When Ipsos iSay members and visitors were asked to imagine their ideal picnic, nearly 4 in 10 (39.3%) chose a beach or lakeside setting, making it the clear favourite. Meanwhile, fewer than 12% selected a city park.
So what makes the perfect picnic? And what motivates people to join outdoor gatherings in the first place?
To celebrate International Picnic Day on June 18, we turned to our Question of the Day polls to find out what motivates Ipsos iSay members and visitors to join outdoor gatherings and what their perfect picnic experience looks like. The results reveal a mix of social connection, scenic escapes, and a surprising diversity of preferences.
In short, Ipsos iSay members and visitors associate the perfect picnic with social connection, outdoor experiences, and scenic natural settings.
Why Do Ipsos iSay Members and Visitors Join Outdoor Gatherings?
While picnics are often associated with food, our Question of the Day results suggest there's something more important on the menu.
The most common motivation for joining outdoor gatherings was the chance to socialize and reconnect with people (31%).
Other popular reasons included:
- Enjoying events, music, or entertainment outdoors (17.7%)
- Taking a break from indoor routines (16.4%)
- Enjoying seasonal food and drinks outdoors (15.3%)
What's particularly interesting is how closely these responses are grouped. While social connections came out on top, Ipsos iSay members and visitors clearly value outdoor gatherings for a variety of reasons, from relaxation and entertainment to simply enjoying the season.
What Does the Perfect Picnic Look Like?
When it comes to choosing the ideal picnic setting, nature wins.
A beach or lakeside picnic (39.3%) was the clear favorite among Ipsos iSay members and visitors, followed by a countryside or nature escape (34.2%).
Together, these two options attracted nearly three-quarters of responses, suggesting that when participants picture the perfect picnic, they're imagining open spaces, fresh air, and beautiful scenery rather than busy urban environments.
By comparison:
- 11.6% preferred a city park with friends or family
- 5.6% chose a music festival or public outdoor event
- 9.3% said they aren't really interested in picnic culture
What Our Question of the Day Reveals About Picnics
Like many Ipsos iSay Question of the Day polls exploring leisure habits, seasonal traditions, and lifestyle preferences, these results highlight how small everyday experiences can reveal larger trends in how we spend our free time.
For some Ipsos iSay members and visitors, picnics are about catching up with friends and family. For others, they're an opportunity to get outdoors, enjoy entertainment, or simply take a break from everyday routines.
One thing is clear: when Ipsos iSay members and visitors imagine the perfect picnic, they're looking for more than a meal outdoors. They're looking for an experience, whether that's reconnecting with others, escaping into nature, or simply taking a break from everyday routines.
And if those experiences happen to include a lakeside view or a countryside escape, even better.
Join the Conversation
Every day, Ipsos iSay members and visitors share their opinions through our Question of the Day polls, helping uncover the habits, preferences, and trends shaping everyday life.
Want to see how your views compare? Join Ipsos iSay today, take part in future polls and surveys, and earn rewards for sharing your opinion.
*These results represent Ipsos iSay web visitors across North America and Europe, conducted June 6 - 15 2026, and may not reflect the views of the general population.
