Leave your cheesy checkered tablecloth at home. And while you're at it, forget the soggy sandwiches, plastic plates and boring beverages, too.
CURRENT Winnipeg brings luxury picnics to the city and they're as delicious as they are decorative. Local caterers, master mixologists and a handful of different design options mean these elevated events will bring some much-needed magic to your summer.
"It's a really easy experience," explained Monica Derksen, owner and creative director of CURRENT Winnipeg, the event company behind CURRENT Picnic. "You show up, you drink, you eat, you celebrate and then you walk away. You don't even have to do dishes."
How does a CURRENT Picnic work?
You choose a location anywhere in the city (it can even be in your own backyard!) and Derksen and her team will show up in their van to set the whole thing up for you. Afterwards, they'll return to clean it up.
For anyone who can't decide on a spot, Derksen has a few suggestions.
"We've done a few picnics in the field across from Shaw Park. You can see the Canadian Museum for Human Rights perfectly in the background. It's nice because it's a little bit sunk in and the vehicle traffic isn't annoying," she said.
"We also did a picnic in Stephen Juba Park. It's such a beautiful spot—lovely flowers, very green. The two couples lived in the Exchange District so they just wandered over for their picnic. They don't have a yard, so this was the next best thing.”
Derksen also suggests Bruce Park ("quite private, very well-maintained") and the Trappist Monastery Provincial Heritage Park ("incredible history, quiet spot”).
You'll also get your choice of picnic design. 'Bright & Bold' brings pops of colour and bright patterns to the table, 'Urban Boho' offers warmth in textures and colours and "Black Tie Casual" looks like the chic head table at a wedding we all want to be invited to.
Add on s'mores ingredients from Melt Chocolate Co. with roasting sticks and a tabletop bonfire, or photographers, candy, desserts, balloon garlands, a BlueTooth speaker with a playlist, or live music—pretty much anything else you might need to make your picnic unique and extra special.
What's included in a CURRENT Picnic?
Picnic packages include one and a half hours of picnic time, rugs, blankets and pillow seating, a low table, greenery, flowers, lanterns and other decor, plates, utensils, napkins, craft cocktails and charcuterie.
For food and drinks, Derksen works one-on-one with local biz owners—which she says is her favourite part of the job. "DeLuca's does a classic, high-quality charcuterie so we often pick up food from there. We also work with Sharecuterie, a new woman-owned business in the city. She's very creative and great at working around dietary restrictions and other custom orders," said Derksen.
Nomad Box Bar supplies non-alcoholic craft cocktails, which rotate each week and have so far included delightful watermelon mint mojitos and rose lemonade.
Who should book a CURRENT picnic?
From date nights to baby showers and ‘just because’, Derksen and her team have hosted it. Most recently, a 79th birthday party was a smashing success. Up next is a wedding anniversary, multiple bachelorette parties and many more birthdays on the horizon. Groups from two to eight are the norm, but Derksen accommodates larger groups whenever she can (just send her a message through the CURRENT site).
She's also hoping to host one event they’ve yet to be a part of.
"The one thing we haven't had yet is a proposal. My whole passion in life is creating beautiful experiences for people, and I really think our picnics would be the perfect backdrop for a proposal. Elevated atmosphere, high-quality food and beverages and a beautiful aesthetic. Plus, none of the stress of planning!”
You can learn more about CURRENT Picnic and book your own on the website or Instagram.
