A first-of-its-kind picnic experience is taking flight in Raleigh.
Photos by Michael A. Anderson Photography
“Let’s take this luxury picnic experience to new heights—literally—and what better place than the birthplace of aviation itself?!” So says Sweet T Picnics owner and designer Marcie Walsh of her first-in-the-world picnic concept taking flight next week (!).
Enter destination picnics—a husband-and-wife collab between she and spouse Matt. Their businesses—Elite Aircraft Services and Sweet T Picnics, respectively—partnered together to launch the Wright Way to Picnic, which takes guests on a private flight from Raleigh Executive Jetport to Kill Devil Hills (the birthplace of aviation) for an intimate picnic experience.
The idea initially started as Plane ol’ Picnic, in which guests can picnic beside an active runway while watching planes take off and land. Then the couple thought, “Let’s take this luxury picnic experience to new heights—literally—and what better place than the birthplace of aviation itself?!” says Sweet T Picnics owner and designer Marcie.
The elevated experience was actually influenced by The Bachelor, says Marcie. “I remember watching and seeing the couple be whisked away to a private location for a fancy date,” she recalls. “Who’s to say us non-TV stars can’t enjoy the same sweet luxury as what we see on the screen?”
As part of the excursion, attendees will be taken on a private flight in a Cirrus aircraft to First Flight Airport, where they’ll be able to stroll the U.S. National Park and enjoy a luxury picnic with food, beverages and decor all included.
“We’re really excited about this partnership and believe it will open people up to the world of aviation who may have never experienced it before,” says Matt, founder and president of Elite Aircraft Services. “We’re fortunate to have such a historic landmark here in our own state, and we want to not only provide a top-of-the-line experience for our guests, but introduce them to the freedom of flight.”
Adds Marcie: “The Wright Way to Picnic is going to be an incredibly memorable moment for all of its guests. We only want to provide the most elite experiences to our guests, and I know this new picnic package will be just that.” Take flight starting April 23, [email protected]
A tisket, a tasket—you’re gonna want Southern Picnics to pack your picnic basket this summer.
Picture this. A blanket on the banks of the Vltava river in Prague. A romantic rendezvous over a prepackaged picnic basket of charcuterie and Champagne curated by a small local resto. So goes the origin story of local Southern Picnics, whose owner, Angela Byrnes, sprawled along those river banks in 2018, whiling away the hours with her boyfriend over fab fare and bubbles—and an idea bubbled up. “We spent the whole afternoon talking and laughing until it turned dark,” says Byrnes. “It’s one of my favorite memories together.”
Now that fond memory serves as the foundation for Raleigh’s premiere “flower-filled vintage picnics with classic Americana charm.” Upon realizing that picnic-spotting in Raleigh was, at that time, random at best, Byrnes decided to spread the love of a, well, sweet spread. “I wanted to share this almost-forgotten way of spending time together,” she says.
So, shortly after her return from the Golden City, she bought her first picnic basket and filled her weekends with park-picnic-hopping at Dix Park, the art museum, small neighborhood parks and the like. Alas, Southern Picnics was born. Unfurled in fall 2020, this taste of Europe in the South (fun fact: picnics are so Euro) has been making life an (upgraded!) picnic ever since.
When most of us think of picnics, we picture scratchy grass and granny’s PB&J on the playground. This isn’t that. This is curated charm. Nostalgia. Retro. A transporting experience. This is a step back in time with seasonal floral arrangements sprinkled among decor a la ’50s & ‘60s with reminiscent metal coolers, vintage tennis racquets, Thermoses, glass soda bottles and lanterns, to name a few. “We have spent years curating our collection of antique and vintage decor so our picnics can recreate a classic Americana-style picnic,” says Byrnes. Modern more your style? No sweat. Mod up your picnic with primo selects from the likes of One Kings Lane, Spode, Juliska, and Scully & Scully.
Either way—add to that curated classic experience all the fuzzy feels, as each luxe experience is dedicated to a dose of communal love to boot via Southern Picnics’ exclusive partnerships with local women- and minority-owned businesses. “As much as I love creating special picnics for others, it’s equally as important to me to enrich and support the Raleigh community,” says Byrnes. “It’s truly my pleasure to work with these incredible businesses in our community to create an incredible picnic experience for our clients.” Picnic paradise found. 2–6 people, $200-$390 for two hours, larger/longer parties can be accommodated, southernpicnics.com
The Spread
•Picnic baskets, blanket, pillows, sparkling mineral water chilled in a Champagne bucket
•Seasonal and/or vintage decor. Plus fresh flowers bouquets (for keeps!)
Bug Off
Mosquito spray options are included in your basket.
Rain Check
Rain is no picnic—so if the three-day forecast calls for rain, a staff member will reach out to either reschedule at no charge or move your picnic indoors/under cover.
