Alumni, parents, students, neighbors and community members are invited to enjoy Day by the Bay festivities with events ranging from an intellectual forum in the morning of April 30, to tours of the Cowell Lime Works Historic District, and a community picnic from noon to 3 p.m. with local food and microbrews, and music and dance performances on the east field overlooking Monterey Bay.
During A Writer's Life on May 1, well-known alumni writers — novelists, journalists, and screenwriters — will discuss the joys and challenges of writing as a living.
Santa Cruz-area merchants are offering discounts and specials to throughout the weekend.
Later Saturday evening, the Class of 1971 will hold a 40th reunion diner at University Center with tickets at $45.
A complete schedule of events — and all related details — can be found at http://events.ucsc.edu/daybythebay/. Most events are free; registration is encouraged at the Day by the Bay web site to ensure ample food and beverages.
Here is a look at some of the highlights:
Saturday, April 30
Intellectual Forum
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Humanities Lecture Hall
"Game Changers: Green Chemistry and Social Change Philanthropy"
Oakes Provost Kimberly Lau will moderate a discussion between UC Santa Cruz alumni who are creating major paradigm shifts in our collective approach to meeting social, environmental, and economic challenges.
Featured speakers are:
• Drummond Pike (Stevenson '70) founder of Tides and cofounder of Working Assets
• Michael Wilson (Stevenson '84) research scientist and pioneer in the emerging field of "green" chemistry.
Day by the Bay Picnic
12-3 p.m., East Field
A community picnic with delicious local food, microbrews, and wine available for purchase. Fun activities for kids, including a bounce house and climbing wall, robotics demonstrations, displays from the colleges, student entertainment, and more.
New this year is a "Faculty & Staff Lounge" in the largest tent at the center of the picnic that will provide an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with favorite professors and staff.
All Alumni Wine Reception
Cowell Provost House Lawn, 3-4:30 p.m.
Join us for a toast to celebrate our alumni. Reconnect with old classmates and faculty, meet new friends and share your story about how UC Santa Cruz has inspired your life.
Class of 1971 40-Year Reunion Dinner
University Center, 6 p.m.
Reconnect with fellow alumni and your favorite faculty and staff for a night of mingling and memories to celebrate the last 40 years. Tickets are $45.
Sunday, May 1
A Writers Life: A celebration of writing at UC Santa Cruz
Humanities Lecture Hall and Plaza, 10 a.m.-4p.m.
The Humanities Division hosts a series of seminars with alumni writers-novelists, journalists, and screenwriters-coming together to discuss the joys and challenges of writing as a living, the business of writing, and trends for the future.
David Talbot, founder of Salon.com and best-selling author of "Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years," kicks off the day with a keynote address.
Other writers participating are: Susan Blackaby, children's book author; David Ehrman, screenwriter; Charlie Haas, author; Claire Hoffman, freelance journalist; Robert Irion, freelance magazine journalist; Laurie King, author; Dan Pulcrano, CEO and executive editor, Metro Newspapers; Matt Skenazy, freelance journalist; and Gary Young, poet.