The best company picnic ideas are activities anyone can join without preparation or a marathon runner’s fitness: short team competitions, a sports zone with rotating groups, games for children of different ages and a comfortable spot for those who’d rather cheer. Success depends not on the number of attractions but on whether everyone finds something they enjoy and nobody queues half the day. The same recipe works for a company sports day – there, competition simply takes centre stage.
We’ve been running bumper ball matches in Krakow for years, and we also bring the balls to company picnics: to your company grounds, a park or an ordinary lawn. Below we explain how to set up the zones, how many people can play at once and what to remember outdoors.
Which company picnic ideas get everyone involved?
A picnic brings together half-marathon runners and people who’d rather not leave their deckchair, plus employees’ children of all ages. So instead of one programme for everyone, plan several zones people move between at their own pace:
- sports zone – team competition, a tournament, timed challenges;
- family zone – games for younger children and separate bubble football rounds for kids aged 10+;
- chill-out zone – lawn games, a quiz, deckchairs in the shade;
- food zone – a barbecue, catering or a food truck, always with water to hand.
One highlight that everyone comes to ties the zones together: the tournament final, the prize-giving or a group photo. That’s when separate activities become one event.
Sports zone: competition with no fitness requirements
Bumper ball – a match in inflatable bubbles
We bring 10–12 balls to the place you choose: grass, an Orlik (one of Poland’s free public all-weather pitches) or a sports hall. Each player wears the ball like a rucksack; it covers them from head to knees. 10–12 people play at once, so with a bigger turnout we rotate teams and play a mini tournament. The referee mixes the matches with games such as Bubble Sumo, Bubble Bowling and Last Man Standing.
Adults up to 100 kg and children from age 10 who are about 150 cm tall can play. A standard ball rental lasts an hour (about 45 minutes of actual play) and can be extended by 30 minutes. For a longer bubble zone, we’ll prepare an individual quote.
Team competitions on the grass
Alongside the bubbles, classics that need no expensive equipment work well:
- tug of war – in teams or department against department;
- obstacle relays and sack races;
- throwing at targets with beanbags, frisbees or balls;
- volleyball or badminton over a portable net;
- lawn games like kubb or cornhole, which you can play coffee in hand.
If your picnic is really a company sports day, keep all the results in one table and hand out medals at the end. For a ready-made format with team splits and playing times, see our article on the bubble football tournament for companies of 20–40 people.
Family zone: kids aged 10+ and younger
Children aged 10 and over can play in the bubbles, as long as they’re about 150 cm tall. We recommend separate rounds just for kids – they compete with their peers while parents cheer from behind the line. School pitches work the same way – see our article on Children’s Day at school with an activity for pupils aged 10+ (in Poland, Children’s Day falls on 1 June).
Bubble football isn’t for younger children, and there’s no point persuading them. For them, plan a children’s entertainer with active games, face painting, soap bubbles, a bouncy castle or a simple obstacle course. Set up the family zone near the pitch, but not right next to the line – a player in a bubble at full speed doesn’t always stop where they meant to.
A zone for supporters and those who’d rather relax
Not everyone wants to crash into people, and that’s fine. Involve the non-players in other ways:
- supporters with chants and banners – the best cheering deserves a prize too;
- a commentator covering every tumble from the sidelines;
- someone to keep the scoreboard and the time;
- a company quiz, giant board games, a photo wall.
Water, shade and time of day
Picnics usually happen in the warm months, which means sun and heat. On hot days, Poland’s Ministry of the Interior and Administration advises avoiding strenuous exercise at the hottest time of day and drinking plenty of water (advice on gov.pl, in Polish). So we advise against bubble football in full sun at midday: plan the bumper ball zone for late afternoon and, if a heatwave is forecast, consider moving the sports part indoors.
Build these rules into the plan from the start:
- water right by the pitch, not just at the bar;
- a gazebo or parasols by the playing area, so those waiting can stand in the shade;
- short rounds and frequent changes instead of one long match;
- sport first, alcohol later – only sober players go in the bubbles.
We’ll bring the bubbles to your picnic
Point us to a lawn, an Orlik pitch or a hall, and we’ll take care of the balls, the briefing and running the game. In Krakow, delivery within 15 km of the centre is free.
