Save the Date: November 1-2, 2025
Save the date for UC Davis Parent and Family Weekend on November 1-2, 2025. The annual event gives parents and family members of current students the opportunity to engage with UC Davis life — from academics to athletics and everything in between.
Below is the preliminary schedule for the weekend. Parent & Family Weekend is a chance to explore unique aspects of Davis, connect you with your student’s academic college, cheer on the Aggies at a home football game, eat on campus, visit downtown Davis, meet staff, and, most importantly, give your student the opportunity to see you and share their favorite things about UC Davis.
Registration will open in mid-September. Be on the lookout for an email notification once registration is live and bookmark this page to review the schedule once it is available.
*Please note: Unlike other campuses whose traditional open house events happen in the fall with Homecoming/Parent and Family Weekend, UC Davis’ large community events happen in the spring at Picnic Day! This means that Parent and Family Weekend is a more low-key event. However we hope that you can join us for both events. Picnic Day has more than 70,000 attendees each year and over 200 activities including a parade, battle of the bands, fashion show, student organization fair, and the Doxie Derby, the beloved wiener dog race. Mark your calendar! Picnic Day will be held on April 18, 2026.
Schedule of Events
Please note that Parent & Family Weekend starts on Saturday, Nov 1, however we've listed some things to do if you are planning to come on Friday. At the end of the listings are other things happening "around town" that may interest you as well.
Friday, October 31
Visit the Manetti Shrem Museum
Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, 254 Old Davis Rd, Davis, CA
10 a.m. - 5p.m.
Two thought-provoking contemporary art exhibitions, "'OJO' Julio César Morales" and "Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice." Join us in the afternoon for hands-on art and science activities connected to "Breath(e)".
Tour the UC Davis College of Engineering
2 - 3 p.m.
Visit UC Davis and tour the college with an Engineering Ambassador. Our ambassadors will showcase the college's cutting-edge centers and laboratories and talk about why they chose to study at UC Davis.
Written and Directed By: New Works by Student Playwrights
Wyatt Pavilion Theatre, Old Davis Rd
7 - 8:30 p.m.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will open its 2025-2026 season with Written and Directed by, a performance of four new one-act plays authored by undergraduate students.
Saturday, November 1
Take a stroll along the UC Davis Arboretum
The Arboretum and Public Garden includes the historic Arboretum — a 100-plus acre campus and regional amenity comprised of demonstration gardens and scientific collections — the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve — a rare stream and grassland ecosystem managed for teaching, research, wildlife and habitat protection — and the rest of our 5300-acre campus.
Follow one of three suggested paths or do the entire 3-mile loop. Follow this link to learn about all the plants, animals and nature you will see along the way.
Meet the animals of UC Davis
Multiple locations
Anytime (except the sheep mowers)
Visit the cows (located next to Kearney Hall in the Tercero Residence Halls) and scout for other on campus animals like Cheeto the Physics Cat or the turkeys.
Join us for our one-and-only Sheepmowers Grazing Event of Fall Quarter on Saturday from 10am to 5pm in front of Wellman Hall. Come watch UC Davis sheep mow campus lawns and check out the sheep-related activities we'll have throughout the day.
Enjoy a meal at Segundo Dining Commons
9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Purchase a meal at the Dining Commons. Dining commons are the primary location where residence hall residents eat. We're proud to offer a diverse and delicious menu with fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. A variety of meals are served every day, including vegetarian and vegan dishes, pastas and pizza, build your own Mongolian BBQ bar, and a full salad bar.
What it Takes for your Student to Graduate Career Ready and Find Jobs
1001 Geidt Hall
10 - 11:30 a.m.
This event, hosted by the Career Center, will introduce parents, families, and students to the services we offer while detailing what students can do outside their classrooms to graduate career ready and be competitive in their job search. It will highlight activities from finding your path to applying to jobs. We will also discuss timelines and activities for each year of a student's undergraduate career, student employment, internships, undergraduate research, and more.
Self-guided tour of the UC Davis Raptor Center
1340 Equine Lane, Davis, CA
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The California Raptor Center is open for self-guided tours during visiting hours. Our non-releasable raptors are on the tour route, with informative placards describing each bird and its personal story. The Museum is also open for self-guided tour visitors. There is no charge for parking, and admission is free for self-guided tours. Please keep self-guided tour groups to 6 people or fewer to minimize stress to the birds.
UC Davis Botanical Conservatory Tour
Botanical Conservatory
10 - 10:45 a.m.
