Recently, my friend and I were chatting about hosting a little socially-distanced picnic party, and I can’t wait! We’re going to keep it pretty small, but we want to go all out on cooking and setting a pretty little picnic. Why not, right? Since many of you requested the picnic must-haves post as well, my guess is that you might be planning some fun brunches and dinners outside too!

I’ve been searching and researching for some great portable, compact, and chic items for your next gathering. This post is PACKED with so many goodies I love. Take a look below for picnic gear, tips, and recipes perfect for a blanket hangout!

First up - picnic gear:

Let’s start with The Basics

picnic baskets

ONE. This classic picnic basket is THE cutest. It’s from West Elm, and I always trust that they have good quality items. It’s affordable too, especially knowing that you’ll keep using this piece over and over again every year. I absolutely love the clean navy and white fabric lining too.

TWO. If you’re going on a hike or having dinner with the kiddos, or you just want something super easy - this picnic BACKPACK is amazing. I loved this find because I feel like it isn’t something you see often. This one comes stocked with a couple of plate/cutlery/glass sets so you’re off to a good start on picnic prep!

THREE. I’m in love with this big picnic party basket. It’s set for four and comes complete with a zipper cooler compartment, you can’t get much better than this. Add your snacks, wine, napkins, and you’re pretty much ready to go. I love that classic picnic vibe and again the navy and white keeps it super classy.

picnic blankets & table covers

FOUR. This blanket is both functional and cute to lay out. It has a foam layer for extra cushion, and the bottom is waterproof in case the grass is a little wet. Such a good find under $35 that you can use for so much more than picnics too!

FIVE. Keeping with the blue theme (I just love it as an alternative to the classic red and white print), this adorable powder blue and white checkered table cloth is great to drape over a pallet, functional pad on the ground, or your portable table (see below).

SIX. I love the idea of adding a couple of throws on and around the picnic blanket to create a layered, boho or mod look. These throws are on sale right now and would be perfect as a shawl when it gets chilly later in the evening too.

essentials for food & beverages

grill & mini outdoor table

SEVEN and EIGHT. I can’t handle how cute this mini tabletop grill is. This is ON SALE right, and comes in under $200 - not too bad for a piece of equipment like this! It’s super portable and comes with a handle for easy carry & to secure the inside pieces. It even comes with a little tong, but I also recommend grabbing the extra set of portable set grilling utensils. (SAVE: Here’s a lower cost version of a portable utensils set too.)

NINE. This little table-in-a-bag is the perfect size for a picnic, it’s completely portable, and it’s currently ON SALE! To create a party spread, you can purchase 2-3 depending the size of your gathering and the amount of table space you want to have. Simply drape 1-2 table cloths on top and layer flowers across the middle as a super simple centerpiece.

coolers & beverage containers

TEN. This vintage white cooler is perfect to carry drinks and food out to the park or beach for a little boho chic picnic party. Also, ON SALE now!

ELEVEN. If you want to be mindful of social distancing, these individual clear beverage containers are great to add custom cocktails or mocktails, or even fruit infused waters for an elevated offering on the picnic party menu. They come in large or small, and you can customize each bottle with the guest name, then safely dispose of them after. 

outdoor plating, flatware, & glassware

TWELVE. and THIRTEEN. These bento boxes and disposable lunch boxes look great in a sleek white color for the soft, boho vibes that work so well for outdoor picnic parties. For socially distanced parties, these are great to safely pre-pack food and label the containers for guests so they aren’t sharing open food or touching multiple items. Then, you can safely dispose of these items.

FOURTEEN. Splurge on an eco-friendly reusable 3-piece travel cutlery set. The spoon, fork, and knife snap together for easy carry, and you can keep using these again and again. So, if you’re someone who really values reusable products this would definitely be a good one to grab!

FIFTEEN. and SIXTEEN. These stem and stemless acrylic wine glasses add the perfect touch of glass (without worrying about breaking glass). They are crystal clear, lightweight, and the stemmed glasses are stackable, which is perfect to pack up! Plus, these are ON SALE right now.

SEVENTEEN. This hand-woven rattan flatware caddy will match perfect with a chic outdoor picnic party, and it works as a very functional carry tote for all things flatware, napkins, and little utensils you need to bring out to the picnic.

