Are you a party animal or do you prefer to be somewhere quiet on your own?
And do you like bringing people together or do you leave it to others?
On this Sunday, 22nd Aug, I am once again holding my annual picnic for friends and their friends.
This will be the 9th consecutive year I am holding this event and what began as a simple idea has now become an annual event that people in and around London look forward to.
The idea is simply to get a lot of friends and their friends together.
I invite all my friends and they invite all their friends and they invite their friends and so on……and before we know, there will be 100’s of friends, new and old, coming together in a spirit of fun, unity and playfulness.
Everyone brings their own food and drinks plus some extra to share. We then also play games, frisbee, hula hoops etc. And of course children are most welcome.
I even say to people that if they don’t have any children they should borrow some for the day!
We also have African drumming accompanied by other musical instruments.
Last year we had almost 300 people on a gloriously sunny day and ever year it gets bigger – check out the photos from my Facebook profile.
And if you are able to come this year, then also check out the Facebook event page.
How it all began
Regular readers will know how passionate I am to bring people together and create peace and harmony. And that’s how this event first started – my own little way of bringing unity in my community in a fun way.
It all started 8 years ago when I thought it would be a great way of meeting all my friends in one place and also for them to invite their friends too.
Soon the event developed to such a level that I met people who were 4 degrees of separation from me.
Also mutual friends came to the picnic independently of each other only to discover that they had common friends!
I also learnt that perhaps in the world of the internet and social media, perhaps we are no longer separated by the fabled six degrees of separation – it is probably more like five or even less.
Due to the temperamental nature of the British summer, some years we have had a scorching day and other years’ torrential rain. One year we even had a spectacular thunderstorm.
Yet I always get a great turnout – it’s clear that people like to meet new people in a nice, relaxed setting where that can simply chill out in a park or play games as they wish.
Over the years, I have made some incredible connections and it is amazing what can come from meeting someone one briefly.
Bring your own friends together for a picnic.
It’s easy to bring people together – and people love to meet new like-minded people. Or even not so like-minded.
So if you are not able to attend the picnic this year, why not organise your own?
No matter where you are in the world, it will be a great way to bring together friends, old and new.
It doesn’t have to be this weekend – it can be anytime, and of course anywhere in the world.
The idea is simply to get a lot of friends and their friends together. And to have a really good time. Chances are that you will get together a multi-cultural group from all ages and social backgrounds.
So invite all your friends and ask them to invite all their friends and they invite their friends and so on……and before you know it, there will be 100?s of friends, new and old, having a lot of fun.
Here are my simple tips to hold your own “Friends and Friend’s Friends Picnic” (or party):-
1. Choose a date.
2. Choose a venue. Make sure it is large enough to hold the number of people you expect to come.
Tell people that the picnic will go ahead no matter what the weather. If it’s winter where you are, then hold an indoor picnic!
3. Create a theme for the picnic – such as “Friendship, Fun and Hope”,
4. Invite everyone to bring their own food and drinks plus some extra to share. Arrange some games and sports if the venue permits this.
5. Insist that people bring their children. If they don’t have any, ask them to borrow some for the day!
6. Choose an unusual theme or activity such as African drumming and singing. Invite people to bring along any musical instrument they would like to play.
7. Also invite people to come and share some of their unique skills such as dancing, juggling etc.
8. Be prepared to have a lot of fun!
Enjoy.
As I said, bringing people together is really a picnic!
Footnote for next year:-
The 10th Annual Friends and Friend’s Friends Picnic will be held on Sunday 7th August 2011, which is “International Friendship Day”.
Please put that in your dairy today:-)
Hi Arvind,
What a wonderful idea. Sadly, I live a little too far away to attend your picnic (although I would love to meet you in person!), but I’ve now got some great ideas for organising a similar picnic in my little part of the world. Wouldn’t it be amazing if this idea went viral…
Thanks Claire.
It would be great if you were to organise your own picnic locally.
Lets make this idea viral for next year – the 10th annual picnic will be on Sunday, 7th August 2011. I shall create website for it before then.
And I am sure we will meet one day:-)
Arvind,
Sounds like a fun idea! I will join you in spirit as I am too far away! I can not see your picnic pics as I do not have facebook acct, that is a bummer!
Preeti, good to know you will be in spirit with us:-)
Have your own picnic locally – and perhaps you can now join Facebook.
Hi Arvind,
What a wonderful idea! I am actually meeting some friends in another part of London for lunch tomorrow so I’m going to text them and see if we can come to the picnic instead!