This is a guided tour of the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory which is home to a diverse collection of over 4,000 plant species from around the world, providing a unique space for education, research, and conservation. Our greenhouse showcases rare and unusual plants from tropical rainforests, arid deserts, and carnivorous habitats, offering visitors a hands-on experience with plant adaptations and biodiversity.
Pre-registration required, limited capacity event
Visit the Manetti Shrem Museum
Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, 254 Old Davis Rd, Davis, CA
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Two thought-provoking contemporary art exhibitions, "'OJO' Julio César Morales" and "Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice." Join us in the afternoon for hands-on art and science activities connected to "Breath(e)".
Men’s Waterpolo vs. UCSB
Schaal Aquatic Center, 426 Health Sciences Dr, Davis, CA
10 - 11 a.m.
Come cheer on the UC Davis Men’s Waterpolo team as they battle UCSB. No cost to attend.
Tailgate/Family Fun Zone at Hutchison Field
Hutchison Field, 152 La Rue Rd, Davis, CA 95616
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Join in the pre-game spirit on Hutchison Field before the game. All participants are welcome whether you’re attending the game or not. Activities include: food trucks, beer garden, student performances, DJ, and lawn games.
Resource Fair at Hutchison Field
Hutchison Field, 152 La Rue Rd, Davis, CA 95616
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Learn about campus resources and local resources for you and your student by visiting dozens of tables hosted by campus units, campus resources, and local businesses.
Meet the Dean of the College of Letters and Science at the Resource Fair
Hutchison Field, 152 La Rue Rd, Davis, CA 95616
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Chat with the Dean of the College of Letters and Science and learn how your student can thrive at UC Davis's liberal arts college at this informal meet-and-greet. Dean Estella Atekwana is a distinguished professor of geophysics and a recent inductee in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She welcomes your questions and wants to hear from you how your student is doing. Advising and student engagement staff will also be on hand to answer questions. Look for us under the "UC Davis College of Letters and Science" canopy!
UC Davis Football vs. Idaho State
UC Davis Health Stadium, Bob Foster Team Center, Davis, CA
1 - 5 p.m.
Come cheer on the UC Davis Football team as they battle Idaho State.
Purchase Tickets
Meet-and-Greet Tea Tasting with the UC Davis Global Tea Institute
1 -2 p.m.
Learn about the UC Davis Global Tea Institute and how students can get involved in our events and initiatives.
Pre-registration required, limited capacity event
ArtSpark at Manetti Shrem
Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, 254 Old Davis Rd, Davis, CA
1 - 4 p.m.
Make a unique print that colorfully captures plant silhouettes and textures, inspired by ways of documenting, preserving, and memorializing species in art by Clarissa Tossin and Brandon Ballengeé. Plus, get to know your local fish with the Sacramento-Davis Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society and see specimens from the Fish and Wildlife Museum up close. Learn how the Center for Plant Diversity preserves plant specimens for its herbarium, a reference library of pressed, dried plants, mosses, lichens and algae that serve as reference tools for identification and future research needs.
Written and Directed By: New Works by Student Playwrights
Wyatt Pavilion Theatre, Old Davis Rd
2 - 3:30 p.m.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will open its 2025-2026 season with Written and Directed by, a performance of four new one-act plays authored by undergraduate students.
Mens Soccer vs. Sac State
Aggie Soccer Field, 622 Orchard Rd, Davis, CA 95616
7 p.m.
Last game of the season! Root for the Aggies in the “Causeway Classic” battle against Sac State. Free admission
Written and Directed By: New Works by Student Playwrights
Wyatt Pavilion Theatre, Old Davis Rd
7 - 8:30 p.m.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will open its 2025-2026 season with Written and Directed by, a performance of four new one-act plays authored by undergraduate students.
Mondavi Center Presents - Las Cafeteras hasta La Muerte
7:30 p.m.
Prepare to be captivated by Hasta La Muerte, a spellbinding performance that intertwines the themes of life and death, inspired by the Indigenous and Mexican traditions of Día de los Muertos. Tickets in the Parent & Family section can be purchased through PFW registration, or you can purchase tickets directly from the Mondavi Center.
Sunday, November 2
Meet the animals of UC Davis
Multiple locations
Anytime
Visit the cows (located next to Kearney Hall in the Tercero Residence Halls) and scout for other on campus animals like Cheeto the Physics Cat or the turkeys.
Take a stroll along the UC Davis Arboretum
The Arboretum and Public Garden includes the historic Arboretum — a 100-plus acre campus and regional amenity comprised of demonstration gardens and scientific collections — the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve — a rare stream and grassland ecosystem managed for teaching, research, wildlife and habitat protection — and the rest of our 5300-acre campus.
