From samplings of exotic fruits to ice cream treats made with liquid nitrogen, from doo-wop music to sci-fi rock 'n' roll, from sheep dog trials to a magic show, Saturday's 92nd annual Picnic Day will offer something to suit everyone's taste.

In fact, the UC Davis open house invites current and prospective students, alumni, staff, faculty and visitors of any age to use all of their senses as they experience the university.

The day's more than 150 events will include educational exhibits and demonstrations, tours and lectures, special activities for children and alumni, entertainment on nine stages around the campus, plus athletic competitions and animal shows. All events and parking are free.

Picnic Day is the university's longest running campus tradition and is believed to be the largest student-run event in the nation, with an expected attendance of 50,000 to 60,000 people.

Linda Tran, chairwoman of the 2006 celebration, said the day will showcase the university's excellence, innovation and diversity under the theme of "Celebrate TODAY," which stands for "Teaching, Outreach, Diversity, Academics and You."

"We feel all of those qualities are what we experience every day at UC Davis, and we want visitors to feel all those things on Picnic Day," said Tran, a senior with a double major in women's studies and history.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the grandstand area, on North Quad Avenue across from Wickson Hall. The high-spirited Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! is set to perform at the same place at 10 a.m. and then accompany a parade through campus and downtown Davis. Most events will conclude by 5 p.m.

In new exhibits this year, the Department of Plant Sciences invites people to test their agronomy IQ and sample exotic fruits. And at the entomology department exhibit, people can participate in honey tasting or listen to mosquito serenades.

Others might try ice cream made with liquid nitrogen or make their own nontoxic lava lamp, courtesy of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.

Picnic Day visitors should not go empty-handed to two exhibits. One will be testing dirt, the other tap water.

"Dr. Dirt" scientists from the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources invite people to bring cups of well-mixed, damp soil to be evaluated for salts and nutrients. The Interdisciplinary Center of Plasma Mass Spectrometry invites people to bring tap water in sealed containers, so the water can be tested for various trace metals.

Another environmental element is a "zero-waste" quad, Tran said. Everything will be compostable, she said, even the eating utensils at food booths with the utensils made from cornstarch.

Also, giveaway Frisbees will be made from 100 percent recycled plastic, Tran said.

Popular activities returning this year include the Battle of the Bands from California colleges, the Chemistry Magic Show, a mock court competition, an academic quiz competition and a student fashion show.

Crowd-pleasing animal events include the 33rd annual Doxie Derby dachshund races, a police dog show, Jack Russell terrier races, a Frisbee dog contest and sheep dog trials.

Nine entertainment stages will showcase what a Picnic Day organizer described as the university's "diverse and eclectic nature" in music and dance.

The Na Keiki Hawaii Dancers and the Danzantes del Alma folkloric dance troupe will be back, and new performers include Jodama, an African tribal dance and song group, and Crazy Ballhead, a Sacramento hip-hop artist. Other performers will present sci-fi rock 'n' roll, ska, doo-wop, funk and punk music.

The popular Multicultural Children¹s Faire, themed "Seeds of Growth," will teach youngsters about the importance of growth within themselves and their community, family and culture. The fair and children's area will offer hands-on crafts, carnival games, science activities, storytellers, a bounce house and other entertainment for boys and girls from preschool age to grade 6.

The third annual evening show, "Davis Dance Revolution," will feature student organizations in choreographed dances as they compete for a $1,000 grand prize. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in Freeborn Hall. Admission is free, so those who want to attend are encouraged to arrive early.

More information is available online, www.picnicday.ucdavis.edu.

— Virginia Ho, student publicity director for Picnic Day, contributed to this report. Also contributing were Julia Ann Easley and Dave Jones of the UC Davis News Service.