chemistry), Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream (making and tasting, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bainer Hall, south lawn) and the Battle of the Bands. The latter, featuring the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh and marching units from other universities, is scheduled from 2 to 10 p.m. at Lake Spafford, in the arboretum.

For those of you who think Picnic Day has gone to the dogs, well, you’re right: Check out the Flyball Race Club Demo at 9:30 a.m. on the Hutchison Intramural Field and the Doxie Derby at 1 p.m. in The Pavilion at the ARC (watch the derby live online; look for the link at ucdavis.edu).

While dogs chase balls and race around The Pavilion, people will be running in the Woody Wilson Classic at Toomey Field. This is a regularly scheduled collegiate track and field event with an added attraction for Picnic Day: Community Kids Races starting at 12:40 p.m., free of charge.

Entertainment is planned on five portable stages and two permanent stages: Main Theatre (the annual Main Stage Dance-Theatre Festival, at 1 and 3 p.m.) and the Mondavi Center’s Jackson Hall (the Symphony Orchestra, at noon).

The Alumni/Parent Zone moves this year to the Vanderhoef Quad, bounded by the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, the new Conference Center and Graduate School of Management, and the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.

Food booths, many of them run by student organizations, will occupy the “other” Quad, offering ethnic dishes and traditional fair treats. “Get to the East Quad quickly,” said Jose Orozco, director of the student organization fair. “The majority of organizations sell out by 3 p.m.”

Dateline intern Nicole Nguyen contributed to this report.

3 P’s FOR APRIL 17

Parade — Starts at 9:30 a.m. on North Quad Avenue

Parking — Free on campus

Picnic Day on the Net — picnicday.ucdavis.edu

WINE AND DINE

• Spring Vintage Aggies Wine Tasting — Hosted by the Cal Aggie Alumni Association. 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the new Hyatt Place hotel, behind the Conference Center and the Graduate School of Management at the east end of Old Davis Road. $15 for CAAA and Parent Association members, $20 for nonmembers. 21 and over, please.

• Pancake breakfast — Presented by the Cal Aggie Alumni Association, for alumni and their families and the general public. 7:30-9:30 a.m., Freeborn Hall. $10 for CAAA and Parent Association members, $15 for nonmembers, $8 for children under 12.

• Barbecue — Presented by the Resident Firefighter Alumni Association. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at the fire station, Kleiber Hall Drive. $5 for CAAA and Parent Association members, $7 for nonmembers.

Don’t forget TGFS: May 12.