Easy Fall Thanksgiving Picnic

When you live in a city where the seasons don’t change and its summer all year long, there’s a part of you that longs for the auburn leaves of fall and chill of a winter’s night. So together with a burlap sheet, acorns collected on a road trip down the east coast a few weeks back you create the hallmark atmosphere of a Thanksgiving’s Autumn even if it’s in your own sunny backyard.

With a Thanksgiving picnic you can spend more time with those who you are most thankful for and less time prepping, serving and cleaning up after.

How to Make a Thanksgiving Picnic

1. Pack lightly

Choose a large basket or ice bucket with handles to transport your picnic fare. I packaged all my food in ready to eat containers or disposables. Soups were wrapped with twine inserted with a spoon. Sandwiches wrapped in parchment paper.

2. Find a spot

Find a beautiful quiet spot and roll out your blanket or burlap sheet on the grass. Lay out all your food buffet style and let everyone help themselves while you lay back relax and savor the moment.

This menu is a fun alternative to a traditional Thanksgiving and can work equally well with the leftovers.

For some “thoughtful“ entertainment I prepared “gratitude” cootie catchers with sweet messages like “Who made you smile today?” and What are you proud of?”

They make beautiful additions to your Thanksgiving table too, click here to print a Fall Themed Cootie Catcher.