Summer time or holidays is usually when we think of picnics. But any time that is not too cold is the perefct time to plan a picnic. Maybe you want to know how to plan a picnic for a group or how to host a company picnic. Or maybe you just want to know how to plan a picnic with friends or how to plan a picnic date. No matter the reason, there are lots of picnic tips and tricks to make your job easier.
Here are some of my best tips for making your picnics some of your greatest memories. Here’s to hosting a perfect picnic!
1. Pick the best spot.
Look for a secluded level place on the ground with lots of soft grass, no rocks, and natural shade. If the weather is warm, make sure you are directly under a tree to get the best shade all day.
If you have children do not set up right next to a playground, as it will be noisy and difficult for you to keep an eye on your kiddos while you are also preparing food. But you will want plenty of open space for them to run around.
Staying at home? You can set up an awesome picnic right in your backyard. You can even have a picnic indoors on cold or rainy days if you are creative and flexible. With the right planning picnics can be fun anywhere! It’s about the people, the food, and the experience.
2. Bring the Best Blanket.
If you are going to be sitting on the ground make sure your blanket is soft and has good cushioning. It needs to be one that is washable or waterproof, because let’s face it, picnics might get messy sometimes. You might even want to put a plastic sheet down first if the ground is damp.
I like to bring old throw pillows in case I want to take an after-picnic nap or have soft seating. You may also want to bring easy to carry folding chairs. This extra large picnic blanket is water resistant and rolls up with a carrying handle so you can carry it like a tote. It’s cute too!
If you are going to be eating at a picnic table in a park try using a fitted sheet for a table cloth. It keeps the table cloth from catching wind and tipping everything over.
3. Pack your food right.
We have a cute wicker picnic basket, but we hardly ever use it. Instead we use a small cooler with wheels that has a handle and cup holders on the top. Insulated lunch bags with pockets and compartments work great for food.
Make sure to chill your food thoroughly in the refrigerator before putting it in the cooler. The cooler won’t make the food any cooler if it is not already cold. Pack perishables right next to ice packs, and don’t let fruits or lettuce touch the ice or they might get damaged or have “freezer burn.”
Go ahead and fill your cooler all the way up with ice. This will keep food cooler than a half empty cooler. And make sure to put things back in the cooler when you are not using them. Food should not be left outdoors for more than one hour.
I try not to bring glass, but if I do bring glass, I wrap it in a small towel for padding then use the towel for cleanup later. When it comes to food, I try to prepare things ahead of time and bring only what we will eat in storage containers.
Bring screw top wine bottles and canned soft drinks or tea instead of having to deal with ice and so many cups.
Try this trick: Use cupcake papers to keep bugs out of your drink. You can turn them upside down over your drink and poke a straw through the middle. A ready made lid!
4. You will need a flat surface to rest your food on.
Don’t forget to bring something like a tray, small folding table, or other flat surface to put your food on. We use our cooler cup holders on the lid for drinks. I love this foldable portable small wine and snack table. Perfect for a picnic! And how cool are these wine glass holders that are on stakes in the ground. So clever! If you really want a posh picnic try this picnic backpack. It comes complete with a waterproof blanket and the whole cutlery set for four. Very elegant!
You might also want to bring a small cutting board, a knife, napkins, paper towels, a garbage bag, some disinfectant wipes, and bug spray. You might want to bring a cup or jar to put utensils in so that they don’t end up on the ground.
5. Pack food in Mason jars.
One cute idea is to pack your salads, side dishes, and condiments in lidded Mason jars. This gives your picnic a little country flare and keeps food from spilling. The jars are also easy to transport in your picnic basket or tote. You can purchase a 6-pack of Mason jars here at a reasonable price.
You can even make desserts in a jar by layering crushed graham crackers with pudding and topping it with chocolate chips or layer fruit, yoghurt, and granola.
Salads are great in these jars, because the dressing goes in first and marinates things at the bottom. So you want to put in your hardier ingredients like feta cheese or chickpeas on that bottom layer and the more delicate ingredients at the top. Flip it over and dump it in to a bowl when serving, and the dressing will get drizzled over the top of the salad. Pasta salads or couscous works well too.
6. Get creative with your food choices.
Half the fun of picnics is that you oftentimes eat certain foods on picnics that you normally wouldn’t at home. Start your own traditions and bring a favorite recipe every time you have a picnic. Make sure to try my easy deviled eggs and creamy pimento cheese spread.
Try wrapping sandwiches in parchment paper then tie them together with string. No one wants to pull their sandwich out of a sandwich bag and have everything fall out of it. Keep sauces and dressings separate, so the bread won’t get soggy. Then add it right before eating. Use a hardy French baguette instead of sandwich sliced bread to keep it fresh and crispy.
Slice apples before you go, then put the slices back together into the shape of an apple again to keep the slices fresh and prevent them from turning brown. Put a rubber band around them to keep them together. You can also spritz a small amount of lemon juice on them to keep them fresh before putting them together.
7. Keep the flies away.
I hate flies even though here in the South they are just a part of life in the summer. But nothing ruins people’s appetites at a picnic more than having flies light all over the food.
Here’s an easy trick to keep those pests away. Flies hate the smell of lemon and the smell of cloves (really I asked them), so take a lemon and cut it in half then stick cloves in each lemon half. Put the lemons in decorative bowls and place the bowls throughout the food areas. This should help keep the flies away!
Now you are ready to plan the prefect picnic. Have fun, take some cute photos, and enjoy your picnic! Do you have any other picnic tips, tricks, or hacks? Please leave a comment below and share this article. Now I’m hungry! 🙂
