Everything You Need for an Impeccable Birthday Picnic: 5 Fun Ideas for All Ages
Beautiful sunshine, wide-open spaces, plenty of room to roam and relax… there's a lot to love about an outdoor birthday picnic!
Beautiful sunshine, wide-open spaces, plenty of room to roam and relax… there's a lot to love about an outdoor birthday picnic!
If you need ideas for an awesome birthday picnic at any age, check out our ready-to-go list below, where we'll be covering everything you need for a fantastic birthday at the park.
From the food you'll pack to the games you'll play, we've done all the legwork of picking and choosing! All you have to do now is choose your favorite birthday picnic idea:
Let's get lunching!
This first idea is timeless: a simple picnic in the park, similar to what you may have enjoyed growing up. There's no need to get all fancy; just stick with the staples and enjoy the nostalgia of a wholesome birthday picnic!
Think back to what you'd eat as a kid at outdoor birthday parties, family picnics, or community potlucks. If you didn't experience this sort of thing growing up, no worries! Here are some go-to foods to consider for your traditional birthday picnic:
For many of us, childhood picnics were all about "easy." So why not use that same energy for your birthday picnic? Sure, you could lovingly bake some homemade birthday treats… or you could stick with whatever's easiest to pack up and throw in your picnic basket, just like mom or dad did.
Looking for more ideas? Whether you're baking your own birthday treat or are ordering something for takeaway, you can get even more yummy dessert inspiration in our article on creative birthday cake ideas.
You can't go wrong with classic picnic activities—lounging in the sun, going for walks, playing ring toss, flying kites, or even taking a little catnap to sleep off that homey picnic food.
If you want to be super nostalgic, pack up some classic 1950s Americana to complete the experience! Consider throwback accessories like cat-eye sunglasses, "real" Coke in glass bottles, or even a traditional wicker picnic basket. And of course, you can't forget the all-American red-checkered picnic blanket!
Just like regular birthday party decorations, there's an easy way to make your birthday picnic better: just give it a theme! One of our favorite themes that's never short on inventive possibilities is "around the world"—which is doubly fantastic if you, like so many of us, have been missing your normal travels throughout COVID.
The best food for a picnic won't need to be heated or kept cold for too long, and there are so many globally inspired dishes that fit the bill. These international food options are great for packing with light ice in your lunchbox or picnic basket:
For the picnic drink, consider a cool refresher like traditional Mexican horchata or Thai iced tea.
Again, you've got nothing but options for your globally inspired birthday picnic dessert! Easy favorites could be:
Keep the travel theme going with these fun "exploration" activities:
These globe balloons can put the perfect touch on your travel-themed birthday picnic! Tie them on benches, trees, and all around your picnic spot to set the perfect vibe.
An outdoor picnic is an excellent idea for a kid's birthday party! The little ones will have plenty of space to play, parents can easily supervise their kids' activities, and you won't have a giant mess to clean up in your house. (Although it goes without saying that you'll definitely want to clean up the park when you're done.)
You already know that kids rarely want to sit down for a four-course meal. So instead of planning something elaborate, stick to the basics: a table of portable snacks and dishes that are kid-friendly and perfect for grabbing and going… and going… and going!
Although these are mostly cooked dishes, they're very portable, taste great at room temperature, and can be eaten at a kids' birthday picnic as long as they aren't left out in the sun or heat too long.
There's no bad choice when it comes to a kids' birthday cake. You can stick with the classic birthday cake flavor or go with something a little healthier, if that's your thing. We love these dessert options:
The more active and playful you can get, the more fun the kids will have. Depending on the exact picnic venue you're partying at, try some of the fun games and activities below:
Napkins, hand sanitizer, and more napkins. Especially if your dessert has chocolate or caramel or anything deliciously melt-y, you'll need a whole lot of material to get those little hands clean!
Another good tip is to bring more water than you might expect to need—kids can get dehydrated fast when they're playing outside.
Alright, we've listed out some ideas for a kids' birthday picnic—but what about something for the adults among us? You don't have to be a kid to enjoy a day in the park, and you don't have to stick to basic picnic recipes from childhood, either!
These ideas are designed to create something a little fancier and whole lot more "grown up" (whatever that means).
Haute cuisine-inspired dishes will have all your picnic guests impressed! Fortunately, many of these dishes are a lot easier to create than you might think. (And there's nothing wrong with asking your guests to contribute their favorite hors d'oeuvres, too!)
Here are some delicious options for your fancy grown-up picnic:
Homemade charcuterie board with olives, cheese, cured meats, and pickles
The gourmet picnic food can and should continue with your dessert course. Any of these decadent birthday delights will be a treat for all involved:
What about a drink? If you're inclined toward the adult beverages, try out this Tabasco-spiked Cajun lemonade or a super-easy rose spritz.
Who says only kids can jump around and play at a picnic? These games are great for adults who still want to have all the outdoor birthday fun:
Half the battle with fancy food is fancy presentation, right? You can make your adult picnic feel a lot more glam by upping the dishes and ambience. Consider throwing your dishes not on napkins or Styrofoam but instead on fancy paper plates from a company like Sophistiplate.
You don't have to go far away to enjoy a birthday picnic! If you've got a sun-splashed backyard that's big enough for the event, why not host your birthday celebration there? You'll enjoy the comforts of home mixed with the fun of a classic picnic.
Having the house just a few steps away sure makes the picnicking easier. No need to stress over leaving food out or choosing just the right dishes—you've got the fridge, microwave, and oven right there to help.
Try some of these tasty dishes that are much better for an at-home picnic than at the park:
Again, why not take advantage of the appliances of home to create a super-special birthday treat? We love these ideas for an at-home birthday picnic dessert—which you definitely couldn't do at a typical birthday in the park!
You've got everything you love at your fingertips, making it easy to pick fun backyard picnic activities:
P.S. You can always cheat a little and head indoors to continue the birthday fun! (Don't worry—we won't tell.) Play your favorite video games, relax on the couch for some family Netflix, or take a little catnap in your own bed.
To be honest, there's not a lot to worry about here! The most important thing to remember would probably be just to have fun—and maybe to invite the neighbors, too. Everything else you'll need is conveniently located in your home.
No matter which birthday picnic idea happens to be right for you or your loved one, we've got one last piece of advice for you: don't forget the card! Check out Foxdog's birthday cards and choose your favorite one today. We'll send it directly to the birthday boy or girl, often as soon as the very same day.
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