Backyard Picnic Party Ideas

Summer is the season for being outdoors…and a backyard picnic might be just the right way to celebrate the last days of the season before the school bells start ringing!  And even if your kiddos have already gone back to the classroom, a picnic could be a fun, after-school surprise or a back-to-school celebration!  I love a picnic for so many reasons…you can sit right on the ground, set your “table” with disposable products, and serve up simple, yet delicious food…just to name a few!  So the other day I decided that it had been too long since our last family picnic so I set up some easy, dinnertime fun right outside our backdoor!  Let me share how this backyard picnic was a whimsical way to bring my family together for an evening of summertime food, good conversation, and a few giggles along the way!

backyard picnic=family fun!

what is it about sitting on the ground that’s just so appealing?  this casual setting quickly gathered everyone around the “table”!

i saved this small pallet from our patio renovation…a fun AND recycled surface to serve up our grilled goodies!

throw rugs and pillows gathered from around the house made a comfy place to sit along side the garden…which is one of the only semi-flat surfaces in our yard!

sunflowers are one of my summer favorites so a few stems made an easy & relaxed centerpiece!

darling paper baskets were fun for holding our burgers & dogs, and the french “fries” were actually pretzel sticks…much easier than trying to keep traditional fries warm!

i used ciabatta buns for a twist on the sliders so food picks were great for holding the mini burgers together!

plain hotdogs didn’t stay plain long with small mason jars (in the background) filled with favorite toppings…

and the cutest ketchup and mustard dispensers!  i mean, how adorable are these fat little guys?

and you might have noticed the boxed waters…i adore this packaging!  a fun way to serve up water at this backyard picnic!

more effortless picnic food…apples!  healthy and delicious, they look especially cute propped up in a simple cupcake wrapper!

and though these dessert plates are not disposable…the melamine cuties were too perfectly decorated not to use them!

and to poke fun at pesky picnic “guests”…more ants in the festive confetti!

a really fun custom mix that included all the picnic feels!

i did opt for cloth napkins which looked beautifully casual tied with twine…a touch of “luxury” at our casual meal!

save room for dessert!

every party needs some sweet treats for a tasty finish…and a backyard picnic is no different!

the little ladder behind the pallet was filled with cupcakes & individual s’mores to toast up on a tabletop grill!

paper berry boxes with the fixin’s for s’mores couldn’t look cuter…they’d make sweet favors too!

and simple cupcakes come with our summertime “friends” on top…fortunately the plastic variety!

i had planned on using this cute figurine as a cake topper…but after deciding on cupcakes, it still made a sweet decoration that fit in perfectly!

so if you’re in the mood for some whimsy, some summertime feels, and good family fun…serve up dinner picnic style!

backyard picnic for the summer win!

pin for later~

products seen in this post can be found at~

FestiveFetti:  custom confetti

Target:  paper picnic baskets, cupcake toppers, (dollar spot) basket liners(Hearth & Home in store only), gingham napkins

Michaels:  tabletop grill, hotdog stand figure, ribbon

Five Below:  throw rugs

Home Goods:  ketchup & mustard containers

Party City:  burger picks

Boxed Water Is Better (i found mine locally at Fresh Thyme)