Follow one of three suggested paths or do the entire 3-mile loop. Follow this link to learn about all the plants, animals and nature you will see along the way.
Breakfast and tour of Coffee Center
9 - 11 a.m.
Sip coffee, espresso, affogato and learn about the science of coffee. Light breakfast included. The UC Davis Coffee Center has a home in a 6,000-square-foot building that was renovated and reopened in 2024. It is home to the world’s first academic research and teaching facility entirely dedicated to the study of coffee. This facility brings together visitors, students and researchers from across the university and around the world in a dynamic environment where cutting-edge coffee science is explored and translated into practice. There will be a UC Davis Bookstore Pop up Store so you can purchase coffee made at the coffee center along with other last minute UC Davis branded items.
Enjoy a meal at Segundo Dining Commons
9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Purchase a meal at the Dining Commons. Dining commons are the primary location where residence hall residents eat. We're proud to offer a diverse and delicious menu with fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. A variety of meals are served every day, including vegetarian and vegan dishes, pastas and pizza, build your own Mongolian BBQ bar, and a full salad bar.
Self-guided tour of the UC Davis Raptor Center
1340 Equine Lane, Davis, CA
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The California Raptor Center is open for self-guided tours during visiting hours. Our non-releasable raptors are on the tour route, with informative placards describing each bird and its personal story. The Museum is also open for self-guided tour visitors. There is no charge for parking, and admission is free for self-guided tours. Please keep self-guided tour groups to 6 people or fewer to minimize stress to the birds.
UC Davis Botanical Conservatory Tour
Botanical Conservatory
10 - 10:45 a.m.
This is a guided tour of the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory which is home to a diverse collection of over 4,000 plant species from around the world, providing a unique space for education, research, and conservation. Our greenhouse showcases rare and unusual plants from tropical rainforests, arid deserts, and carnivorous habitats, offering visitors a hands-on experience with plant adaptations and biodiversity.
Pre-registration required, limited capacity event
Men’s Waterpolo vs. West Valley College
Schaal Aquatic Center, 426 Health Sciences Dr, Davis, CA
10 a.m.
Come cheer on the UC Davis Men’s Waterpolo team as they battle West Valley College. No cost to attend.
Visit the Manetti Shrem Museum
Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, 254 Old Davis Rd, Davis, CA
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Two thought-provoking contemporary art exhibitions, "'OJO' Julio César Morales" and "Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice." Join us in the afternoon for hands-on art and science activities connected to "Breath(e)".
Men’s Waterpolo vs. UC Merced
Schaal Aquatic Center, 426 Health Sciences Dr, Davis, CA
12 p.m.
Come cheer on the UC Davis Men’s Waterpolo team as they battle UC Merced. No cost to attend
Written and Directed By: New Works by Student Playwrights
Wyatt Pavilion Theatre, Old Davis Rd
2 - 3:30 p.m.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will open its 2025-2026 season with Written and Directed by, a performance of four new one-act plays authored by undergraduate students.
Mondavi Center Presents - Itzhak Perlman, In the Fiddlers House
7:30 p.m.
Purchase tickets directly from the Mondavi Center
Around Town
Friday, October 31
Davis Downtown Treat Trail
3 - 6 p.m.
Downtown businesses provide mouth-watering treats to the little ghouls and goblins who are enjoying downtown festivities. Over 70 businesses participate!
Challah-ween Shabbat
Hillel at Davis and Sacramento, 328 A Street, Davis, CA
6 - 8:30 p.m.
Join the community at Hillel, fellow Jewish students, and parents for a fun Shabbat program the night of Halloween. We'll have a costume contest, delicious food, student-led Shabbat services, and the opportunity to connect with the Jewish community.
Saturday, November 1
Visit Davis Farmer’s Market
8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Year-round at Central Park in downtown Davis, thousands gather each week to shop for what is grown, raised, and made locally at our markets. Walk rows of stalls lined with an array of fruits and vegetables, choice meats, wine, local eggs and honey. Choose from a variety of fresh-baked goods, plants, flowers and gifts. Enjoy a picnic from one of our many food stands, made from market ingredients.
Ride the Double Decker bus
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Fancy a ride on one of Unitrans’ double double decker buses? Hop on the fare-free Farmer’s Market Shuttle running every 25 minutes between the Farmers Market (B St. & 4th St.), Downtown, and the UC Davis Memorial Union Bus Terminal.
The vintage London double decker bus may not be accessible to people who use mobility devices or have mobility challenges. The service may be operated in a modern double decker due to inclement weather of other operational issues.
Discover Davis/Dia De Las Muertes Celebration
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Central Park, Downtown Davis