This content originally appeared in the 2025 spring issue of Spooky Little Halloween—The Magazine. The post contains affiliate links. See more here.
Dreaming of spring picnics? Then you're going to need a few essentials to make it spooky!
A great springoween picnic isn't just about the food — it's about the whole experience. The right basket, the right blanket, the right soundtrack playing softly in the background.
These are the details that take your picnic from "nice afternoon outside" to "my friends are still talking about this."
Here is a quick list of five items from small businesses I love that will get you there.
Springoween Picnic Must-Haves
1. Haunted Hallows Picnic Basket — Lively Ghosts
Every spooky picnic needs a solid picnic basket, and you can't ask for a better option than this large wicker jack-o-lantern basket from Lively Ghosts.
First, let's talk function: it's a genuinely good size for packing a full meal, the carrying strap is heavy-duty enough that you won't be white-knuckling it on the walk to your haunt, and the fabric lining keeps everything tidy inside. But the look of this thing is what sets it apart.
A wicker jack-o-lantern face is exactly the kind of statement piece that makes the whole aesthetic click. It's the first thing people will see when you arrive, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. GET IT HERE
2. Witchy Magic Woven Blanket — Em & Sprout
The picnic blanket is your stage, and this one is gorgeous. This style of woven blanket is my absolute favorite — the texture, the weight, the way it photographs.
My top tip for keeping yours in great shape: lay down a small tarp or waterproof blanket underneath it first to protect it from damp ground, then put the decorative blanket on top. You get all the aesthetic without any of the soggy consequences. GET IT HERE
3. Dead Men Drink No Ales Glass — Small Batch Glassware
Okay, hear me out: I know "bring good glassware to a picnic" sounds a little extra. But I am a firm believer that mixing one or two beautiful, high-quality pieces into a casual outdoor spread instantly elevates everything around them.
These glasses, designed by our own @hallowwoods, are a personal favorite — especially for bright, jewel-toned drinks like the Cranberry Coven Cooler. There's something about pouring a gorgeous ruby-red lemonade into a piece of glassware that was made with real intention that just hits differently.
This design is sold out, but the spirit (pun intended) is the thing: bring one beautiful piece you love, and let it do the work.
4. Custom Sirens of Song Tarot Tray — Lady Moon Co.
A tray is one of those picnic essentials that sounds small until you don't have one. I need a solid, stable surface to rest things on — a drink, a candle, a tarot spread — and a beautiful tray does all of that while also looking incredible on the blanket.
This one-of-a-kind piece made by Lauretta at Lady Moon Co. is a personal favorite. The fact that it's custom and handmade makes it feel like a real artifact, which is very much the energy we're going for. If you're into tarot (post four makes the case for bringing a deck), a dedicated tray elevates the whole ritual of it. And if you're not into tarot, it's still just a stunning, practical object that earns its place in the basket.
5. LED Pumpkin Bluetooth Speaker — LFS Marine & Outdoor
No springoween picnic is complete without a soundtrack, and this little LED pumpkin speaker has been a part of my picnic arsenal for a while now — purely because it makes me happy every time I pull it out.
It's an Amazon find from LFS Marine & Outdoor, and it's the kind of fun, low-stakes accessory that makes people smile when they see it. If Amazon isn't your shopping preference these days, any Bluetooth speaker — spooky or otherwise — will absolutely do the job.
The goal is ambient atmosphere: a playlist of gothic folk, classic horror scores, or darkwave playing softly in the background while everyone eats and the afternoon stretches out. The speaker is just the vessel. The vibe is the thing. GET IT HERE
Springoween Picnic Series
That's a wrap on our five-part Springoween Picnic series — and what a spread it's been. We started with the Witch's Garden Chicken Salad, mixed up the Cranberry Coven Cooler, baked the Wicked Cranberry Lemon Bars, mapped out every detail of the perfect haunted afternoon in my tips guide, and now we've got the gear to pull it all together.
The whole point of Springoween is simple: you don't have to wait for October to embrace the things you love. Dark florals bloom in spring. Wicker baskets travel just as well in April as they do in autumn. A good playlist, a beautiful blanket, and food made with intention are always in season.
So pack your basket, gather your coven, and go find a mossy corner of the world to haunt for an afternoon. You've got everything you need!
