The campus will host the 91st edition of Picnic Day, its annual open house and oldest honored tradition, on April 16.

With an expected attendance of 50,000 visitors, Picnic Day is believed to be the largest student-run event in the nation.

Current and prospective students, alumni, staff, faculty, and people from everywhere are invited to attend this festive day that showcases the talents, achievements and history of the university. More than 150 free events — geared toward fun and education for all ages — will take place throughout campus.

A complete schedule of events is expected to be available today at the Picnic Day Web site, www.picnicday.ucdavis.edu.

Student Ami Vora, publicity director for Picnic Day, says this year's theme, "LIVE on One Shields Avenue," reflects the wide range of Picnic Day activities and the liveliness of the institution itself.

The day will kick off at 9:30 a.m. with a parade that travels through campus and downtown Davis. Most events will conclude by 5 p.m.

Events include departmental exhibits, tours, and lectures; the Student Organization Faire; alumni activities; numerous athletic events; and animal events.

Returning after a three-year absence is the police dog show, featuring law enforcement officers showing off the abilities of their canine partners. Other animal events include the popular Doxy Derby, Jack Russell terrier races and the Frisbee dog contest.

A variety of music and dance will be highlighted on seven entertainment stages. Among more than 60 special events will be the Chemistry Magic Show, Moot Court Competition, College Bowl Exhibition Match and the Battle of the Bands. For the first time, UC Davis Native American Culture Days will conclude on Picnic Day with an art show, storyteller and performances by musicians and dancers.

Children will have their own assortment of activities from which to choose. The popular Multi-Cultural Children's Faire, themed "Exploring Our Differences, Discovering our Similarities," and the Children's Zone will offer hands-on crafts, carnival games, science activities, storytellers, a bounce house and entertainment for kids in preschool to grade 6.

The new Sciences Laboratory Building will be open for tours, exhibits and lectures. The facility houses 34 state-of-the-art classroom labs, a lecture hall seating over 500 students, a teaching greenhouse and more.

The second annual evening show "Davis Dance Revolution" will showcase registered 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 $5, and tickets are available at the UC Davis Box Office, tickets.com, and Raley's and Bel Air outlets.

Parking is free, and no alcohol is permitted at the event. For more information, visit the Picnic Day Web site or call the Picnic Day office at (530) 752-6320.

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Prominent Aggies chosen as parade marshals

Honorary marshals for the 2005 Picnic Day parade include a UC Davis student-athlete who has captured national honors, an alumnus who is helping further space exploration and a California Teacher of the Year.

Respectively, they are Kelly Albin, Jack Farmer and Dawn Imamoto.

Albin, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in food science last year, was selected as one of eight recipients of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Today's Top VIII Award. The All-American lacrosse player and 2004 NCAA Woman of the Year is the first UC Davis student-athlete to capture the Top VIII honor, which recognizes achievements in academics, character and leadership. A Fort Bragg native, she is currently a master's student in food science at UC Davis.

Farmer, who earned a doctorate in geology from UC Davis in 1978 and served as a lecturer on campus, is now a professor of geological sciences at Arizona State University and directs its Astrobiology Institute. An adviser to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in various capacities, he is a participating scientist on the Mars Exploration Rover mission and is a team member for the Mars Science Laboratory Mission, to be launched in 2009.

Imamoto, who completed a teaching credential program at UC Davis in 1995, was selected as one of five California Teachers of the Year in 2004 by the state superintendent of public education. A teacher at Bryte Elementary School in West Sacramento, she was recognized for her commitment to student writing, partnerships with parents and contributions to professional development for teachers. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, her second grade students wrote the recently published book Some People are Brave.

The student-run Picnic Day Board of Directors selects the parade marshals.