How to Create a Fall Picnic
With the weather getting colder, it’s a great time to enjoy the unique beauty of the fall months outdoors. One of my favorite ways to do this is by setting up a fall picnic. This is such a special way to enjoy the warm hues of changing leaves or even the calming colors of cloudy days. The cooler weather picnics also offers the chance to take advantage of the shorter days to create magical evening-time memories.
Last year, a friend of mine and I put together an autumn picnic and invited a large group of friends. While it certainly took effort, it was a really unique and special way to celebrate the fall season. We prepared sandwiches and asked our friends to bring fruits, sweets and drinks. With an outdoor camping gas burner, we heated spiced apple cider and served everyone in ceramic coffee mugs. There were blankets and pillows, décor and flowers, and even string lights on the trees overlooking the lake.
Despite the fact that it felt impractical – from planning to gathering all the items and asking friends to help carry and set everything up outdoors in the park – it was truly an enchanting way to celebrate the fall season. The effort was well worth it and created cherished memories of dancing at sunset and snuggling up under cozy blankets as the stars came out.
While this may seem like an elaborate event, a fall picnic can be enjoyed at any level of effort. You can go as fancy or as simple as you would like. To help you get started, here is a guide on how to create a fall picnic. Fair warning, not every suggestion is practical, but you can scale it up or down based on your preferences.
Food & Drinks
Start with your main food. Something like sandwiches is a great idea. But if you want to minimize prep, you can opt for sliced meat, cheeses and crackers or bread. Bring a small collapsible or covered knife and a few utensils for spreading cheeses and jams.
The next staple food is fruit. In the autumn-time, grapes, apples and pomegranate are a great choice and will pair well with the cheeses. If you can, prepare the fruit in advance (especially pomegranates) so that you don’t have to fuss with it outdoors.
Finally, hot drinks are the core of any cool-weather event. Mulled wine or spiced apple cider are my go-to. You can heat it at home and bring it in a thermos or do what we did and bring a camping gas burner and pot to heat it at your picnic spot. This is a great option if you’re hosting a large picnic with a lot of people. Bring mugs or paper coffee cups for everyone to drink out of.
Keep Warm
Since the weather is chilly, you’ll want to make sure you come prepared with hats, gloves, coats and warm socks. Especially if you’re sitting on the ground, make sure your lower half stays warm. You can bring some additional padding for the floor or wear thick tights underneath to create more of a barrier from the cold. Bring some cozy blankets to sit on and wrap yourself in as it gets darker.
Make it an Enchanting Experience
This is the best part of doing a fall picnic. There are several ways to make an activity like this feel charming or even magical:
~String Lights: While this may seem complicated, it can actually be quite simple. Just get a battery powered set of string lights that you can pack in your basket. Then find some nearby trees to wrap it around at your picnic site. It’s so enchanting to watch the place light up as the sun fades and will make you feel like you’re in a movie. If you’re looking for battery-operated string lights, these are the ones I use at some of my picnics. They set the atmosphere beautifully but won’t create a lot of light. So if you truly plan to stay until dark, bring an extra light source or two.
~Music: Nothing sets the mood like a good playlist, so bring a small speaker with you to play music in the background. If you’re in need of some inspiration, create an upbeat playlist of some classics that’s perfect for a fun, laid-back evening. If you’re looking for something a bit cozier, I would recommend a vintage playlist with some oldies like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter and the other greats.
~Flowers – A small but charming touch is to bring a few flowers. A simple bud vase can do the trick for small delicate flowers and won’t take much room. Or bring some sturdier varieties like sunflowers and baby’s breath if you just want to lay them out without a vase.
Colder Weather Variations
While it’s very possible – and even fun – to set up an outdoor picnic on a brisk day, some days may just be a bit too cold to enjoy eating outdoors. So here are a few easy variations if you’re looking to do a picnic a bit more comfortably:
~Truck bed or car – This one is dependent on the type of vehicle you have access to, but I’ve found that if you’re able to lay the back seats of your car flat and open up the trunk, you can easily set up a few blankets and pillows and have a picnic from the back of your car. Just find a parking spot with a view and back into it.
~Indoor Picnic – This is a great way to make even a rainy day feel special while enjoying the warmth of your own home. Lay out a few blankets and pillows in your living room, light some candles and set up a few string lights. This is also a unique way to enjoy a movie night or even create a themed dinner.
While some of these ideas are extravagant, don’t be overwhelmed and feel like you have to take all – or even most – of these suggestions. The main point behind this article was to show what can be possible, but also to give the ideas and tools to recreate a wonderful experience at whatever scale you want. Even a simple drink on a blanket outdoors can be a rewarding experience.
That being said, try to be open to doing something out of the ordinary once in a while. Sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone and be bold – even though it’s fanciful or impractical. When life feels a bit routine, why not find ways to make even ordinary days feel special? It often those moments that make life so much more wonderful and fulfilling.