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Everything You Need for a Truly Fabulous Picnic

How to make something already great even better

Joys of summer: swimming in a lake, warm nights in your backyard twinkling with string lights, meeting friends on a patio—the list goes on, but way high up on it are picnics in the park. There’s something about a spread on a blanket that makes the taste of food come alive. So as you prepare that pasta salad (might we suggest this one?) and chill that bottle of rosé (perhaps one of these?), consider picking up these extras, which will make your picnic—already a simple, beautiful thing—even better.

 

The classic picnic basket

Simons Maison picnic basket, $60 (on sale from $75), simons.ca. Photo: Simons

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A picnic without a basket is like a wedding playlist that skips “Shout.” Sure, it’s kind of cheesy and overdone, but it just wouldn’t be the same without it. 

 

The sweet and practical picnic blanket

Marks & Spencer Collection picnic blanket, $24, marksandspencer.com. Photo Marks & Spencer

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This adorable lemon-y blanket has a waterproof polyester backing (so its super-easy to clean—and even goes in the dishwasher!) and folds up to be its own even cuter carrying case. 

 

The cute cooler

Igloo cooler, $90, urbanoutfitters.com. Photo: Urban Outfitters

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This candy-coloured retro cooler makes our heart skip a beat and is going to be a riot of joy on that picnic blanket. It’s insulated to keep your drinks cool, so you can keep everyone, uh, hydrated.

 

The curated cheese board

Nibbl Ultimate Board cheese board set, $115, nibblcheese.com. Photo: Nibbl

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How many hard cheeses and soft cheeses do you need for a cheese board? Which ones go with which? Can I get them all in one place? Forget about it! Order from a variety of cheese board sets from nibblcheese.com and a perfectly curated collection will arrive at your door!

 

The delicious frozen treat

Happy Pops, from $36 for 12, happypops.ca. Photo: Happy Pops

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Quite possibly the most excellent ice pops we’ve ever tasted (and made with fewer ingredients than you can count on your fingers), Happy Pops grant us permission to delight in the most simple of childhood pleasures: frozen treats! 

 

The portable wine glasses

GSI nesting wine glass set, $20 (for 2), mec.ca. Photo: MEC

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That Pét-Nat deserves better than a Solo cup. Aside from being infinitely reusable, these wine glasses feature stems that can be unscrewed for easier storage and transport.

 

 

The handy drink holders

Mind Reader 5-piece picnic wine holder set, $41, wayfair.ca: Photo: Wayfair

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It happens every time: You set your glass down in the grass so carefully, and the next time you look it’s mysteriously tipped over, and—devastatingly—empty. Enter the wine stake. Just pop this metal skewer into the ground and hook your glass inside. The set also includes one for the bottle, so no more worrying about losing the cap. 

 

The unbreakable dinnerware

Oui bamboo dinner plate, $11, chapters.indigo.ca. Photo: Indigo

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These cheery dinner plates, featuring a most apropos picnic slogan, are made from sustainable plant-based fibres and also come in lemon and peach/cherry designs.

 

The eco cutlery

Ola bamboo cutlery set, $8 (on sale from $11), Simons.ca

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This bamboo set is perfect for whatever’s being served, and even includes a reusable straw and cleaning brush. 

 

 

The portable grill

Weber portable grill, $339, homedepot.ca. Photo: Home Depot

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Not adorable, but for a next-level picnic menu, consider a grill that’s small enough to travel from your patio to the park.

 

The reusable food wrap

Bee’s Wrap food wrappers, from $18, amazon.ca. Photo: Bee’s Wrap

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Your picnic spread starts out cute and endlessly photogenic, but ends with you wrapping sad nubs of deflated brie and broken crackers into a crumpled piece of cling wrap. These reusable beeswax food wraps are easy on the eyes and help reduce plastic waste. Win-win.

 

The sun hat

Simons hat, $48, simons.ca. Photo: Simons

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Spending hours in the sun (especially when wine is involved) can leave you feeling zapped. Listen to the resounding advice of sage mothers everywhere and just wear a hat—like this one with lovely contrasting trim.

 

The fun hat

Good For Sunday x BodyBreak hat, $48, goodforsunday.com. Photo: Good For Sunday

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If you’d rather go a little retro, this yellow cap—part of Toronto-based brand Good For Sunday’s collab with BodyBreak—is ’90s Canadiana at its finest. 

 

The swishy summer dress

Gap dress, $100, gapcanada.ca. Photo: Gap

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Picnics are joy and so is this dress. Plus, it’s super comfy and accommodating for sitting on the ground, sitting cross-legged, without feeling restricted by hemlines or waistbands.

 

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