Ideas for Birthday Picnic - No Cooking Though

Why don't you provide the plates, cups, utensils, and the basic traditional picnic food: fried chicken, watermelon, soda, birthday cake. Bring several coolers with ice, and serving utensils. Then tell your guests that you are bringing the basics, and ask each of them to bring a complementary dish, such as salads and side dishes, chips and dip, crudites, beer, and ice cream. That way you have the basics covered, but you don't have to spend too much money, and no one has to do too much.

I would do sandwich fixings, chips, crudites and a fruit salad (and birthday cake, of course). Good luck!

off the top of my head, some things I can think of:

roll-up sandwiches (I think they sell these as party trays at Costco)
veggies and dips (salad dresssing, hummus)
edamame
cut fruit - melons, grapes, etc.
regular sandwiches - jelly, cheese, etc. for the kids you can cut shapes with cookie cutters.
salads - green salad, pasta salads, etc.
french bread with spinach dip

browse your local Costco or Trader Joe's and you'll probably find some other ideas too. Good luck!

Do a "Make your own sandwich" selection. Go to Costco or Smart & Final and get rolls, deli meats, cheese, mustard, packets of mayo (bc they don't require refridgeration) and serve them buffet style. Prepare slices of tomato, washed lettuce, etc. Serve with a simple salad, assortment of washed/cut fruit, baked cookies, bags of chips and don't forget the Birthday Cake! Also, have plenty of water and kid drinks.

Have a wonderful party!