Guide to How to Throw A Company Picnic

Do you want to throw a company picnic this summer? It's a wonderful way to get people relaxed, out of the office, and to build a sense of community among co-workers. Plus, it can be a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Throwing a company picnic isn't hard, but it does take a bit of attention to detail. First, you need to find a good place to have it. Parks are a good bet, but you may want to talk to the local park administration, who can usually be found through City Hall. Contacting them ensures that your gathering doesn't conflict with any other groups that may want the space.

After you find the space, which should either be cheap or free, post the time and date of your expected company picnic up on your news board. Be sure to ask about anybody's food preferences or allergies well in advance of  the picnic because you'll need to plan for them. In order to pay for the food, you may either want to see if your company has a fund for such things, or take up a collection around the office.

The best company picnics in my experience are potlucks.  The company should provide some of the central items, such as barbecue, sandwiches or a cake, but getting co-workers to bring their specialties helps everyone feel involved. 

If someone in the office wants to be involved, but swears they can't cook, draw them into planning decorations!  Picnics are more fun when decorated with balloons, napkins, and so on.  Look for a good picnic theme.  After all, who wouldn't want to go to a company luau?

Plan out the logistics well in advance of the picnic.  Where will people park?  How far will they have to walk to the picnic?  What's the backup plan for rain?  How accessible are bathrooms and trashcans?  Who is going to stay and clean up?

Be sure to have plenty of seating for everyone. Chairs are a vital component of company picnics. Conversation and camraderie naturally happens when people can sit to talk. Easily available chairs also saves anyone who can't stand for long from embarrassment.

If the company picnic is a sponsored event and will be recurring from year to year, you may want to invest in imprinted folding chairs with your company's logo on them. This sort of thing helps when asking for company funds as well, since it'll make the picnic double as an advertising event.

Get plenty of people to help. You're going to need at least one general deputy. This alone is not enough.  You'll also need one volunteer deputy in charge of each and every section, such as food, parking, decorations, post-picnic area cleanup, and so on.

Now that you've got your plan, have your company picnic, and have fun!


Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Pick a theme, maybe by office vote, that everybody can get in and have fun on.