The season of blooming daisies, budding roses, fresh-cut grass, singing hummingbirds, and breezy winds is finally here. What better time to go outdoors? Escape the confinements of walls and your phone/computer screen and go do something outside in the sun (not to sound like anyone’s mom or anything). So, if you need ideas about what to do, I’ve got the perfect one: have a spring picnic! 

Let me help you paint the picture. You find a shaded, grassy, flat area to put down blankets and pillows. You and a group of your friends bring a variety of different cakes, cookies, fruits, chips, sandwiches (a picnic classic), and drinks; once laid out, it’s a mouthwatering assortment of delicious food, not to mention incredibly aesthetically pleasing. Although the sun is out, there is a cool breeze that carries the scent of flowers: an uncountable number of tulips, peonies, daffodils, lilacs, and magnolias outline the park. Aside from the chirping of the birds overhead, the only sound that can be heard is the pure, uncontainable laughter of you and your friends having the best picnic ever. Camille Khong (12) recalls when she and her cousins had a picnic together where they “each brought our own items that we could share with one another.” This was a core memory for her because it was a moment she and her cousins shared of being “surrounded by nature and simply appreciating getting to connect with each other.”

The best part about picnics is that there is not just one way of having one. It doesn’t even have to be at the park; it can be at a sandy beach (just don’t sit too close to the ocean) or in your backyard. Aside from just eating great food and enjoying the view, you can incorporate activities into your picnic. You can bring board games and card games to play with your friends. Or if you want to get crafty, you can take your craft supplies to the picnic, or you can even get small canvases, paint, and brushes to have an artsy painting picnic. That being said, I want to remind you that you don’t have to worry about filling the picnic with activities. Sometimes it can be fun to just relax and have a picnic while watching the sun rise (if you can wake up) or set. 

If you are planning to have a picnic with a group of friends, there are some trendy ways you can make it even more interesting. You can plan to have every person bring a food or drink (it can just be the packaging) in the color of every color of the rainbow (or any combination of colors you choose). This way, not only will you have a colorful display that is visually appealing, but you are also sure to have diverse options for food. Another fun idea would be for everyone to only bring foods/drinks that start with the first letter of their name. This gives a lot of creative freedom and can be very fun and surprising if it’s well thought out. 

There are so many more creative ideas that can make your spring picnic memorable. Pack a basket, and let the fun begin!