How To Host An Amazing Summer Picnic
Monday, August 17, 2020
AD - This post contains gifted products and affiliate links. All opinions are my own
Summer is the perfect time for picnics. I personally love being outdoors, enjoying good food and being in the company of my family. Picnics are a great way to save money on a trip out, or even be an excuse to get everyone together. There are many ways you can host a picnic, but here are some ways to make your picnic perfect! From food to entertainments, have you included these things?
Location
Before you head out, you need to decide on your location and who will be joining you. Are you having a picnic, or is your picnic going to be your lunch at another attraction? If you're eating at an attraction, you'll be able to find designated picnic areas for you to enjoy. If you're having a picnic elsewhere, here are some scenic places you may want to eat at:
- A sandy beach (Hunstanton, Weymouth Beach, Bournemouth)
- At a forest (Thetford Forest, New Forest)
- At a local park or National Trust site
- At a castle or historical place
When coming up with your place, you want to consider how you'll get there, how much it costs and if there are any rules (no BBQs, for example). Having a picnic in a local hotspot is great, but it may be really busy.
You can send out your invites with this cute picnic invitation! Just download & print out the image!
The Basic Supplies
Once you've decided on your where you will need the basic picnic supplies! There are lots of things you can bring to your picnic, but I have listed my favourites & my must-haves! Here are the basics for every good picnic!
- Cute picnic blankets
- Coolbox for your drinks & sandwiches
- Reusable cutlery and plates
- Hamper or bag for your food
- Fold-out chairs in case you don't want to sit on the floor
- Flasks to keep drinks in
- Suncream, sun hats & sun-glasses
- Games or sporting equipment
- Tissues or wet wipes
If you have any of these things, that's great! If you don't, before you spend any money, see if your guests can bring the missing supplies. It also means that you won't have to bring as much stuff.
Good Food
When I think of picnics, I think snacky, light and healthy. There are so many delicious foods and drinks that you can have at your picnic, it can be hard to decide. You don't want to go OTT with your picnic, especially with fussy eaters around. Keeping your selection to the favourites is really important. It also means you won't be taking lots of food back with you.
You will also need to think about drinks. Water is important, but you may want to treat yourself to some alcoholic beverages or something fruity. Think about how hot it is, and if your location is prone to wasps. You don't want fizzy, sticky drinks lying around as wasps can ruin a good picnic.
Finally, you will want to have some sweet treats. We like to bring muffins, as everyone likes muffins! Cookie Crumbles has some delicious baking mixes to choose from - we decided to go for the "White Chocolate & Cranberry Muffin Mix" for our picnic. They are easy to make, light, fluffy and very delicious. We also made ours in silicon baking cases to reduce the amount of waste we had. The mix took around 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook, making it a tasty last-minute treat! Our picnics aren't complete without home baking, and Cookie Crumbles allows us to do it quickly and make something delicious. Their mixes are also 100% natural, so you shouldn't feel bad when treating yourself!
Packing Your Picnic
Once you've decided on your food, you're going to need to pack it well. Cold or chilled foods like cocktail sausages and drinks should be kept in a cool box. To avoid your car getting wet, you should use ice packs rather than ice. Put drinks in flasks instead of buying bottles of water as plastic bottles aren't good for you. You could use a reusable water bottle for any drinks.
For any other bits, you can put it in a hamper or bag. Make sure it has a zip as it will stop ants and wasps from getting into the bag. It may also stop wasps from flying around your picnic area. When you're packing up your picnic, make sure you also include all of your essentials from earlier. You'll kick yourself if you forget a blanket or cutlery! You can use my checklist to help you remember everything!
Entertainment
No picnic is complete without entertainment! If you have kids, sporting equipment and games are key to keeping them busy and happy. There are lots of different activities you can bring along with you.
- Bubbles & bubble machines
- Football or rugby ball
- Cricket bat & wickets
- Water balloon dodgeball
- Volleyball
- Water guns
- Egg & spoon race
- Frisbee
- Bucket & spades for a beach day
- A scavenger hunt around the site (you could even hide eggs to find)
If you don't have anything to bring with you, try and visit a place which has equipment there. If you go to the beach, kids can play in the sea. Many forests have animal experiences or playgrounds to explore. My local forest, Thetford Forest, has musical equipment to play with as well! If you visit a castle or other National Trust site, some monuments may have stamps around the site where you can claim a medal at the end!
Picnics are personal to each group. You can make it as plain or as fancy as you like! Picnics are a great way to have a day out or have an affordable lunch when you're at an attraction. There are so many ways you can customise your picnic to suit your needs and dietary requirements. Cookie crumbles really make picnics easier. Their mixes are so quit to make! I love summer picnics, they bring the whole family together. What is your favourite thing about picnics? Let me know what your favourite picnic snack is in the comments!
Hi there! I'm Emily, and welcome to my little corner of the internet. You can find me preaching sustainability, hustling hard or working on my endless to do list! Together, we can make a productive, happy lifestyle!
17 comments
I love this idea for a post Em, and including entertainment is such a good idea- I never think of that because food is the star of the show for me ;) thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteIt's so easily forgotten! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
DeleteEm x
I love how creative you've made a picnic, so thought through and the invites are super cute!
ReplyDeleteI loved making the invites - it was super fun! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
DeleteEm x
It's been so, so long since I've had a picnic. We used to do this more often when we were kids, and we always had such a blast! And totally agree - good food and some games can totally make a picnic. :)
ReplyDeletePicnics are amazing - perfect for the summer! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
DeleteEm x
I love a good picnic, its such nice way to spend an afternoon isn't it? Also love how you have included the entertainment, something you might not always think about. I definitely need to invest in a good picnice hamper now!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharign1
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
I think entertainment gets overlooked, but it keeps the kids happy! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
DeleteEm x
I just realized we only picnicked once this summer. We must do it again soon! Especially as the signs of fall are showing (the leaves are starting to change color, cooler nights, shorter days,😢).
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great ideas!
A picnic sounds lovely - I really should do that more often
ReplyDeletepicnic sounds lovely! i have never done one to be honest, i might go and have one this weekend
ReplyDeleteI haven't been on a picnic in like forever! This is such a lovely post! x
ReplyDeleteLucy | www.lucymary.co.uk
This is a great way to get out and enjoy some fresh air with your loved ones. I can't remember the last time that I was on a picnic, but it sounds like a ray of sunshine in all the negativity in the world this year!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love having picnics! That invite is so cute as well. I love going to a nice park, finding a good spot to put the blanket down, if it's sunny then it'll definitely be near a tree for shade haha xx
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect, especially with how things are right now. Bubble machines are so fun and would be a must for me!
ReplyDeleteThis is so much fun! What a great idea, I would love to host a fun summer picnic like this. Thanks for sharing this idea!
ReplyDelete-Charity https://morningsonmacedonia.com
Thanks for sharing your picnic tips, a good selection of food and a good waterproof rug is is important for a good picnic :)
ReplyDeleteNic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes