When planning a picnic, you spend most of your time thinking about how many sandwiches, chips, and strawberries you can fit into your picnic basket. Sometimes, we get so caught up envisioning our beautiful outdoor feast that we forget to bring napkins or sunscreen. There’s a lot to coordinate when getting people together outdoors; so, we’ve assembled a list of reminders and suggestions to handle the details of your next outing. If you’re looking for a spot to host your picnic, check out our San Francisco and other Bay Area recommendations.
Essentials
First, you’ll need to make sure you bring along the essentials needed to enjoy your meal. Aside from napkins, you’ll need plates, utensils, and cups. Make sure to bring more than you need (you’ll never know when a friend might bring along a friend). If you’re bringing along a bottle of wine, don’t forget to pack a corkscrew. There’s nothing worse than spending the evening Googling ways to remove a cork without a wine opener. Depending on what food you choose to bring, you’ll need an insulated container to keep food warm or a cooler with ice to keep food and drinks chilled. Don’t forget to bring an empty trash bag to avoid any unnecessary trips back and forth to the trash can.
You’ll also want to bring essentials to protect yourself and others from nature’s elements. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats are a good way to protect against the heat and sunburns. You’re also likely to encounter bugs, so bring along some insect repellent to prevent bites. It’s also a good idea to bring along a first aid kit, even if it’s a small one, just in case there’s any minor injuries.
Larger picnics will require more organization like ensuring everyone has somewhere to sit and shaded areas for hot days. Provide the option between chairs or blankets, for those comfortable lounging on the ground. For shade, check if your venue or park has large trees or built-in shading. If not, rent a couple canopies or umbrellas to make sure people have somewhere to get out of the sun. While looking for rentals, consider decorations like balloons, photo booths, and lighting (for any event that will continue into the night).
Physical Activities
Sports and other physical activities are a great way to work up an appetite. Take advantage of any amenities your planned picnic spot offers. You’ll find options like disc golf courses, soccer goals, volleyball nets, and basketball hoops. You can also just bring along a ball to play catch. Don’t feel obligated to stick to traditional sports, anything that gets you moving can be a fun time. Bring out a trampoline, a frisbee, or play spikeball, a game where you hit a ball into a bouncy net on the floor.
Games
If you’re looking to host a picnic where guests won’t work up a sweat, bring along some games, music, and crafts. Unless you have a tablet to play on, avoid board games with a lot of small pieces that will be difficult to keep track of. Instead, bring a card game like Uno, Monopoly Deal, or Unstable Unicorns that doesn’t require a lot of space to play. For music, bring a couple of portable speakers and invite everyone to add a couple songs to the queue. It’s a great way to get to know what music everyone else is listening to. Bringing along a couple of books is another great way to pass the time.
Now that you have the picnic details of your picnic planned out, you can focus on the best part — the food. Off the Grid offers catering where we bring our collection of unique food trucks straight to you. Visit our catering page for more information.
