Picnic Day 2026

Three people interact with a large metal gong structure outdoors under a clear blue sky.

Event Date

Location
Manetti Shrem Museum

In celebration of the museum’s 10th anniversary year, we’re welcoming back Gong, an interactive sculpture by first-generation faculty artist William T. Wiley. 

Stop by at 1 p.m. on Picnic Day for a special ceremonial sounding as Chancellor Gary May rings Gong for the first time. He’ll be joined by special student Gong sounders: 

  • Trinh Vo, chair of Picnic Day 112

  • Haleigh Jones, museum Student Advisory Board member
  • Savannah Anno and Lance Luangvala, Visitor Services Team students


Throughout the day, cool off in our galleries, enjoy a self-guided gallery activity, and experience works by more than 80 artists from UC Davis’ storied Fine Arts Collection and experimental sculptures by Oakland-based artist Sahar Khoury in Weights & Measures.

It’s also the final weeks of Backstory: Digitizing the Museum Collection. Meet museum staff who work in the Digitization Lab within the exhibition and learn about our efforts to preserve the collection and make it accessible.