Ask about a datePrefer to call? +48 509 196 229 – Sylwester. We reply within 24 hours.
Sample company picnic plan
| Time | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| 15:00 | Arrival, welcome, snacks and water; the family zone and lawn games open |
| 16:00 | Team sign-up for the tournament, group warm-up |
| 16:30–18:00 | Bumper ball: briefing, rounds for teams of 10–12, a separate round for kids aged 10+, games and the final |
| 18:00 | Prize-giving and group photo |
| 18:30 | Barbecue, music, chill-out zone |
| 21:00 | End of the picnic or an evening after-party |
An hour and a half of play is the standard hour plus a 30-minute extension. With a bigger turnout, use sign-ups for specific rounds; we’ll tailor the bubble zone’s time in an individual quote.
Where to hold a company picnic
Each location has its advantages:
- your company grounds – the simplest logistics; a patch of level lawn is enough;
- a meadow or an out-of-town venue – more space, but factor in travel (beyond 15 km from Krakow city centre, ball delivery costs €0.23/km);
- an Orlik or other sports pitch – a level surface and marked lines, ideal for a tournament;
- a city park – close by and green, but the park’s manager sets the rules. In Krakow, driving onto green spaces managed by the city’s greenery authority (Zarząd Zieleni Miejskiej) requires a permit, which can take up to 14 days to be issued. That matters if you’re planning a barbecue, delivered catering or a sound system.
Have an indoor plan B in case of heat or a downpour. We play at the Com Com Zone hall (ul. Ptaszyckiego 6) and at al. Jana Pawła II 37, and as we work with venues all over Krakow, we can help you find and book a hall elsewhere in the city too.
How do you get “non-sporty” people to join in?
- Mix the teams. Instead of department against department, draw teams from across the company – the quickest way for people to get to know each other.
- Go for short formats. Matches and games lasting a few minutes mean nobody gets tired or bored.
- Reward more than the winners. A medal for fair play, the best cheering or the most spectacular tumble goes down just as well.
- Start with the bosses. When the management board plays the first round and the CEO lands on the grass, everyone else is keener to put on the bubbles.
- No pressure. Volunteers play, and the rest join in once they see bubble football is more about laughter than sport.
Company sports day – how is it different from a picnic?
A company sports day is the sportier version of a picnic: a few hours of competition between departments, even during working hours, without families or a big food zone. A league format works best: each team collects points for bubble football matches, tug of war or the relay, and at the end the winners lift the cup. A day like this doesn’t have to wait for summer. In a sports hall you can hold it any time of year – even in winter, when nobody thinks about picnics.
What happens after the picnic?
To carry on into the evening, we’ll help with the rest: a restaurant table, a VIP booth at a club or transport. In summer, a party cruise on the Vistula with Boat Party also rounds the day off nicely. Packages and add-ons are described on our page about bumper ball for company events and team building in Krakow, and we issue VAT invoices for our services.
Picnic organiser’s checklist
- the number of guests, split into adults, children aged 10+ and younger children;
- the venue and an indoor plan B;
- water, shade, a first-aid kit;
- the schedule of rounds and tournament sign-ups;
- clothing info for guests: PE kit – shorts or a tracksuit, a T-shirt, trainers;
- your details for the VAT invoice.
Let’s plan a sports zone for your picnic
Tell us how many guests you expect and where you’d like to play, and we’ll prepare a rotation plan and a quote. We reply within 24 hours.
Check availabilityPrefer to call? +48 509 196 229 – Sylwester. We reply within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bring the bubbles to a picnic outside Krakow?
Yes, we travel all over Poland. Delivery is free within 15 km of Krakow city centre; beyond that we add €0.23/km.
How many people can play bubble football at a picnic?
10–12 players fit on the pitch at once, but with rotations and a mini tournament everyone who wants to can play. With a big turnout, sign-ups for specific time slots work best.
Can employees’ children play bubble football?
Yes, if they’re at least 10 years old and about 150 cm tall. For the youngest, offer entertainment and games suited to their age.
What if there’s a heatwave on the day of the picnic?
Move the bumper ball zone to a cooler time of day or take the game indoors. If you don’t have your own hall, we’ll book a sports venue in Krakow for you.
