A Wild West Themed Picnic
The Brief
Edwards Lifesciences contacted us to bring 300 employees together for a Wild West–themed company picnic at Newport Dunes Resort. This event would celebrate their life-saving mission while fostering connection, gratitude, and joy—reflecting Edwards’ values and commitment to its people.
CA
Newport Beach
39
Staff Members
300
Pint Glasses Engraved
300
Guests
What We
Delivered
At a sun-drenched Newport Dunes Resort, Event Solutions staged a Wild West company picnic for Edwards Lifesciences. We delivered immersive décor, a Texas Ho-Down buffet, interactive games, paddle-boarding, and carnival-style refreshments—all tailored to celebrate employees and their life-saving mission in an unforgettable, joy-filled gathering.
How
We Did It
Services Included
Thematic Event Design & Décor
Registration & Welcome Setup
Catering & Food Stations
Desserts & Beverage Services
Entertainment & Games
Event & Destination Management
Guest Experience Management
Who Made It Happen
A top-tier team brought this event to life, including:
Event Manager / Producer
Client Liaison / Account Manager
Creative Director / Designer
Logistics & Operations Coordinator
Catering & Beverage Team
Entertainment & Activities Coordinator
Guest Services / Registration Staff
Safety & Risk Management Staff
Photography & Media Team
The
Experience
Unforgettable
We remember this staff picnic like it was yesterday: blue sky graced over the sandy beaches of Newport Dunes Resort & Marina.
The waves licked the beach, savoring the taste of the SoCal summer.
Palm trees, with their leaves flirting in the sunshine, stood tall, proud and iconic.
We could not have asked for a more perfect day to host a company picnic for staff whose work saves lives and brightens people’s futures.
A Hero’s Welcome
300 of these heroes were expected to arrive and we wanted that first impression to be as special as they are.
Hay bales, wagon wheels, and wood boxes lined the CC Corral wooden ranch arch and fence.
The registration table, lined with gift bags, sat just inside ready to welcome guests.
Wine barrels, bridle and bit, burrs, rope, jail façade, saddles and even a movie prop horse transformed the site into the Wild Wild West.
Food and Fun
Umbrella tables with their red and white checkered tablecloths lined together in uniform – each adorned with a sunflower centerpiece. Across the seating area, under the shade of the pergolas the buffet was set up.
Solid red tablecloths waved gently in the breeze while silver chafers with hot wells glinted in the sunlight.
Three stations were provided, including the main buffet serving a Texas Ho Down catered meal, an All-Beef Hot Dog (and veggie burger) station with separate condiment station, and a Fun Foods Station featuring fresh funnel cakes.
Here’s the Dish
Main entrees included, fall-off-the-bone barbecue Beef Ribs with a classic tangy barbecue sauce, a sweet and bold Texas Barbecue Chicken, Vegetarian and Vegan Burgers, and All Beef Hot Dogs.
To complement the Western entrees, a Sweet Southern Style Cornbread (served with Sweet Butter), classic Coleslaw, Mac and Cheese, Honey Baked Beans with brown sugar, Vegetarian Baked Beans, and fair-style corn-on-the cob grilled and served in the husk (with all the fixings!).
Desserts & Beverages
Dessert included traditional ice cream treats, cool and fresh Watermelon slices and hot, made-to-order funnel cakes topped with strawberries, powdered sugar, and whipped cream.
Beverage stations had all the traditional southern favorites like ice tea and lemonade, but also a variety of soda, and a hosted bar!
These cowboys and girls gathered around the watering hole and, once filled, headed off to enjoy the activities.
Ol’ Fun in the Sun
This western themed company picnic included our standard field games and a few wild extras.
Standards included Corn Hole, Giant Jenga, Ping Pong, Hoop Shot, Boothless Photo Booth, Caricature Artist, Bingo and matching Prize Table.
Volleyball and Horseshoes were a big sandy hit. For those who wanted to hit the water, paddle boarding and a lifeguard were provided.
Can’t Tame the Wild
These heroes practiced their aim with the Bullseye Inflatable Axe Throwing game and their balance on the Mechanical Bull.
One of our newest hits, the Human Foosball was also provided. These wild games were as much fun to watch as they were to play.
Keeping true to the theme, two professional line dancers and a live band got everyone going with their wildly fun “boot scootin’” heel, toe, do-si-do Boogies! We love seeing unique company picnic ideas like these come to life!
Layin Down the Law
Fun is the law at this western picnic, and our engravers wrote it in stone, er, glass.
Custom branded pint glasses with the Edwards Lifesciences logo were engraved as guests watched with a message of their choice.
An exquisite personalized gift for guests to take home and remember this wild day again and again.
Find more ideas on how to brand your event here.
Come In-and-Out
All this summertime fun created some real big appetites, but as always our picnic catering was on the job.
As a bonus, an In-and-Out truck was commissioned to take on these Wild Texas-sized appetites.
Can you say double double fun and yummy trouble?! Don’t worry, our sheriff was in on the fun!
Remembering & Honoring
It feels good to remember those good times especially during these COVID19 times. We are proud to support healthcare professionals like Edwards Lifesciences and others like them.
For the past 35 years, we have planned and produced hundreds of similar events for companies who work hard to take care of others.
It is our absolute pleasure to be able to work hard for them and see that pay off in smiles, high fives, and treasured social moments like this one.
If you are ready to start planning, contact our company picnic planners today! Whether it’s the picnic of the year or the best employee appreciation event, we’re excited to collaborate with you.
