Labor Day - Supplies and Plans for the Perfect Labor Day Picnic

Labor Day is traditionally known as the last party of summer, when we say goodbye to hot weather, sunny skies and long days spent outdoors. Soon darkness will come earlier, the leaves will start to fall from the trees and the winds will be brisk and cool. Celebrate the joys of summertime one final time in 2006 with a Labor Day picnic. Getting your family together for good food and fun times is a great way to end the season with a bang.

Your Labor Day picnic can be as simple or extravagant as you want it to be - you can have a themed backyard bash with signature summery cocktails and tropical touches, or have a romantic picnic for two on the beach. Plan a day of fun and games at a local park - grill up some hot dogs, have a potato sack race and test your watermelon-eating skills in a contest. You could turn it into a weekend affair by taking a road trip and camping out along the way. There are dozens of things you can do to make it memorable.

Once you've decided upon the location, level of formality and number of people attending, you can start gathering your supplies. For backyard cookouts, all you'll need are a set of great barbecue tools, a classic summer grilling menu and some outdoor furniture. The Wooden Folding Picnic Table (pictured left) is the ultimate in picnic portability - this table folds completely compact into a convenient carrying case, so you can use it at home, on the road, on vacation - anywhere you want to have some extra comfy seating.

If you're packing up the kids (or some friends) and heading to the beach, park, outdoor concert or downtown festival, you'll want to have a good picnic basket or pack. Try a rugged, dependable picnic backpack such as the Ultimate Backpack for 4 with Blanket (pictured left) if you'll be walking around at all. This full-service picnic set comes complete with absolutely everything you'll need to serve a delicious al fresco meal for four people.

Don't forget the sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and other small items you'll need to have on hand. For a complete list of items you should remember to bring on any picnic, see our previous posting entitled 'Planning the Perfect Picnic'.