Family reunion picnic menu and games ideas

[momz]

I'm trying to plan an impromptu family picnic this Sunday. It will be my family, my parents, and my 2 brothers with their families. The youngest is turning 17, oldest is 75.

I am expecting the classic picnic stuff like devilled eggs, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob, watermelon. What meat do you recommend? something that can be prepared ahead of time is necessary. Also, what additional foods do you like to see at a picnic?

Any recommendations for activities? We have a bocce ball set. Not sure what others have.

 

[NannyBeBe]

First of all, you are far braver than I am. I would not be getting together for a picnic at this time. I hope everything works out well for you and your family.
As to meat, I would suggest ham, because it is well preserved and less likely to spoil and does not require cooking.
I make a macaroni salad that does not contain mayonnaise or anything that spoils easily so I usually take it to picnics.
I would not take deviled eggs unless they are kept on ice.

 

[RUDisney]

I always like to pick up fried chicken when I am having a picnic. It tastes good cold or hot and it's an easy finger food. There is a grocery store in my area that does absolutely the best fried chicken that makes my life easy because I don't have to make it.

Depending on how hot it will be, I always like a water balloon toss. It's fun and can cool you off a bit.

 

[holden]

Something in the crock pot? Pulled pork sandwiches, etc.?

I always serve a salad too.

We play ladder golf, giant Uno and Chippo.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Lunch meat, cheese and rolls to make sandwiches. Cheese tray. Fruit. Veggie tray. Wine.

 

[unrequited23]

I would make or buy individual sandwiches or wraps. A lot of grocery stores offer this if it's in your budget. Also the assorted variety of little chip bags have always been a big hit since it's not something I usually buy. I think you need something sweet like cookies or rice krispie treats. (I love rice krispie treats when they are a little warm and gooey from being in the heat.)

As for activities, I would keep it simple. A baseball and some mitts or a soccer ball.

 

[Southernmiss]

I like the fried chicken idea or individual sandwiches, good green salad is always nice, ice cold watermelon. If it's a birthday celebration cake and ice cream.

My young adult kids would bring an assortment of playing cards or game cards, a frisbee and an assortment of balls-soccer ball, football, volleyball, etc. that can be picked up and played with just a couple of people. Maybe also checkers, dominoes or connect four or Jenga, a puzzle

If it 's a birthday celebration, why not some silly birthday games-pin the tail on the donkey or BINGO with prizes or something like that.

In my family when it's been a while since we've seen each other, we would eat, and talk and laugh and not really need much in the way of games and suddenly realize wow it's been a couple of hours.

 

[rwdavis2]

Masks?

 

[starvenger]

Whatever you make, try to divide things up bento-style. that way you avoid buffet-style sharing. You probably know what some of the family doesn't/can't eat, so you can "customize" the bento by leaving things out.

 

[Hikergirl]

Is this at someone's home, do you have access to electricity and a grill/oven where you can do a quick heat up or plug in a crockpot?
Taco bar- you can do the ground beef and/or shredded chicken ahead of time.
Pulled pork sliders with slaw, potato salad

If you are packing up and going to a local park I'd stick with cold dishes, cold cuts and salads.
You can do things like a quinoa black bean salad, or black bean and corn salad/salsa that can be served cold.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I would do what you are doing if I had the slightest faith in anyone around me being cautious but that's not the case so yay you that you can do this

There is a popular game my kids have played here in Pa called corn hole, you can make your own with a board of wood with a hole in it and little hacky sack like beanbags of whatever you have lying around. The second one is called Quoits, very similar but there it a peg glued or nailed to the board and you toss a circle of rope or something onto it. Just make everyone their own set of parts with different colors to tell them apart, especially for kids.

 

[Hikergirl]

The outdoor games we do
Ladderball
Molkky
Cornhole
Bottle Bash
Kan Jam
Bocce
Badminton
Volleyball

 

[sasywtch]

I'd add a cold pasta salad however you make it (mine is the tri colored pasta, red onions, bell pepper, olives, cucumber,broccoli with italian dressing). Better when kept overnight in the refrigerator. I like the chicken from the store. Our family are snackers so we always have salami, cheese with crackers, some dips and chips.

 

[GamGam]

An easy side is 3 or 4 bean salad: one drained can each of --green beans, wax (yellow) beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans and Italian dressing & tossed and chilled overnight. Can add diced bell peeper or onion, but optional. Easiest fruit salad ever: in a bowl slice a couple of bananas, then chunk over that a peeled segmented orange (juice keeps banana from turning brown), on top an unthawed block/bag of sliced strawberries. Frozen berries thaw and chill fruit til ready to serve, then stir it up and enjoy S>O>B> salad.

 

[zoemurr]

I would look up "Minute to Win it" games. They are very inexpensive and quick to do. You could have a set time for everyone to do them, or just set them up on tables with directions. We have done them at many gatherings and they are a lot of fun.

 

[momz]

First of all, you are far braver than I am. I would not be getting together for a picnic at this time. I hope everything works out well for you and your family.
As to meat, I would suggest ham, because it is well preserved and less likely to spoil and does not require cooking.
I make a macaroni salad that does not contain mayonnaise or anything that spoils easily so I usually take it to picnics.
I would not take deviled eggs unless they are kept on ice.

You make a good point regarding a gathering. This is why I want to be outside. Also, I'm thinking that me and my family will "serve" the food, cafeteria like, so we aren't having multiple people touching the serving utensils. I think we can do that. Have our guest hold their plate and we plop the food on it. Any other suggestions as far as COVID is concerned?

 

[momz]

Whatever you make, try to divide things up bento-style. that way you avoid buffet-style sharing. You probably know what some of the family doesn't/can't eat, so you can "customize" the bento by leaving things out.

dividing things up is a good recommendation as well. hmmm could use those small clear plastic cups to put watermelon chunks in. I'm considering pulled pork, so I could make up the sandwiches ahead of time. I'm picturing a plate with a sandwich, watermelon cup, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob. I can put the deviled eggs out and just let people stab them with their own fork if they want that. Others will bring things to add to this meal, so i need to figure out how to serve those items.