Corporate Picnic Planning
Corporate picnics can be a wonderful way to celebrate events with your co-workers, managers & clients. If you demand the best in corporate picnic catering, you’ve come to the right place! If you are planning a picnic for your company in Chicago this year, Corky’s Catering will provide delicious and affordable options.
The size and type of your picnic will help determine the best menu options for the event. There is usually a difference in what adults in your company want to eat versus what your family likes. Either way, we can help you determine what kind of menu to prepare.
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If there will be kids at the picnic, we can come up with some great kid-friendly treats to help make sure they are satisfied. In addition to great picnic catering, Corky’s can also help you find an ideal location along with great entertainment for adults and kids alike. From DJ’s, entertainers to live music, our picnic planners can find the perfect fit for your particular audience. For the kids, consider a clown, magician, snow cone machine or moon jump to keep them occupied while the adults enjoy a nice cocktail.
You have planning to do and we are here to help! Consider the following to get your picnic planning started today!
Sending Invites
Yes this first tip is simple, but often forgotten. Sending out invites may be the hardest part of planning a picnic. You need to know who is planning on coming so you can properly prepare. Are you going to invite just staff?
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Are significant others invited or perhaps even entire families? You can’t plan a picnic without knowing who will show up because you need to know how many people you need to accommodate with space and food.
Deciding on the Time
Choosing a time is crucial; you should consider reviewing your entire organization’s work schedule & vacation schedules. If you decide to extend an invitation to the entire family of each employee,
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you may want to consider hosting the picnic on the weekday evening to assure a good turn-out. If a weekday isn’t an option, your time options do open up a bit more given you have the entire day Saturday or Sunday to consider. And of course, if the picnic is staff only, thank your employees with a planned work day afternoon full of picnic & social activities.
Venue Location
To plan a great picnic, you definitely need to choose a great location. If you need help picking one out, we can help you! Our relationship with numerous Chicagoland venues gives us a great catalog of options for you to choose from.
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From parks to beaches to your own backyard, we can cater to virtually any location. With nearly 600 parks throughout Chicagoland, chances are you have a park near your offices and can potentially host it right there. Or perhaps there is a nearby amusement park or zoo that will welcome your planned company picnic. There are numerous options you can choose from as you will see below.
Family-Friendly Picnic Spots
Below are a few favorite spots to cater for company picnics throughout Chicago.
Lincoln Park – is situated on the on the lakefront on the north side of Chicago. There are many activities the park offers including, a children’s petting zoo, the Lincoln Park Zoo,
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Rose and Flower Gardens, Farmers Markets, Festivals, row and paddle boats rentals, fishing in the lagoon and much more. This is an amazing space to hold your next event along with may groves to choose from. Summer picnic permits go fast, so call us today to reserve your space.
Grant Park – a definite must see location in Chicago. Grant Park is located on Michigan Avenue in the heart of the city also on the lakefront. Summer is an excellent time to have a picnic as it’s very beautiful with all the flowers and gardens. From the park, you have easy access to Lake Michigan, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Shed Aquarium, Soldier Field, Sears Tower, John Hancock Building and Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, the Lake, Chicago River, and other top local attractions in the area, including restaurants and Chicago hotels. These permits sell out very early in the season, let us help you find the right space for your next corporate picnic.
Busse Woods – Busse Woods is also called Ned Brown Preserve and is situated in the southeast corner of I-90 and I-290. With a 460 acre lake, extensive bike/running paths, fishing, boating and large picnic groves that can accommodate thousands of guests, this space is perfect for your large corporate picnic in the western suburbs.
Activities
You should consider planning activities with your picnic. These can be great for team-building or just serve a relaxing purpose. Of course the parks listed above may give you plenty to do, but it’s a safe play to have an activity or two in your back pocket.
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Hire an Entertainer
Hiring an entertainer can spice up the picnic so there won’t be too much business chatter. You want to make sure a company picnic serves as a stress reliever by having your staff enjoy the day and not think about work. Entertainers such as, DJs, face painters, comedians, puppeteers and dancers are different types of entertainers you can consider hiring for your picnic.
Include a Raffle
A raffle is a nice touch for employees and their families to enjoy. Just don’t give away too many simple things that have to do with your company such as coffee mugs or t-shirts. Partner with some of your vendors or colleagues and include money or gift cards, electronics, household items, movie tickets, hotel vouchers or even vacations. These are the things people like to win the most.
Themes for Your Event
Themed parties are loved, especially if you plan on having children present. Try to insert a theme into activities, food and clothing. A few themes include safari, beach party or a wild-west party! There are many more party ideas you can find on Pinterest as well.
Catering
Chances are a simple picnic basket or two won’t suffice for your corporate picnic. You’ll most likely need a professional catering company to provide your guests with food and refreshments.
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Choosing the right caterer is important when it comes to having food at your picnic. It’s also a nice touch to impress your employees with some of the best food one can order in Chicago. As always, we’re available at Corky’s to help you out.
Don’t Forget to Call Corky’s
Between our hundreds of delicious options, 40+ years of company picnics and our amazing event planners, Corky’s knows how to make your corporate picnic a success. We can take your corporate picnic to the next level by helping you think outside the basket! To check out our full-service picnic catering options, have a look at our menus. If you need some extra help with planning your picnic, our “Picnic Planner” is a great tool to help get you started.
At Corky’s, we will assure you have enough food for everyone who attends your corporate picnic. And don’t forget, you’ll need beverages & you’ll need to keep them cold. There are many items that may go unplanned if you don’t work with a caterer for your company picnic.
Don’t take the chance on a less than stellar catering experience. At Corky’s Catering, we specialize in corporate picnic catering throughout Chicago. Call (630) 396-3030 and let’s start planning today!
Contact Us
Are you planning on having something soon? No matter if you’re having an event next week or next year, fill out our easy contact form and we’ll get right back to you in 24 hours.
Download Menus
Corky’s makes parties memorable! Take a look at our amazing selection of menus to choose from. No matter if you’re planning a company picnic or a simple lunch, we have menus for any occasion.
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Check out our coupon page for money saving deals for all your events. You’ll find seasonal savings on food, beverages and serviced events.