Grinnell College Summer Picnics
The weather is warm, and school is out for the summer — it’s time for Grinnell College summer picnics! Last year over 1,450 Grinnell alumni, students, parents, and friends attended at least one summer picnic held across the country.
Summer picnics are fun, casual celebrations of all things Grinnell. Each picnic is hosted by dedicated alumni and members of the Grinnell community, in partnership with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
In typical Grinnell fashion, each area’s picnic is slightly different. Some picnics are held in a local park while others are in a backyard or restaurant! Whether you’re enjoying Indian food in Jefferson Park or are grilling along Lake Michigan, summer picnics are a great opportunity to connect with your Grinnell community.
We invite all alumni, current students, parents, and friends to find the perfect picnic date and location from the list below and reconnect with old friends and make new ones at a Grinnell College summer picnic. We will also give a special welcome to the just-graduated class of 2024 and the entering class of 2028 at each picnic.
2024 Summer Picnics
Registration pages for each picnic will get added as they are created. Times listed below are local to the host location.
Albuquerque/Santa Fe, NM
July 14 at 4 p.m.
Elena Gallegos Picnic Space
Asheville, NC
July 28 at noon
Carrier Park
Atlanta, GA
July 21 at 6 p.m.
Manuel's Tavern
Austin, TX
July 14
TBD
Boston, MA
June 22 at 4 p.m.
Ethan Drutchas ’12 Residence
Boulder, CO
July 28 at 4 p.m.
Foothills Community Park
Chicago, IL
June 9 at 11 a.m.
Build Coffee Shop
Cleveland, OH
July 28 at 4 p.m.
Euclid Beach Park Shelter
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
June 23 at 1 p.m.
Tinker Goggans ’75 & Russ Sikes Residence
Des Moines, IA
June 22 at 5 p.m.
Urbandale – Lions Park
Durham, NC
June 29 at 4 p.m.
Forest Hills Park
Easthampton, MA
July 20 at noon
Nonotuck Park
Evanston, IL
July 21 at 4 p.m.
Light House Landing Park
Grinnell, IA
July 20 at 11 a.m.
HSSC Atrium
Honolulu, HI
August 4 at 11 a.m.
Makiki District Park
Houston, TX
August 11 at 4 p.m.
Unitarian Fellowship of Houston
Iowa City, IA
July 20 at 4 p.m.
City Park
Kansas City, MO
August 4 at 5 p.m.
Chris Anderson '72 Residence
Los Angeles, CA
July 14 at noon
Griffith Park
Madison, WI
July 6 at 5 p.m.
Vilas Henry Park
Mountain View, CA
August 4 at 1 p.m.
Cuesta Park
Naperville, IL
August 4 at 11 a.m.
DuPage River Park
Nashville, TN
July 20 at noon
Cameo Carlson ’93 Office
New York City, NY
July 27 at 3 p.m.
Ellington-in-the-Park
Omaha, NE
July 14 at 5 p.m.
Benson Park Pavilion
Philadelphia, PA
Date TBD
Philadelphia Canoe Club
Portland, OR
June 9 at 11 a.m.
Hoyt Arboretum
San Diego, CA
July 20 at 4 p.m.
San Dieguito County Park
Seattle, WA
July 28 at 11 a.m.
Marymoor Park
St. Louis, MO
June 15 at 5 p.m.
Villa Park
St. Paul, MN
August 11 at 4 p.m.
Hidden Falls Picnic Shelter
Tulsa, OK
July 14 at noon
ONEOK Field
Washington, D.C.
June 29 at 11 a.m.
Arlington, Virginia Highlands Park
Summer Picnics FAQ
Who can attend a summer picnic?
Summer picnics are open to any Grinnell College alum, current student, incoming student, parent, or friend of the College along with their families or guests.
What do I need to bring?
Yourself! Some summer picnics are potlucks, some have a catered menu provided, some are a blend of the two. The registration page for each city will provide more information. Even if you can’t bring anything, you are always welcome!
What does the event cost?
All summer picnics are free to all attendees.