How to Throw a Father's Day Picnic

Father's Day is typically associated with baseball, beer, new ties and a ton of great barbecue. That doesn't always have to be the case, however. Clever and inventive wives and children can always find new outings and adventures to give to dads for the holiday. One of the most overlooked activities is the picnic. Whether you head to the park or just into the backyard, you can throw a great Father's Day picnic just about anywhere.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make it a surprise! There's no reason you and your family can't plan to throw a surprise picnic for your father. Work together to iron out the details and get him to the location without raising his suspicion.

2. Get a blanket large enough to accommodate everyone. For a four-person picnic an 8-feet by 8-feet blanket is usually plenty. For larger picnics or small cookouts, you might want to bring several blankets.

3. Use ice packs to keep food fresh during transport. Two ice packs are usually enough to keep a 4 cubic-foot cooler adequately chilled for up to 6 hours. If you need to keep certain foods heated, then invest in a bag or container that helps retain radiated heat.

4. Arrive at the park early. If you're planning on using a public park that has stationary grills, it's a good idea to arrive earlier in the day as opposed to later. Spots with grills tend to become occupied before others, and it will be hours before you may get access to one if you're too late.

5. Choose a menu for the picnic. Sandwiches are a staple for picnics, but there's no reason you can't bring more gourmet foods like seafood or steak. Bring an appetizer, a few snacks and especially dessert.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep whatever food you aren't currently eating in the basket or cooler. This will reduce the possibility of insects or animals invading your picnic area. Also, wrap your food in plastic wrap or keep it stored in airtight containers to keep it fresh.
• Check the weather! Nothing is worse than planning to throw a Father's Day picnic only to have it rained out.
• If you plan to throw a Father's Day picnic at a public park, make sure food, drink and picnicking are allowed. Some public parks are strict when it comes to food and the potential for litter.
• Avoid bringing alcoholic beverages to a park. It is typically illegal to consume alcohol in public places.

Resources

• Picnic recipe ideas from FoodNetwork.com