What to bring to a book club picnic

Plan the shopping around the final number of readers, then add a small buffer for shared dishes and drinks. For a relaxed book club picnic, you need food that can be portioned in advance, coolers for anything perishable, and enough plates, cups and cutlery for the whole group. Pack practical discussion items too: books, name tags, questions and a book stand. Check dietary requirements before buying fresh food, and keep an indoor backup in mind if the forecast changes.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 30
Picnic blanketsqty 8
Cushionsqty 24
Tableclothsqty 6
Parasolsqty 3

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 36
Reusable bowlsqty 36
Reusable cupsqty 48
Wine glassesqty 36
Cutlery setsqty 36
Serving spoonsqty 8
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving tongsqty 6

Kitchen

Thermos flasksqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Bread knivesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Ice packsqty 16
Water jugsqty 4
Bottle openersqty 3

Equipment

Kettleqty 2
Portable speaker

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
Battery lanternsqty 6

Decorations

Name card holdersqty 30
Book standqty 2
Table signsqty 6

Sports equipment

Picnic basketsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Breadsticks - 8 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Whole wheat wraps - 36 pieces
- Cream cheese - 1.5 kg
- Hummus - 1,5 kg
- Young cheese - 1.5 kg
- Brie - 1 kg
- Smoked chicken breast - 1.2 kg
- Smoked salmon - 800 grams
- Egg - 36 pieces
- Herb cheese - 6 tubs
- Arugula - 600 grams
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kg
- Bell peppers - 12
- Carrots - 2 kg
- Avocado - 12 pieces
- Red onion - 6 pieces
- Corn - 6 cans
- Chickpeas - 6 cans
- Pasta - 2.5 kg
- Pesto sauce - 4 jars
- Olive oil - 1 liter
- Balsamic vinegar - 500 ml
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kg
- Strawberries - 2 kg
- Brownies - 36 pieces
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Nut mix - 1,5 kg
- Still water - 24 bottles
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Lemonade - 6 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kg
- Honey - 1 jar
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Paper napkins - 4 packs
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Hand sanitizer - 3 bottles

Tips

Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per person for each additional hour. Bring extra water in jugs, especially if the picnic is outdoors.
Plan roughly one sandwich or wrap, one generous salad portion and one dessert portion per guest. Add 10% extra if people are arriving straight from work or the picnic lasts more than three hours.
Chill drinks and perishable food before loading the coolers. Use at least two ice packs per cooler section and keep fresh produce separate from books, name tags and other dry supplies.
Bring one reusable plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per person, plus 10% spare. Serving spoons, platters and tongs prevent everyone from using their own cutlery on shared salads and dips.
Pack the discussion materials in a separate picnic basket or box. Keep the chosen book, name tags, prepared questions and book stand together so they are easy to find before the meal starts.

Frequently asked questions

What food should I bring to a book club picnic?: Plan one sandwich or wrap, one salad portion and one dessert portion per person, plus about 10% extra. Include at least one suitable option for every dietary requirement collected during registration.
How many drinks do I need for a book club picnic?: Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, followed by one drink per person for each extra hour. Include water as well as other drinks, and chill everything before leaving.
How many plates and cups do I need for a picnic?: Take one reusable plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per guest, then add 10% spare. For 20 guests, that means 22 of each item where possible.
When should I buy food for a book club picnic?: Buy non-perishable items several days ahead and order fresh produce no later than the day before. Wash fruit and vegetables, prepare salads and sandwiches, and portion desserts on the day of the picnic.

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