Plan the Perfect Holiday Picnic for Adults

There is much to celebrate during the winter, including the many holidays packed together within a few short weeks. Likely this time provides you with some wonderful (and well deserved) time off from work and other responsibilities, allowing you to spend quality time with friends and loved ones while you rejuvenate for the upcoming new year. During the summertime, many of us enjoy fun picnics on the beach or traveling with friends, but the cold weather during this time of the year can make things a bit more interesting. Thankfully, though, picnics can be had anywhere at any time of the year and can still be loads of fun. Additionally, while many of the meals during this time of the year are quite fancy and can be time-consuming to set up, a picnic makes for an easy-to-set-up, easy-to-clean-up option that truly brings the best out of the holiday season. If this sounds like something you’d like to partake in, then today’s blog is for you! Join us as we explore how to set up the perfect holiday picnic with your friends and family for an easy-to-enjoy and memorable meal without the need to go outside. 

The Basics

As with all picnics, there are a few essentials you’ll need that will be sure to make this experience fun and enjoyable for everyone! First and foremost, you’ll need a nice picnic blanket (or a festive tablecloth) if you’re sitting on the floor or a table that is big enough for all of your guests! To make things easy in terms of setting up your picnic (and cleaning it up after), you can substitute real plates and utensils for festive paper or compostable options, depending on your preferences. Additionally, picnics are never complete without the food and drinks you’ll serve! Try making your picnic into a potluck; potlucks make the perfect holiday picnic option and can help lighten the load (and the dishes) you’ll have when picking everything up after mealtime. Assign your guests a dish, drink, or dessert they should bring to the party!

The Perfect Holiday Drinks

Arguably one of the most important aspects of a picnic, drinks are a great way to ring in the holiday spirit. Given this is an adult picnic, we wanted to share some delicious adult beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that scream out holiday cheer and are sure to be crowd favorites during your picnic. Starting off with some nonalcoholic drinks, this Toasted Marshmallow Campfire Mocktail is the perfect drink your guests will love! While this recipe features vodka, you can easily leave it out for your guests who want to skip out on the drinks this season but still want something festive to enjoy during this time of the year! Additionally, for a classic non-alcoholic treat, Shirley Temples are the perfect beverage to pair with a picnic (and look quite beautiful, too). For those who are looking for holiday beverages that do contain alcohol, classic eggnog is a truly timeless drink that screams Christmas cheer! Additionally, these Mistletoe Margaritas make for a wintery drink that still takes you back to the warm summer days of drinking margaritas on the beach.

Holiday Picnic Dishes to Leave Your Guests Grabbing Seconds

No picnic is complete without food to enjoy! There are a variety of ways to make this part of the meal interesting for the entire group; whether you’re opting for a potluck picnic or wanting to provide your guests with dishes you prepared at home, here are a few dishes that you can easily prepare (or send to your guests) for your perfect holiday picnic. For starters, if you’re looking for an easy and delicious main course meal, this roast Christmas chicken is sure to ring in the holidays with its rich and savory flavors. Best of all, this recipe is quite easy to follow and, while it takes around two hours to bake, will be sure to have your guests wanting more. For a vegan-friendly option, this Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie is a delicious alternative to a meat-centered main dish and is perfect for the cold winter days (plus, who doesn’t love a pot pie?)! As for the sides, there are a variety of different sides you (or your guests) can opt for that will round out the picnic perfectly. Mac and cheese, for example, always makes for a crowd favorite and is a simple option if you find yourself low on time this holiday season! In terms of some vegetables, candy-glazed carrots make for a sweet and healthy side that will complement the chicken (or pot pie), mac and cheese, and any other dishes you decide to include in your picnic.

Any Room For Dessert?

No picnic is complete without dessert! Whether your guests are into simple desserts or more decadent ones, there are a ton of wonderful options to try with your friends and family. For instance, pies are a true staple of the holidays; from Thanksgiving to New Years, pies are a crowd favorite. If you’re looking for a delicious holiday pie to serve to your guests, this Caramel Apple Pie makes for a comforting and sweet treat that pairs perfectly with ice cream or whipped cream topping. For a more personalized dessert, this Eggnog Crème Brûlée will bring true holiday cheer for your picnic and will be sure to leave your guests looking forward to the next one!