Parents’ weekend offers full menu of activities

A brunch with Chancellor Linda Katehi, a tour of the gorgeous Moonlight Garden at the UC Davis Arboretum, a behind-the-scenes campus tour with a dean, a chance to cheer on the Aggie Football team. These are just some of the offerings UC Davis parents can enjoy at the upcoming Campus Showcase and Parent and Family Weekend on Oct. 22-24.

“It’s a great time for parents to come back six weeks after dropping off their student,” says Maria Zalesky, director of parent programs at UC Davis.

Last year’s parents’ weekend was a sell-out, with 600 attendees. As a result, this year’s events have been expanded, and brunch with Chancellor Linda Katehi has been moved to another campus facility to accommodate an even bigger crowd. Additional activities, including the campus tour with UC Davis Biological Sciences Dean Ken Burtis, will provide more choices for parents who don’t attend the Saturday afternoon football game. A Friday “Campus Showcase" of lectures and tours has also been added to the weekend.

Wide variety of activities

Scheduled activities for the Friday Campus Showcase begin at 1 p.m. with check-in at the Buehler Alumni and Visitor Center lobby. The activities continue through 8:30 p.m.

In the afternoon, Andrew Hargadon, management professor and faculty director of the UC Davis Center for Entrepreneurship, will discuss transferring UC Davis research and intellectual capital to the marketplace; and veterinary medicine professor John Madigan will discuss the rescue and treatment of animals affected by disasters and other emergencies.

Participants can also tour the UC Davis West Village campus neighborhood, now under construction.

The day concludes with a Vintage Aggies Wine Tasting, open to family members who are at least 21.

Saturday’s activities include a pregame barbecue lunch at Aggie Stadium, followed by a football game against South Alabama; the Arboretum GATEways Arts Festival featuring campus music, theatre and art presentations; and the insider campus tour with Burtis. Sunday’s brunch with the chancellor takes place at 10:30 a.m.

Tickets and reservations

Tickets to all Campus Showcase and Parent and Family Weekend activities can be reserved and purchased online. Tickets to the Campus Showcase are $15. Tickets to the Vintage Aggies Wine Tasting, Saturday pre-game activities (including two drink tickets) and Sunday Brunch with Chancellor Katehi are $20 each. All tickets are discounted by $5 for members of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association or the Aggie Parents Association.

The reservation deadline for the showcase and weekend is Oct 15.

To purchase tickets to athletic events, call (530) 752-1915; for tickets to a Saturday evening performance of Dresden Staatskapelle, one of the world’s oldest orchestras, call (866) 754-2787.