Picnic & BBQ A picnic checklist: spot, food, gear and the small stuff that always gets left behind. Tell us if you're grilling and bringing kids, and the list adapts. [ ] Pick a spot and check the weather forecast Check the forecast a day or two before and have a backup plan — a shaded spot, a covered area, or a rain date. [ ] Bring two blankets One goes on the ground (which is usually damper than it looks), the other stays clean for sitting on and wrapping up in later. [ ] Pack a cooler bag with ice packs Meat and dairy can spoil within a couple of hours in the heat — freeze the ice packs the night before. [ ] Marinate the meat the night before Overnight, the marinade soaks in far deeper than the couple of hours you'd get marinating the same morning. [ ] Wash vegetables and greens at home There's no water for washing up at the picnic spot — do it ahead and pack everything in containers. [ ] Bring more water than you think you need Heat and active games burn through water faster than it seems from home — pack more than your initial estimate. [ ] Pack a cutting board, knife and bottle opener These are the most commonly forgotten items — without them you're cutting bread and opening bottles with whatever's on hand. [ ] Pack napkins, wet wipes and trash bags Dry and wet wipes, plus bags to carry all your trash out with you — leaving it behind isn't an option. [ ] Bring insect repellent and tick protection If you're sitting on grass or near woods, treating clothing with a tick-specific spray cuts bite risk far more than plain mosquito repellent. [ ] Bring sunscreen A full day outdoors can burn you even under clouds — reapply every couple of hours. [ ] Pack a mini first aid kit Antihistamines for insect bites, plasters and antiseptic — these cover the most common small mishaps outdoors. [ ] Bring a charged speaker Check the battery ahead of time and bring a power bank — there won't be an outlet out there. [ ] Bring a ball, badminton set or cards Something active fills the gaps between eating and heads off boredom, especially with a bigger group. [ ] Pack warm layers for the evening Even on a warm summer day, temperatures drop noticeably after sunset, especially near water. [ ] Bring a sun shade or umbrella Especially important if there's no natural shade — midday sun wears out the whole group fast. [ ] Bring the grill, grate and skewers Check before you leave that the grate and skewers are actually with you — they're rarely stored together with the grill itself. [ ] Bring charcoal, firelighter and matches Pack extra firelighter — it burns through faster than expected in wind or damp conditions. [ ] Bring long tongs They let you flip coals and meat safely without leaning over the fire or burning your hands. [ ] Bring a heat-resistant glove Useful for moving the grill or adjusting coals when tongs alone aren't enough. [ ] Bring foil For grilling vegetables, keeping fish off the bare grate, and wrapping up leftovers to take home. [ ] Fully put out the coals before you leave Douse with water or bury in sand until the hissing stops — coals smoldering under ash stay dangerous for hours. [ ] Check fire safety rules for the area Open flames are often banned during dry spells, and fines for violating this can be steep — check local rules before you go. [ ] Pack a full change of clothes for the kid Kids get thoroughly dirty outdoors — a change of clothes beats trying to clean anything on-site. [ ] Bring outdoor toys A shovel, ball or scooter keeps the kid occupied for the whole time adults spend cooking. [ ] Bring a familiar snack for the kid Grilling takes a while, and a hungry kid has no patience for it — familiar snacks on hand save the moment. [ ] Assign a supervising adult near water and fire Agree on a rotation in advance — attention near water and the grill needs to be constant, not remembered occasionally. Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/picnic-bbq