Kate, you and your friends must come to our picnic!
It will be great to finally meet you:-)
This sounds wonderful!! I wish I could make it, but I’ll take your advice and put together something similar over here in my city cause I love bringing people together. I used to have these multi-cultural potlucks at my house when I was in college. I had friends from all over the world so I would bring them together and tell everyone to bring some kind of food or drink from their country and we would play games and music from around the world and sometimes even dress in our traditional clothes. It was so much fun! But since we graduated, life took us in different directions and we no longer have our international potlucks. But I would like to start doing that again because it was tons of fun and we learned so much about different cultures and made new friends. This time, when I do start, I think I’m gonna do it on a larger scale (picnic style) and have my friends bring their friends and families too! It would be fabulous! I can’t wait! 😀
Thanks for inspiring me, Arvind!
Thanks Nasim.
Great that you are now inspired to hold your own picnic in your own City!
Do let me know how you get on – and be sure to take lots of photos for Facebook:-)
Will do. Have a beautiful and blessed day!
What a great idea to see everyone at once. We entertain a lot! It’s usually a small group and good food. I like being able to talk with everyone. But a big picnic is a wonderful idea!! Thanks!
Thanks Betsy!
I hope you also get to have your own picnic soon:-)
This is an amazing and beautiful idea. I can see this turning into a movie someday.
Thanks Tess – movie to come in a couple of years time:-)
Aloha Arvind!
I adore this idea. Picnics are big here the most amazing is the first birthday Luau. Which is a huge celebration as custom in the Polynesian culture. I have no young ones at home but will come up with a theme for a picnic or luau now that I have a new blog theme 😉
Mahalo again for all your help!
Aloha~ Gina
Aloha and mahalo Gina!
Hope you had a great picnic – your new blog design is certainly worth celebrating:-)
Hey, Arvind!
Love the idea! I’m not sure I’ll be up to it this year, but will absolutely join you (in my own city) next year. I’ll be wIth you in spirit this year.
Annie
Thanks Annie – we had a ball yesterday!
I felt you and many others with us in spirit:-)
As for next year, remember the date – Sunday 7th August 2011 (which is also International FriendShip Day)
Hi Arvind,
Sounds like it was a great day! I know you believe in bringing people together. But this event shows that you don’t just talk the talk, you walk the walk. To me it’s a great example of Ghandi’s advice to “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.
I feel fortunate to know you through the A-List Blogger Club.
In peace and harmony,
Eileen
Thank you Eileen for your kind words of encouragement and for yuor friendship too.
Bringing people together is one of my gifts – and what better way to do so by having some fun at the same time:-)
Hi Arvind
I love your picnic event! That is such an awesome way to connect with others – and have others connect with others! It makes me realise I am on the right track with an idea that popped into my head a few weeks ago … even though our winter weather is not the least bit inspiring for outdoor events, I was inspired to have a ‘block barbecue’ and invite all of our neighbours. We live right on the edge of a beautiful park, we are surrounded by lots of families – and yet they hardly speak to one another! What better way to connect with our neighbours – and have them connect with each other than over some good food and fun play in the park.
Thanks for affirming that this wonderful notion works – as your many years of experience shows!
All the best and thanks for continuing to share your lovely ideas and joyful wisdom. 🙂
Lisa
Lisa, thank you for kind words and feedback.
What a great idea to have a “block barbecue”. Once you have established it, you could take it to the next stage by asking your neighbours to bring along a couple of friends. And then make it bigger every time.
To make it easier for you, if you don’t wish to bother with a barbecue then just have a picnic and ask everyone to bring some picnic food.
Do let us know how you get on!
Arvind, you are a positive picnicer! If its not your heart that’s warm its your welcomeness to put together a yearly picnic event. Whatever brings us together as a level playing field appreciating and enjoying each other for just who we are as people gets my vote every time. I hope you had a memorable day.
Thanks John!
We had a memorable day, as these Facebook images will testify:-
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=199628&id=534162521
John, I hope to see you at the picnic next year – Sunday 7th August 2011:-)
Its all about having fun. When you have fun, everything else doesn’t seems to hurt. Your tears turn into joy and you no longer feel pain. My advice to all people is too have fun everyday and meet new people. You never know where a conversation can lead to =)
Welcome again to my blog, Jonathan.
You have got it all in one word – fun! And I can tell so many stories about what just simple conversation have led to new opportunities and friendships.
Keep having fun, meeting new people and creating conversations.