Okay, let’s be honest here: 2020 has been a rough ride so far. After months of quarantine (and with no end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight), people are itching to get together. Humans are, after all, social by nature. But while people are more than ready to get back to normal, they’re remaining cautious about the coronavirus’s risks of spreading.
Outdoor activities offer a possible solution. It’s easier to socially distance in an open space than in a bar, restaurant, or home. As long as you take the proper precautions, there’s no reason you can’t get together with friends and family for a socially distant picnic.
Here’s what to pack for a picnic date in 2020, complete with everything you need to be social in the age of social distance.
Tips for a Socially Distant Outdoor Picnic
Picnics in the park and other outdoor activities need a little more planning than they did before. When preparing for a socially distant picnic, take the following steps to ensure everyone is as safe as possible:
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Wear cloth masks when not eating or drinking
- Keep the number of picnic attendees to 10 people or less
- Make sure people from different households sit at least six feet apart
- Do not share food, plates, glasses, or other items
- Invite people from your immediate local area (don’t invite someone from across the city or in a different town)
- Consider the personalities and behavior of those you invite
Plan to have socially distant outdoor activities at your picnic. Possibilities include hiking, bike rides, and party games where people don’t share items or come into close contact. If you choose to play games like bocce, horseshoes, or cornhole, have plenty of hand sanitizer available so people can clean their hands after using the game equipment.
Social Distancing Picnic Essentials
What to pack for a picnic hasn’t changed too much since we learned to social distance. You’ll want a blanket, food, drinks, and a picnic basket or cooler. However, you’ll need to rethink how you handle food and drinks at the picnic and bring along a few socially distant picnic essentials, including:
Face Masks
Face masks are picnic essentials for 2020, and people have embraced face masks as a fun new fashion accessory. Look your best in the Custom Sublimated Seamless Polyester Cover by CROWN, or personalize your facial protection with CROWN’s Kryptek Sublimated UPF50+ Cover, which also protects against the sun’s damaging UV rays.
It’s all too easy to walk out of the house without your mask accidentally. Pack a few disposable Cloth Face Masks so your more forgetful friends can still enjoy the picnic.
Hand Sanitizer
There was a time when “hand sanitizer” didn’t make the list of what to pack for a picnic date. Now hand sanitizer is necessary for maintaining safe hygiene, especially after touching items that have come into contact with other people. Possible sanitizers for your socially distant picnic include:
Picnic Baskets
For safety, it’s best that each household attending the picnic pack their own picnic basket, plates, glasses, and cutlery. The Haywood 4 Person Trolley Picnic Bag or an All-Purpose Basket Cooler is perfect for a family of four. For a more intimate picnic for two, opt for the Ranger 2 Person Picnic Bag.
While social distancing prevents people from sharing picnic food and drinks, you can get everyone on the same page by suggesting a food theme for the picnic. Share recipes and food suggestions, so nobody looks longingly at someone else’s picnic spread.
Picnic Drinkware
Stay hydrated during your socially distant picnic with individual water bottles such as Tempercraft’s 20 oz. Vacuum Bottle or the 18 Oz Stainless Steel Bottle by Bison Coolers. People who live in the same household can share a larger drink container like the Stanley 64 oz Classic Vacuum Growler safely.
Socially distant picnics offer opportunities to relieve quarantine cabin fever while limiting your risk of exposure to the coronavirus. These picnic essentials also provide branding opportunities for promotional marketing. Take advantage of the trend for safe outdoor activities and provide your customers, clients, and employees with the customized picnic essentials they need to enjoy the summer as safely as possible.