25 Essentials for Family Picnics

Family dinners are for bonding and creating memories with loved ones. A family picnic is a wholesome, refreshing way to gather and enjoy the fantastic weather. It’s time to play games, eat good food, and catch up on the week as a family. 

With a little preparation, you can make your picnic stress-free and unforgettable. This guide will help you plan every detail for the next outdoor family meal, from seating and food to entertainment and comfort, ensuring your next outdoor gathering is effortless and enjoyable.

Family Picnic Essentials

Packing and Seating

• Canvas Tote: A large tote bag is durable and spacious for packing all your gear. Go for one with compartments to keep items organized and prevent spills. 
• Portable Refrigerator: Keep perishable foods and drinks cool, especially in hot weather, with the EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator.  Its suitcase design makes it easy to wheel to the picnic area. The dual freezer and fridge design lets you pack ice cream and popsicles worry-free. 
• Blankets: For on-the-ground seating, choose a waterproof, padded option for comfort. It should be large enough for everyone to sit on it and still fit the food. For picnic tables, a simpler cover will suffice, but make sure it covers the whole table. 
• Pillow: Pillows make lounging and relaxing after a meal comfortable for an afternoon picnic. With smaller kids, a pillow may be handy for a quick nap after playing. Travel-sized, washable pillows work best for the outdoors. 
• Chairs: Lightweight camping chairs fold compactly, providing comfort for older family members who may not want to sit on the ground. 

Serving

• Utensils: Individual utensils may be required when serving certain foods. Even if everything is finger food, it’s still a good idea to bring a knife, fork, and spoon, just in case. Consider any sauces that need to be scooped and smothered or sandwiches cut in half. 
• Napkins: Napkins and extra napkins are a necessity, especially with children. They can act as extra plates in a pinch. Reusable cloth napkins come in cute colors and patterns for added glam. 
• Plates: Pack enough plates for everyone attending, plus a couple extra. Paper plates are easier to clean, but glass or ceramic plates are sturdier. They are also stackable, so they won’t take up too much space. 
• Platters: If you’re packing finger foods in containers, display them on a cute platter so everyone can efficiently serve themselves. Power food warms like crockpots or panini presses with a portable power station.  

Fun

• Card Games: Card packs are compact, lightweight, and easy to carry in a tote bag. Keep everyone entertained with a family favorite game or start a new tradition of card playing. 
• Frisbees: A classic outdoor game that’s easy, fun for all ages, and easy to bring along. Get the whole family running and playing together on a nice day. Look for LED frisbees for evening picnics. 
• Pets: If the location is pet-friendly, consider bringing the family pet. Dogs can enjoy picnics, too! Research tips and rules for bringing your furry friend, and don’t forget their food and water. 
• Watercolor: Capture the beauty of nature with a watercolor painting kit. Watercolor is simple to set up and clean up. It’s a great way to have creative fun and a calm activity for kids and adults. 

Food

• Bite-Sized Appetizers: With little ones, ready-to-serve appetizers are a must. Set them out on a platter for grazing while preparing the main dish. The best ones are strawberries, oranges, pinwheels, hummus with pretzels, and Charcuterie trays. For kids, easy-to-grab snacks like granola bars and crackers are best.  
• Main Course: Bring supplies to make the main course. Sandwiches are easy to assemble and serve. You can also grill meats over a charcoal grill. Hamburgers and hotdogs are picnic staples. 
• Savory Sides: Spruce up the menu with a couple of sides. Pasta salad travels well and can be customized to your liking. Other options include grilled vegetables, roasted sweet potatoes, veggie chips, and cornbread. 
• Sweet Snack: No meal is complete without dessert. The best picnic sweets are loaded brownies, cookies, s’mores, and personal pies. Pack heat-sensitive sweets in a cooler. Steer away from fragile desserts like elaborate cakes. 

Drinks 

• Water: Plan to bring a couple of bottles of water per person, especially on a hot day. It’s important to stay hydrated while running around. Alternatively, have everyone fill their reusable water bottle beforehand and pack it. This will save you space in the cooler or tote bag. 
• Fun Beverages: Elevate the picnic with a fun beverage. Consider sparkling lemonade, soda, sweet tea, or mocktails for a family picnic. Power a portable kettle or coffee with an EcoFlow RIVER 2 Series. The EcoFlow RIVER 3 offers 300W AC output, which is enough to run smaller kettles. Prepare tea or hot chocolate on cooler days. 
• Bottle Opener: If some of the fun drinks don’t have a screwed top, you’ll need a bottle opener. This is especially important on a picnic date with a bottle of wine. 
• Plastic Glasses: Of course, plastic glasses, or real ones, are needed to serve the drinks to everyone. Drink tags are great additions to help people identify their drinks. 

Comfort

• Portable Fan: During the summertime or beach camping, the hot weather can quickly exhaust you. These are great for providing extra relief to younger family members and can be used to deter insects like flies and mosquitos. 
• Sunscreen: Easy-to-apply, spray-able sunscreens are great for a day spent outside. However, it’s still possible to get sunburned on cloudy days. Pack some extra to reapply during the meal. 
• Portable Charger: Stay powered anywhere with an EcoFlow RIVER 2. This is the best portable power station for charging your phone and small electronics. It’s lightweight, 7.7 lbs, and offers 300W of AC output. You’ll have plenty of battery to capture pictures all day. 
• Food Storage Containers: Make packing up easy with food storage containers. Bring some extra and reuse the ones that the food was carried in. These are great if some guests want to take home leftovers. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

A family picnic is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, delicious foods, and spend quality time together. Coming prepared ensures a stress-free and memorable experience. Start by considering seating arrangements, such as chairs and blankets. 

Gather supplies for serving food, like plates and forks. Plan a fun activity like frisbee or watercolor painting. Of course, prepare tasty food like sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads, with refreshing drinks like lemonade and cold water. 

When making the day more comfortable, portable fans, sunscreen, pillows, and blankets are more relaxing. Power your family picnic with one of EcoFlow Portable Power Stations for reliable electricity all day.