Planning A Summer Picnic for Employees? Here’s What You Need to Know

Are you looking to plan a summer picnic for employees this year? Here at A Company Picnic, we plan company picnics year-round. We’ve learned plenty of ways to stay cool, but still have fun. We’d like to pass some of our favorite, and most popular, ideas for summer picnics on to you. If you’re planning a summer picnic for employees, we’ve got every resource you’ll need. If you’d like more ideas, check out our blog on planning employee picnics in the summer!

Planning a Summer Picnic:

Summer is the perfect time of year for getting outside and having a blast. According to the National Recreation and Park Service, 55% of Americans say that having a barbeque or picnic is their favorite summer activity. For many of us, summer days out harken back to our childhoods. If you’re someone who loves summertime activities, why not consider hosting your next staff barbeque in the summer? We know we love a good summer barbeque, and we’re sure your team will, too. Here’s some of our favorite ideas, tips, and tricks for hosting an amazing summer picnic.

Keeping Cool and Having Fun:

Summer is an opportune time of year for hosting outdoor barbeques, picnics, and any other sort of celebration. The weather conditions are fairer, the sunshine is bright and invigorating, and something about the summer just makes us all want to get outside. We know some climates are undeniably warm this time of year, but we have loads of experience to ensure guests will always stay cool and comfortable.

For a summer picnic, shade is a must! We bring in plenty of shade umbrellas and tents, and we have loads of experience picking locations with ample shade. For keeping cool, we’re also more than happy to bring in misting equipment throughout the venue, as well as AC tents and cooling stations. We also love to arrange plenty of water games and entertainment, and we can even turn the park of your choice into your very own water park! Of course, there’s always the option to hold your event indoors. If you do, we like to select somewhere with large windows and a beautiful scene and fill it up with loads of décor and fun picnic entertainment.

Summer Picnic Theme Ideas:

There’s really no time of the year like summer. It’s jubilant and bright, sunny and warm. There’s no shortage of picnic themes to choose from to highlight this time of year. Whether your family day will be held indoors or outdoors, our amazing event planners can turn any venue into an island getaway or any other summer picnic theme you desire.

For an outdoor event, cooling off is important. One of our favorite summer theme packages for this would be our Splash Zone Theme. This theme turns your venue into your team’s very own waterpark, plus adds in other water-related activities. We bring in giant Slip-n-Slides, reverse dunk tanks, water guns, water balloons, and so much more. To tie it all together, we bring in aquatic-related inflatables as well as recommend playing water-related field games. This theme takes us all back to our childhoods with its whimsy and fun, plus it’s sure to help your staff beat the heat.

If you want to ring in the warm weather with a nod to a tropical climate, our Havana Days Theme is just what you need. This Caribbean theme brings in some seriously delicious Cuban foods, costumed actors and musicians, as well as tropical, vibrant décor. Our Havana Days theme is perfect for any summer event, and it’s one your team is sure to enjoy.

On the topic of tropical, summer picnics for staff are perfect for a Luau Theme. It’s a timeless classic, and an educational experience on a truly magnificent culture. We partner with native Polynesian performers, both dancers and musicians, to transport your team to a sunny island for the day. Complete with some truly mouthwatering Hawaiian food options, this theme is perfect for summer.

Summer Picnic Food Ideas:

Food is a crucial aspect to any barbeque or picnic, and here at ACP we love good food. For a summer picnic, there’s really nothing better than a classic barbeque catering spread, with some novelty sweets and some refreshing beverages on the menu. Here’s some of our favorite summer barbeque main dishes:

· Charbroiled Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, and Veggie Burgers

· Flame-Grilled Hotdogs and Veggie Dogs

· Mouthwatering Barbeque Ribs

· Juicy Grilled Chicken

· Creamy Potato Salad

For novelty foods, there’s no shortage to choose from! We love bringing in fun fair foods for any summer picnic, as well as refreshing ice cream and chilled sweets. Here’s some of our favorites:

· Fair-Style Corn on the Cob

· Nitrogen Ice Cream

· Kettle Corn

· Sno-Cones

· Candy Apples

· Handmade Ice Cream Sandwiches

· Freshly Spun Cotton Candy

· Shaved Ice

· Fresh Fruit

· Churros

For a summer picnic, beverages are a must to keep attendees invigorated between rounds of field games. Here’s our top requested summer beverages:

· Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

· Sweet Iced Tea

· Filtered Ice Water

· Signature Fruit Punch

· A Mix of Agua Fresca

· Craft Beers & Local Wine

For an extra treat for your 21+ staff, we can bring in a serviced bar to provide some absolutely delicious mojitos and their favorite beers. See our article on how we manage alcohol at events here.

Summer Picnic Fun and Field Games:

There’s no shortage of good summer fun out there to be had. We’d, of course, recommend good-old-fashioned field games for any summer picnic, but there’s many other options that work perfectly.

If you’re looking to cool your team off, why not hold a water balloon toss or play a wet sponge relay? If you’re really looking to up the ante, we can even bring in an Olympic-sized swimming pool for your guests to enjoy. Depending on the location, you can find even more activities. Once, for a Luxury event at a marina, we brought in paddleboards for attendees to take out onto the water. Beachside events are perfect for summer, and there’s no shortage of outdoor fun to be had.

If you’re looking to take your team out for an outdoorsy company excursion, summer can be a pretty great time for that. Going for a day at the lake is a classic summer activity, as is rafting or tubing. We’re always more than happy to help arrange and plan a company excursion.

Here’s to Your Summer Picnic for Employees!

In short, while there’s a lot to think about when it comes to planning a summer company outing, we’ve always got your back. We’ve planned countless memorable and exciting company picnics for clients across the country, whether it’s summer or winter. There’s no shortage of fun to be had, no matter the time of year. We have no shortage of ideas to get you started when planning your next summer picnic for employees. We know it’ll be a picnic to remember!