I love summer picnics! How about you? Right now I am healing up from foot surgery, but if I could I would so have a summer picnic right now.
I love everything about picnics, except the ants and flies that sometimes come along with one. But hey! It’s worth it. When my kids were little I’d make a few sandwiches, grab a few snacks and waters, throw a quilt in the trunk, throw in a ball and few toys and off to the park we would go. Sometimes my kids and I would have picnics in the back yard or a blanket on the living room floor. I have such fond memories of doing that with my kids.
For some reason I was thinking about that and I thought I’d pull out this picnic theme for you all. Enjoy!
Picnic Theme Concept
—Originally Posted June 19, 2014 as a “Gingham Picnic” women’s ministry theme
—Updated July 2022
The event themes on the website can be used for showers, parties, women’s ministry retreats and activities, or church functions. Each theme will have one or several possible spiritual applications. I give you lots of info and ideas—You pick just a few to enhance your event. More ideas can be used for showers and parties, but less is always more for ministry events.
Theme Title Ideas
- A Proper Picnic (serve tea!)
- Birthday Picnic
- Block Party Picnic
- Church-wide Picnic
- Company Picnic
- Consider the Little Things
- Every Day’s a Picnic
- Fall Picnic
- Family & Friends Picnic Time
- Family of God Picnic
- Family Picnic
- Follow the Ants
- Gingham Picnic
- Go to the Ant!
- Indoor Picnic
- Let’s Picnic!
- Life’s a Picnic
- Neighborhood Picnic
- Old Fashioned Picnic
- Pack Your Own Picnic
- Pack Your Picnic Fellowship
- Picnic & Homemade Ice Cream Time
- Picnic & Praise (share testimonies)
- Picnic & Prayers (share requests and prayer time)
- Picnic by the Pool
- Picnic in Paradise
- Picnic in the Park
- Picnic Parade
- Picnic Party
- Picnic Time
- Porch Picnic
- Summer Gathering
- Summer Picnic
- Teddy Bear Picnic (For Mothers with young Daughters)
- Watermelon & Friends
- Wisdom in Summer
Spiritual & General Applications
- Focus on ants since they always find their way into picnics. (Proverbs 6:6 “…Consider her ways…”)
- Focus on picnicking with family and friends.
- Focus on a birthday picnic for family or friend.
- Focus on a summer get-together.
Theme Verse Suggestions
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Proverbs 6:6
There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer. Proverbs 30:24,25
Devotional Starters and Workshop Ideas
- My “Don’t Step on that Ant” devotional is my “Awed & Amazed” Devotional Collection available on Amazon here.
- Do a study on the wisdom of the ant (Proverbs 6:6 30:24, 25)
- Do a study on the “little things” (Probers 30:24-28) and how little things can have a big impact.
- Do a study on how “Life’s not a picnic” but we can find joy in it anyway. (Philippians 4:13)
- Do a study on the joys the Lord gives us in summer.
- Do a study about being quilted together in love.
Simple Decorating
- It’s a picnic! You don’t really need any decorations. Bring out your style with how you prepare and set out your food.
- Use gingham tablecloths/napkins.
- If you use tables and feel you must have centerpieces, use things such as wildflowers or daisies. Put them in mason jars or recycled cans.
Picnic Party Ideas from around the web
- Picnic Parade Ideas (Hostess with the Mostess Blog)
- Picnic Style Barbecue (Hostess with the Mostess Blog)
- Picnic Party Ideas (Celebrate Everyday with Me Blog)
- Vintage Strawberry Picnic (Delightfully Noted Blgo)
Icebreaker Ideas
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Use cell phones to do a scavenger hunt. Make a list of items that they need to find that are in the picnic area.
Outdoor Games
Use games such as horseshoes, croquet, badminton, or volleyball.
Bean or Seed Count
Use a jar full of beans, sunflower seeds, or popcorn seeds and see who can guess the closest count.
Hula Hoop Contest
Great if you are having kids.
Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest
Serve up some watermelon and have a seed spitting contest. Fun for kids (and even adults).
Favor Ideas
- A picnic is really one of those times you don’t need a favor, but if you must, maybe a summer item.
- Homemade jam with gingham fabric over lid
- Mini tubes of mosquito repellent
- Flyswatter
Door Prizes
- Casserole carrier
- Condiment squeeze bottle set
- Cooler/Ice chest
- Hula hoop
- Picnic Basket
- Pie or baking dish
- Quilt or throw
- Set of mesh food covers (for outdoor entertaining)
- Silverware/flatware caddy
- Smores Set (skewers, marshmallows, chocolate bars, etc.)
- Summer beverage/water bottle
- Summer family game such as badminton set or yard Jenga
- Summer items of any kind
- Sunhat
- Picnic Gift basket: Place in a small throw, sunglasses, book, beverage bottle/thermos, etc.
Just for Fun
Baskets of Throws
Have a few baskets of small throws/quilts for people to use that may have forgotten one.
Important Items
- Be sure to take a first aid kit with you that is fully stocked.
- Make sunscreen readily available for everyone.
- Take plenty of large trash bags to leave everything as beautiful as when you arrived at your destination.
- Take a large ice chest with just ice to put in any food that someone may bring that needs refrigerated in high heat.
Food & Serving
- Barbecue
- Sandwiches
- Potato or macaroni salad
- Green salads
- Fruit (summer ones such as watermelon, strawberries, and peaches)
- Pies for dessert
- Lemonade or sweet/unsweetened ice tea.
- Homemade ice cream
Photo Source
Want the photo used for the page title of this theme? Find the original at Pixabay here.
Thanks for stopping in. I hope you enjoy a picnic as much as me. Please leave any extra ideas for this picnic theme in the comments. Have you used this theme before? Let me know! Love hearing from you.
Creative blessings,
Julia
