After the Community Park shooting, some are quickly calling for an end to Picnic Day

With so many wonderful parts to this long-standing tradition, it's time for cooler heads to prevail

"This is the end of Picnic Day," one concerned elected official told me as a police helicopter circled low over Community Park last Saturday, with a loud voice commanding everyone in the massive crowd of revelers to immediately disperse.

Was this to be the last Picnic Day after 111 years of family fun?

All because some creep, address unknown, decided to pull out a gun and start shooting at people - hitting three - a full mile from the peaceful and people-pleasing Picnic Day event on the UC Davis campus?

Perish the thought.

This sort of tragedy can - and does - take place nearly every day somewhere in the United States of America. The City of Davis is not immune from such violence.

Picnic Day is a cherished tradition that first and foremost is a unique campus open house with literally hundreds of interactive exhibits and demonstrations.

Students, staff, faculty, community members and alumni all team together over many months to plan a celebration appealing to everyone from age 2 to 102.

Virtually every department at this world-class university knocks itself out to present an exhibit or demonstration that every Picnic Day attendee can participate in.

And best of all, everything is free.

Should Picnic Day continue?

Let me count the ways.

There were no shots fired at the Picnic Day Parade that started on campus, snaked through Downtown Davis and ended up back at UC Davis.

There were no shots fired at the Doxie Derby before a jam-packed crowd at the University Credit Union Center.

There were no shots fired at the incredible Maggot Art event where giddy kids - and adults - created stunning pieces of art using live maggots dipped in paint.

There were no shots fired as the Aggie baseball team stunned 13th-ranked UC Irvine, a fellow UC campus that does not have a Picnic Day.

There were no shots fired as the Aggie softball team run-ruled UC San Diego, another UC campus that does not have a Picnic Day.

There were no shots fired at the Robert Arneson Egghead Collection.

There were no shots fired as Picnic participants lined up to take home a free tomato plant.

There were no shots fired as Picnic participants lined up to take home a free strawberry plant.

There were no shots fired at the fruit-and-veggie cornhole competition.

There were no shots fired at the Glowing Insects marriage of entomology and chemistry.

There were no shots fired at the Children's Interactive Atmospheric Science Exhibit.

There were no shots fired at the Fosters and Paws Adoption Event.

There were no shots fired as folks received their Glow in the Dark Space Tattoos.

There were no shots fired at the Popcorn Giveaway.

There were no shots fired at the Poet's Corner.

There were no shots fired at the fabulous Viticulture and Enology exhibit.

There were no shots fired at fly-tying.

There were no shots fired at the Cockroach Races.

There were no shots fired at the exquisite Chemistry Show.

There were no shots fired at the Cool Science of Ice Cream.

There were no shots fired at the Inflatable Basketball Shootout.

There were no shots fired at Slime Time.

There were no shots fired at the See and Make Art event at the Manetti Shrem Museum.

There were no shots fired at the stunning fashion show.

There were no shots fired at the Synth Petting Zoo.

There were no shots fired at the Children's Discovery Fair.

There were no shots fired at the Craft Center.

There were no shots fired at Liquid Nitrogen Sorbet.

There were no shots fired at the UC Davis Coffee Center Taste Test.

There were no shots fired at the Astronaut Training Obstacle Course.

There were no shots fired at the Orphan Kitten Project.

There were no shots fired at the hands-on Sea Otter fun.

There were no shots fired as folks kept a safe distance from the live bats that are native to Davis.

There were no shots fired at the Kaleidoscope Decorating.

There were no shots fired at the kid-friendly Marine Invertebrates Touch Tanks.

There were no shots fired at the Mind and Brain Exhibit.

There were no shots fired at the Make-Your-Own Flying Rocket event.

There were no shots fired at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

There were no shots fired as the California Aggie Marching Band played Aggie Fight at the Battle of the Bands.

There were no shots fired at the Kids Wood Car Painting and Race.

There were no shots fired as kids took turns being a TV meteorologist before a live camera.

There were no shots fired as folks pigged out at the UCD Swine Facility.

There were no shots fired at the Frisbee Dog Contest.

There were no shots fired at the Amazing Atmosphere Show.

There were no shots fired at the UC Davis Horse Barn Open House.

There were no shots fired as people watched the Amazing Robots race.

There were no shots fired at the Interscholastic Mule Team Packing demonstration.

There were no shots fired as the community band "Noise Violation" got toes tapping.

There were no shots fired at the Paper Airplane Competition.

There were no shots fired when the Davis Songbirds performed.

There were no shots fired during the Draft Horse Driving Demonstration.

There were no shots fired at the Davis Dance Revolution competition.

There were no shots fired at the Baby Jazz performance.

There were no shots fired at the incomparable Bohart Museum's Down a Rabbit Hole entertainment.

There were no shots fired as kids made friendship bracelets to give to one another.

There were no shots fired as Picnicgoers felt real earthquakes beneath their feet.

In fact, there were no shots fired anywhere on the UC Davis campus at any time on Picnic Day.

There are some "traditions" that deserve to fade into the past.

Picnic Day is not among them.

I can't wait for No. 112.

Reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com