‘Tis the season of summer picnics, hangouts with friends, and casual (physically-distanced) gatherings. Ready to host a picnic but not sure where to start? We’re diving into the many ways you can amp up your neighborhood picnic game. Bon appetit!

Determine the Location

Before you do any sort of picnic planning, scout out your neighborhood parks for a solid picnic setting. A few things to check for include picnic tables, shade, bathrooms, and a nice grassy area for games and spreading out.

Send an Invite

This step may seem obvious, but there are many ways to do it. Write down your invite list. If it’s a small, manageable group, a text message invite would work just fine. If it’s a larger group and you want to keep track of who can attend, create a simple invite using a free service like Evite. Incredibly easy to set up, you can send an Evite via email or text message, and even take advantage of extras, like a “What to Bring” list to keep track of who’s bringing what dish. Which brings us to the food...

Set the Menu

For any event that involves food it’s always good to go with a theme and roll with it from there. Are you planning a classic sandwich and salad picnic? One that requires a grill, with hamburgers and hotdogs? Or perhaps you’re going meditterranean style? Write down a list of menu items and decide what you will bring and what you will delegate. The fun of a picnic is tasting all of the different food brought by each person. If you want to ramp up your picnic styling game, grab a chalkboard sign and write out the menu. People will enjoy it and it will tie the setting in nicely.

Bring the Essentials

As the organizer, it’s best to make sure the essentials are all in place when everyone gets there. Here’s a quick list of what you might need:

• Coolers with ice
• This Yeti soft cooler for your food contributions
• Tablecloths
• Plates, plasticware, napkins
• Cups
• Blankets - this is best to tell everyone to bring
• Garbage bags

Let The Fun Commence

Time to party! Get setup about 30 minutes before guests arrive. Have everyone lay out their food on a designated picnic table. Enjoy the good conversation and fun to be had!

So, where will your next neighborhood picnic be? Canopy at Citrus Park can point you in the right direction, if you need it – check out our blog for other fun outdoor ideas to do this summer!