Quick Tip: Cut some fresh flower stems and slot them into each corner of the flatware caddy to pull together the look of your table or spread.

fun & functional must haves

EIGHTEEN. I’m in love with this adorable little retractable cheese board. It’s perfect to keep your small cheese knives in a safe place during travel, then easily slides out to create the board. Top with your favorite cheese and voila!  

NINETEEN. This two-in-one bags and tic-tac-toe set will keep the fun going for kids and adults. It’s ON SALE, and this one can be used for many summers to come.

TWENTY. Check out this portable trash container. This is great for smaller gatherings of 4 or less. If you’re having a bigger gathering, opt for a bigger trash bag to be sure you keep the outdoors clean after you’re all done!

TWENTY-ONE. Grab 2-4 outdoor pillows to keep your guests cozy and comfy. Adding this to the layered look as “seats” creates a really inviting look as guests walk up and find their place at the picnic. These are ON SALE for $20 and have a great navy and white pattern. You can use these for your outdoor furniture at home to get daily use out of them as well!

TWENTY-TWO. Keep the party going into the evening with the eco-friendly oil lamp. I love this one because it’s functional and looks super chic.

TWENTY-THREE. Finally, this really dual-purpose vintage chalkboard sign. This can help your guests find you in the middle of a big park or on beach, and you can use it to communicate a message such as “Please wear mask for picnic party,” so your guests are aware of important guidelines as they get close. Not to mention, a chalkboard sign always adds to the boho chic look that works so well for a picnic.

Next up - basic picnic tips:

Here are my 3 go-to picnic party tips to keep you sane, the food delicious, and your guests happy. They are super simple, but ones that are easily forgotten! (I might do a bigger post around specific picnic party tips & tricks. Let me know if you’d like to see that!)

1. make it a potluck - It’s so easy to get overwhelmed when planning a gathering in your own home, let alone carrying everything outside to set it all up in a space that doesn’t naturally have what you need at your fingertips. Don’t let a huge menu weigh you down. Many guests love the opportunity to make their world famous pineapple upside down cake or secret recipe turkey pinwheels, so let them join in on the fun! You can still make a few specialty goodies you wanted to have at the picnic party too, but this lightens the load for you.

Quick Tip: Give the guests a theme for the food they bring to keep your party vibe, decor, and menu feeling cohesive. Try French, BBQ, or soul food.

2. food fixes - If you want your food to last on the trip to the park (and under the sun), try to avoid leafy greens, salads, sauces, and sandwich bread. Instead, opt for root veggies like radish and carrots in a charcuterie cup (top with sea salt + fresh herbs for an elevated taste), condiments on the side, marinate meat for flavor in lieu of condiments, and try using thicker sourdough bread that will stand the test of time.

3. bathroom hunting - It’s as simple as that! Figure out where the best clean, accessible restrooms are close to your picnic area if you plan to make it a party or gathering. This is something guests will always need and having the quick answers ready keeps your focus back on the party. (*This goes for parking too if you’re in the city!)

Finally - one of my favorite summer recipes, perfect for a picnic:

I love the bright pops of color that fruit can add to a summer spread, so I’d recommend a super simple fruit salsa! I’ve revamped my recipe below, but you can also try my original fruit salsa recipe and my other July 4th themed treats here that are also perfect any day of the summer.

bubbly and berry Salsa 

½ Cup of diced strawberries

½ Cup of diced peaches 

½ Cup of chopped blueberries 

1 tablespoon of champagne vinegar [You can find it at Mariano’s - no alcohol, just the taste :)]

A pinch of sea salt 

Diced and chopped fresh basil

Make it: Mix all of your diced and chopped fruits in a bowl. Add vinegar, salt, diced basil and toss. 

Plate it: White ceramic bowl + chopped basil as garnish 

Eat it: For a picnic, eat it with white corn tortilla chips. For a socially distanced picnic party, add 3 tablespoons into individual plastic cups for guests to use. Then, safely dispose of the used items.

That’s it you guys! This was such a packed post, so if you’ve made it this far THANK YOU for reading, and I hope found some goodies to snag, tips to use, and recipes to make for your next get together outdoors.

Don’t forget to drop a heart below if you liked this one & pop in the comments to let me know your thoughts!