Perfect day for a picnic, captured in Vernon history

Published 1:00 pm Thursday, April 23, 2026

The weather forecast today, April 23, and tomorrow is calling for sunny skies with some cloudy periods, and daytime highs of around 13 to 15 degrees Celsius.

Perfect for a picnic.

National Picnic Day – held annually on April 23 – encourages people to take their bag lunches outdoors.

“Picnics are a terrific way to enjoy a meal outdoors in the company of friends and family,” said nationaldaycalendar.com.

The picnic meal goes back to mid-18th century al fresco French dining, when all you needed was a loaf of bread, some cheese, some fruit, and some wine, and you could have a nice meal under the sky.

The word picnic comes from the French for piquenique, a meal eaten outdoors.

You can have barbecued food, charcuteries, sandwiches, potato chips, fresh fruits and veggies, salads, and homemade pastries, find a bench at a park or beach, or be traditional and set out a blanket on some green space to enjoy a picnic.

This week’s photo from the Museum and Archives of Vernon shows a group enjoying a picnic at Whiteman’s Creek near Vernon (there is no date for the picture).

And the one below is also undated, and the location unknown, from the Vernon museum. It’s titled Picnic Scene in the Woods.