How to Plan a Perfect Picnic

Whether you’re planning a trip to the park, a concert on the grass or Shakespeare under the stars, summer is the perfect time to Plan a Perfect Picnic!  Picnics are a terrific way to have a fun-filled day or evening enjoying time together as a family making memories to last a lifetime. So, grab the picnic basket, a blanket and pack up the car. We’re going on a picnic!

The Monthly Holiday Meal Plan Series is your one stop shop for holiday/seasonal recipes, from appetizers to main dishes to desserts, plus printables and decor ideas.

If you’re going to step outside and head to your favorite spot to enjoy good food and great company, you’re going to need a meal plan.  At the beginning of the year, I announced that each month I will be bringing you a seasonal meal plan for holiday entertaining.

July is all about planning the perfect picnic!

I am a big pan of picnic food. The old standbys; hot dogs, potato salad, watermelon, and no-bake cheesecake rank pretty high on my hierarchy of good picnic eats. But there’s always room for new dishes that become instant classics!

What You Need to Plan a Perfect Picnic

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• While a picnic basket is always a great idea, don’t forget a cooler, or two to keep things consistently chilled, preferably insulated, with the addition of some frozen ice packs. When packing perishable foods in a cooler, make sure they are already chilled, and the cooler is packed with plenty of ice or ice packs to keep them cold.  TIP: Larger ice packs or chunks of ice stay frozen longer.

• The Perfect Spot:  Try to find a spot in the shade, at least enough shade to keep the cooler in so the items inside stay colder longer.
• Bring a tablecloth or picnic blanket. Even if picnic tables are around, it’s a good idea to have a tablecloth in case the table is too worn or dirty, or lay the cloth out and have a picnic on the ground.
• Keep it simple.
• Dinnerware: For a smaller group, consider reusables, which are more earth-friendly. For a big crowd, disposable is probably the way to go.
• Make a checklist a few days in advance — it’s the best way to guarantee you won’t forget anything.  You’d hate to get there and not be able to open the wine 😉
• Games are always a good idea for a picnic.
• Pack a trash bag for easy cleanup.

Suggested Items for a perfect picnic

Picnic Food, Recipes, Games and More!

Picnics are all about the food right?!  Let’s see what everyone brought to the picnic.

Honey Lime Berry Salad – The Baker Upstairs

Cherry Tomato Corn Salad – Your Homebased Mom

Sriracha Grilled Corn – Sweet C’s Designs

Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad – Julie’s Eats & Treats

Root Beer Baked Beans – Reluctant Entertainer

Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad – Honey and Birch

Sweet Maple Barbecue Chicken Kabobs – A Dash of Sanity

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad – Yellow Bliss Road

Lemon Sheet Cake – Cetcu

Butterfinger Apple Salad – Crazy For Crust

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches at Cetcu

Homemade Roasted Lemonade – The Cookie Writer

Host a Family Picnic – Celebrations At Home

Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable – Live Laugh Rowe

Lemonade Bar from Yellow Bliss Road

As long as I’m armed with a cold bottle of water or a frozen margarita and a fly swatter, I’m good to go!

What Do You Like To Pack in Your Picnic Basket?

Be sure to check out our previous Holiday Meal Plan, and join us next month when we’ll be sharing our favorite BACK TO SCHOOL RECIPES & TIPS – food, printables and decorating ideas.

Use some or all of these ideas for a perfect picnic with family and friends this summer.

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This post was brought to you by:
Yellow Bliss Road | The Cookie Writer | The Baker Upstairs | Sweet C’s | Your Homebased Mom |
A Dash of Sanity | Julie’s Eats & Treats |Honey and Birch | Cetcu | Celebrations At Home |  Live Laugh Rowe | Crazy for Crust | Reluctant Entertainer