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Looking for Company Picnic Ideas?
Are you looking for fun ideas for your company picnic? Are you hosting a company cookout with families and want a way to make it memorable for all ages? We’ve got you covered.
Thirty-five years of planning company picnics nationwide has allowed us to create a massive database of fun ideas that work best (and some unique experiences to mix things up).
We’ve got 35 years worth of ideas on:
- When to Host & Where
- Entertainment Ideas
- Games & Activities
- Team Building Ideas
- Company Picnic Themes
- Swag and Branding Ideas
- Food & Beverage Ideas
What Makes a Good Company Picnic?
Our 35 years in the industry have taught us a formula for success in planning good company picnics. You may know the basics, like the right location, fun entertainment, games, activities, and great food.
Having a theme for a company picnic can make it unique and organized each year. Planning a successful picnic is about creating personalized experiences that encourage employees to have a great time. Themed activities can be fun, but what really boost morale is having fun together.
Here are various company picnic ideas. To ensure success, it’s best to seek advice from the experts. Contact our experts and we’ll offer tailored suggestions based on your budget and location.
When to Host and Where
Selecting the perfect date and location for a corporate picnic is different for each company. Some have dates already chosen for celebrating milestones like anniversaries, mergers, or holidays. Others are more flexible with the time frame, planning a spring, fall, or summer picnic.
Time and place are important when choosing an indoor or outdoor venue. In some cases, companies may host a “Bring Your Family to Work Day” on-site; we also support these locations.
Companies traditionally host picnics outdoors in the summer (find ideas specific to summer events). This may be different for your area. For example, businesses in the southwest may host their company cookout in the spring or fall when the weather is a bit cooler.
Speaking of cool, winter is becoming an increasingly popular option as well. Check out these time and location ideas:
Time & Location Ideas
- Try a Winter Picnic
- Host it Beachside
- Your Location
- Empty Warehouses
- Explore Local
- Tourist Sites
- Fall/Halloween Picnic
- Drive-in-Movies
- Excursions
- A Local Farm
- Site from a Movie
- Historical Sites
Watch Our Playlist to Get Ideas from Past Company Picnics
Traditional Fun Company Picnic Ideas
Our in-house MCs add a professional flair to your company picnic and make your event feel even more all-inclusive. Imagine ‘popcorn’ call-outs reminding the guests who to thank for the excellent entertainment & food – you & your company!
Interactive games makes everyone feel included and engaged. Face painters add color and fun while photo booths capture the memories. A clever craft station can give guests to flex their artistic side while raffles with gift cards can appeal to the masses.
Employee golf challenges, mega bingo, and various rides, games, and activities are fun for adults and kids alike. We ensure that everyone sitting at the tables actively participates in the celebrations.
Want more? Click on the option below for more ideas or contact our team for personalized picnic game ideas.
Company Picnic Games & Activities
Our picnic planners are not “party planners.” They’ve specialized in walking the fine line between company parties and professional business events. Get more out of your business investment.
Our picnic planners specialize in team-building games and activities that engage every single guest, from employees to families. Call an event planning company with the experience and resources to plan your company picnic today: 800.366.0603.
Zip Lines
Giant Slides
Olympic Games
Volleyball
Baseball
Flag Football
Water Balloon Toss
Wet Sponge Relay
Tabletop Games
Group Bingo
Raffle With Prizes
Team Relay Race
Carnival Booths
Mechanical Bull Riding
Paddleboarding
Giant Board Games
Bungee Jumping
Mechanical Surfboard
Tug of War
Executive Bullseye
Ring Toss
Balloon Darts
Basketball Toss
Golf Challenge
Slip n Slide
Trike Race
Obstacle Course
Pie Eating Contest
Sack Race
Chicken Race
Water Balloons Toss
Corporate Trivia
Bouncers
Casino Game Tables
Arcade Games
Carnival Rides
Ideas for Team Building Activities
- Deserted Island Challenge: In this game, players must list three items they would bring to a deserted island. Players must then work together to use these items to find a way to survive. After the game ends, you can divide the players into teams. The team that comes up with the most creative solutions will receive a prize.
- Shipwrecked: Players only have 25 minutes to scavenge survival items from a sinking ship. Divide your team into two or more groups and have them go to the “shipwreck area,” where you’ve placed several survival items. These can be matches, tarps, ropes, water, or anything the team needs. But be sure there’s a limited amount of each, with some items having more than others. Teams must prioritize and barter with others to secure items and rank them in order of importance. This game is excellent for promoting problem-solving and leadership skills.
- In Human Knot, the facilitator divides team members into groups and instructs them to stand in a circle with closed eyes and link arms. Then, they must work to untangle the human knot they’ve created without letting go of the other players’ hands.
