Old Fashioned Picnic Essentials

Summer is the perfect time for an old-fashioned picnic. Whether you head to the beach, park, or your own backyard, you’ll need a few essentials to get started.

First up is a picnic basket to pack everything into. A nice large wood splint basket will provide enough room for drinks, snacks, and sandwiches, as well as picnic ware.

A washable tablecloth or vintage blanket provides a clean place to spread everything out and adds some color while containing spills and crumbs. If you set up on the grass, it will keep everything dry as grass can often become damp.

In keeping with our vintage theme, reusable vintage plasticware adds a pop of color and ensures nothing will get broken, making for easy cleanup and less trash. Don’t forget to include some cloth napkins.

Packing foods that don’t require refrigeration makes things easier as well. P, B, and J sandwiches, fresh fruit, chips, cookies, and insulated bottles to keep drinks cold make for an easy-to-pack meal. Once everyone is fed, it’s time for fun. Pack a bag with a ball, a flying disc, some pick-up sticks, a pack of cards, and perhaps a good book. Don’t forget the wireless speaker so you have some mood music to keep the good vibes going.

If you’re headed to the beach or park, make sure you pack sunscreen and a hat as well. And don’t forget about any pets that come along, they also require food, water, and shade. 

What else would you bring along on a summer picnic?  For more inspiration see our other post about vintage picnics here. Tell us about your favorite place to have an old-fashioned picnic over the summer in the comments below.