Host a picnic in the park

Food is a great way to bring people together in parks! Adding an outdoor picnic to events like a park stewardship day or a harvest festival can make the experience even more enjoyable.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you plan a successful event—from securing permits to post-picnic cleanup.

Planning and permits

When selecting your location, think about accessibility, proximity to parking or transit, and amenities like restrooms, water fountains, and shade. Read our resource on making your event accessible and inclusive to help guide your thinking.

Once you’ve picked the perfect spot, research your park’s rules and regulations. Many parks require permits for group events, especially if you’ll be reserving picnic tables, bringing grills, or hosting activities.

Here’s a general guide, but note: regulations will vary depending on the city you live in. Contact your local parks department to confirm requirements and apply for permits well in advance.

• No permit needed
  If your picnic is private, fewer than 25 people (in Toronto) or 50 people (in Montreal), and you are not using a designated picnic site like a picnic shelter or barbecue, you generally don’t need a permit.
  
• Special Event Permit and insurance needed
  If your picnic is open to the public, whether at a designated picnic site or not, you will require a special event permit and insurance. Oftentimes an inspection from your local public health authority is also required to ensure that public safety standards are met.

Learn more about events permits in the following cities:

• Permits in Toronto
• Permits in Vancouver
• Permits in Montreal

Make Your Menu

Keep the menu simple, portable, and easy to serve. Finger foods like sandwiches, wraps, and fruit skewers work perfectly. If grilling is allowed, burgers, hot dogs, or veggie options can elevate your picnic. Provide plenty of water and refreshing drinks, and don’t forget desserts like cookies or cupcakes! Bring coolers or insulated bags to keep perishables fresh and ensure food safety.

You’ll also want to provide diverse food options to accommodate different dietary needs and preferences—such as vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, halal and kosher options. Be sure to clearly label ingredients and allergens at the event.

Note: If you’re advertising your picnic as open to the public and are serving or selling food, you may be required to contact your local Public Health Authority and fill out a Temporary Food Establishment Application as part of your Special Event Permit.
Only food that’s prepared in an inspected kitchen (a commercial kitchen or a community kitchen) can be served to the general public. If you’re not buying prepared food, or do not have access to this type of kitchen, consider encouraging community members to bring their own picnic basket of homemade food. The experience of eating together, rather than sharing food, can help you get around some permit hurdles.

Bonus tip: There are some foods that are considered lower risk foods. Focus on them to keep your application and health inspection simple.

After-Meal Activities

A successful park picnic is more than just food—it’s about the fun! Think about activities that can engage attendees of all ages. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Classic Park Games: Bring frisbees, soccer balls, or cornhole sets to get people moving.
• Kid-Friendly Activities: Set up a bubble station, face painting, or a scavenger hunt. 
• Interactive Stations: Host craft tables or environmental education booths to keep people engaged.
• Group Fun: Organize relay races, tug-of-war, or trivia games.
• For a relaxing vibe, consider offering acoustic live music or storytelling sessions.

Get the word out

Once your permit has been approved and your agenda is planned, it’s time to let your community know about the picnic!

• Create flyers and leave them at local stores, schools, churches, libraries, and community and health centres.
• Create a Facebook event, invite your friends, and post it in local neighbourhood groups
• Email community organizations, elementary schools, local businesses, and your city councillor to help spread the word through their own newsletters, bulletin boards, and social accounts.

Reduce Your Waste

A good picnic leaves the park as beautiful as it was before. Encourage attendees to clean up by providing designated trash and recycling bags. Enlist a few volunteers to help with final cleanup efforts, ensuring that nothing is left behind. If compost bins are available, separate food scraps appropriately. Consider adding a “Leave No Trace” message to your promotions to emphasize sustainability, and encourage participants to bring and use reusable plates and utensils.

Read our resource on how to plan a zero-waste event in your park.

Keep the momentum going

A community picnic is a great way to start a local community park group or find new volunteers for an already established one.
Collect people’s email addresses on the day of the picnic so you can follow-up with them on future park activities, and talk to people about what other events they would like to see in the park. A movie night? Nature walk? Community garden? The sky’s the limit!