Top 5 Snafus of a Company Picnic: Common Pitfalls to Avoid to Host the Perfect Picnic!

Company picnics are a wonderful way to bring your team together in the throws of the sunshine and warmth of summer but can backfire if careful planning and organization of the day falls short.

Hire an event company or planner that is experienced! We know the ins and outs of picnics and events. Asking an internal company team to plan may fall short when they lose sight of the bigger picture and organization needed to pull off a successful outdoor picnic due to workload, meetings or lack of planning experience. Here is our list of the top 5 snafus to avoid to host the perfect summer company picnic!

1. Being outside is tricky! You are at the mercy of Mother Nature! Company picnics in July and August in the Northeast can be brutal for weather. Hot, humid, warm, muggy, and blazing sunshine is not always the perfect picnic weather. Does your picnic location have shade? Covered pavilions? How close are the bathrooms? Is there enough seating for your size group? Is there open, FLAT space if you are including team building events or games? We have been hired by large companies to add an “Olympics Team Event’ for their picnic only to find out the space for the picnic area is all hills or extremely small. Know your space and what it offers! Hot temperatures can have health consequences.

2. You MUST have enough water, drinks, and ICE for the entire length of your picnic. Open blue tubs with ice will melt quickly. Those tubs are not insulated or covered. Ice will melt quickly. If you are trying to save on budget and providing drinks, invest in coolers and lots of ice. Get your drinks on ice prior to the start of the picnic. Especially if you are doing events or games, exertion in the sun can take a lot of you. Hydration is super important! Also, think of sunscreen and bug spray! Nice to have on hand for those that forgot or need more.

3. Find a great caterer. Let them do what they do best….your food! Covered dish picnics leave food at risk. A professional caterer brings chafes, tubs of ice, and proper serving practices for the food. Be sure to check with your picnic location if propane grills are allowed? Most caterers use gas grills, not charcoal. Is there easy access for the caterer to get to your picnic space? Best to notify them in advance if not.

4. Employees only or are you inviting family members too? We love to see companies that want to include families but, be sure to provide activities for ALL ages. There is nothing worse than having a lot of adult activities and leaving cranky, hot kids running around with little to do. Just having a playground next to your picnic area is not enough and tends to obligate the parents with kids to that area for the majority of the time. Parents babysitting is not their idea of a fun work picnic.

5. Two words….inclement weather. What is your backup plan? Are you setting up a rain date, canceling or would you have a space at the location that also provides an indoor or covered area? Holding two dates is costly. Canceling is disappointing and you lose deposits etc. Having a back-up plan in place rain or shine is most advantageous. We have the flexibility to offer an outdoor event like our Team Olympics and a back-up event like our Game Show if we must keep it indoors. This flexibility allows you to keep one date on the calendar.

There’s nothing better than a GREAT company picnic to unite employees with the lazy days of summer, outdoor fun, and the beauty of nature. Much welcomed break from the company walls. Just pause and take a look at your team….are they the outdoor type? Will there be a lot of walking involved? If you are adding team building or games, does the area provide the appropriate space and offer shade? Take all necessary precautions to provide the comfort options for an outdoor event! When you leave things in the hands of professionals….we’ll have your back and look to insure your outdoor event is memorable, fun, and enjoyable for all!

Summer is family time for most with the kids out of school. We have seen a lot of picnics with low attendance because families would rather spend time together at the beach/pool or on vacation. A company picnic is a wonderful tradition to have, but it should be something that the majority want to attend.

Simple Creations Team Building loves to build the perfect company picnic, but let’s make sure it’s a good idea from the start for your group! We offer 400+ team building events, there is always something for everyone! We want your events to shine and have high participation. Not to mention be FUN and unite your group. The best place to start is with a simple phone call. Let’s hear what you’re looking for! We’ll hold your hand the rest of the way! You just have to show up and enjoy! We make it that easy! Looking for summer fun? We can help you avoid the snafus!