- Blind Square: Players are asked to devise ways to make a rope tied into a circle into a square while blindfolded. Once each team’s plans are laid out, they’re sent off, blindfolded, to follow through. Whoever’s plan enables them to turn this rope into a square without untying it wins.
- In the Paper Plane Contest, organizers divide players into teams and task them with building the most efficient paper airplane. The team with the farthest-flying paper plane wins the game.
- Egg Drop: Players must work together to protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a high spot. The team with the most intact eggs wins. It’s like a science class challenge from our youth.
- The Barter Puzzle: Split your group into teams and give each team a jigsaw puzzle of the same difficulty. Mix a few pieces from each puzzle into the other teams’ puzzles. Players must solve the puzzle and negotiate, swap team members, or trade pieces to collect all their final pieces.
- In Blind Retriever, teams divide players and blindfold one member. The other team members must guide the blindfolded player to an object. This game fosters communication and teamwork skills and is a great way to kick off any team-building event.
Live Entertainment Ideas for Company Picnics
Picnic games and activities that boost morale can be themed or mixed and matched to fit your needs.
- Caricaturist
- Stilt Walker
- Puppeteer
- Cirque & Strolling Performers
- Theme-Specific Costumed Actors/Dancers
- Jugglers
- Live Musicians
- Themed Action Stations
- Animal Shows
- Theme-Specific Dance Lessons
Apparel & Swag Ideas
Answer the age-old question, “What should I wear to a company picnic?” by offering company t-shirts, hats, and the best corporate event swag for the event you’ll help answer that question. Not only do they look great, but they can help designate teams for your field games. Some fun company picnic ideas for apparel and swag include:
Custom Company T-Shirts: Mark the day with custom-designed company picnic t-shirts. Use different colors to designate teams for field day competitions or team-building activities.
Bonus Tip: Use your RSVP to collect details like size, color, and design preferences to ensure you order correctly. Our registration team can pass them out the day so no one forgets theirs at home!
Branded Visors/Hats: Allow staff to show pride with branded visors or basketball hats.
Sunglasses: Protect their eyes with branded sunglasses like Cartoon Network did at their beachside picnic.
Budget Friendly Ideas:
Low on budget, but big on this idea? Provide bandanas in various colors that customers can tie on, or offer company logo stickers on different backgrounds.
Thrill With Themes
Looking for Delicious Cookout Ideas?
And of course, don’t forget about the food. Good food will compliment and tie up your day. Classic hot dogs and hamburgers with all the condiments are always famous for family fun days.
BBQ ribs and brisket are a favorite of the Rodeo-themed picnics. Picnic food ideas don’t have to stick to the classics. Modern kitchens can go nearly anywhere. Your employee picnic could have flavors from all over the world.
For side dishes, you can keep it simple with bagged chips, popcorn and other novelties. Or add specialty dishes that are vegan, gluten free or otherwise reflect your company culture. Because we tailor each picnic menu to our client’s needs and budget, you can get exactly what you want.
Fair-style sweet corn is an absolute must for all outdoor company picnics! Did you know the most popular picnic food nationwide is potato salad?
Let our catering team make it both delicious and easy! We’ll roll out the wood-burning grill and BBQ on-site! It doesn’t get any fresher than that. More food-based company picnic ideas are below:
Table & Serving
- Sustainable Bamboo Cutlery
- Palm Leaf Plates & Bowls
- Recycled Paper Plates
- Reusable Branded Cups or Bottles
Entrees
- Barbeque Ribs
- Grilled Chicken
- Tri-tip
- Grilled Kabobs
Sides
- Coleslaw
- Baked Beans
- Potato Salad
- Fair-Style Corn
Novelties
- Funnel Cake
- Cotton Candy
- Churros
- Novelty Ice Cream
Ideas from Past Picnics & Team Building Events
Find more ideas from past company picnics, team building events, and bring your family to work days. See what has worked for other companies with these featured picnics from the past:
All Your Company Picnic Needs in One Place
Over the past 35 years, we have planned and produced thousands of successful company picnics in California, Vegas, and the Dallas/Fort Worth areas of Texas, and we have since taken our picnics nationwide. Whether you’re looking for a Los Angeles beach picnic company or planners in New York, we fit the bill. Over these years, we have developed a keen sense of what works.
When you plan your next company picnic with Event Solutions, it’s sure to be a spectacular experience your staff and their families will talk about for months.
Coming up with fun company picnic ideas can be hard, but making sure your employees have a good time shouldn’t be. We do so much more than plan annual picnics; we plan all sorts of employee events. Click on one of the links below to learn more!
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We Do So Much More Than Just Picnics
We are so much more than a picnic company. Learn about all the types of events we produce by clicking a link below.