Siblings offer luxe picnics as a way to socialize, bolster relationships and mental health during the pandemic

The Sanni siblings have always known how to throw a good party. Growing up in a tightknit Nigerian household and community, the celebrations of their culture, whether a significant birthday or a wedding, were and are known to be elaborate and extravagant -- from the colors to the decor.

The four siblings -- Bolaji Idakoji, Tunji Sanni, Olayinka Sanni and Supo Sanni, originally from the south suburbs -- used that creativity to start Picnics in the Chi, a picnic service that caters to clients who want to connect with loved ones in a luxe, outdoor setting.

Before the pandemic, the three siblings who still live in Chicago (all but Idakoji) had regular picnics with their parents as a way to come together. But when the pandemic hit, that ritual stopped, and the separation of these close family members started to have a negative impact on their mental health.

As Illinois entered into new phases of the shutdown where small gatherings were permitted, the family started having socially distanced picnics.

“Growing up in a Nigerian household, we all connect with each other, we talk with each other every day,” said Olayinka, 34. “We thought if (having picnics) helps us with our anxiety and some of the issues we were having mentally, maybe this will help other families and other people in the community to come together. They can see their families and not think about ... the stress that’s going on in the world regarding COVID.”

The concept is fairly simple: Go to the website, pick a picnic package, add on customizations if you’d like, book, then show up. For customers, there is no work to be done -- unless, of course, you want to get cute for all the Instagram photos you’ll be taking.

“We figured, let’s take it up a notch and bring back the simple things, which were picnics, and have a luxury touch to it,” Olayinka said.

Various picnic packages are available, ranging from an intimate setting for two, to a large party for up to 10. Custom add-ons are also available, like personalized sugar cookies, photo backdrop elements and an assortment of foods. Prices start at $199.

The business, which officially launched in Chicago at the end of May, also expanded west in mid-August, with Idakoji, 37, the oldest Sanni sibling, heading up Picnics in the Bay alongside her husband in the San Francisco area.

The response from Chicagoans has been overwhelming in the best way, Olayinka said. Every weekend has been booked to capacity since the launch of Picnics in the Chi, she said.

For the most part, the siblings cater to the client’s desires and will even set up picnics in a client’s yard. They’ve orchestrated the backdrops for birthdays, proposals, anniversary celebrations, baby showers and gender reveals.

“I think that’s one of the biggest things for me and my other siblings: We really are changing lives, whether it’s an engagement, post-engagement, an anniversary, that smile and the feedback from those clients and really being a part of changing their lives ... is definitely something that we hang our hats on,” said Supo, 31.

Parents needing an activity for their young children have also been frequent customers.

“A lot of parents are bringing out their kids to these picnics,” said Idakoji, who is a mom. “It’s just an amazing feeling, especially the fact that most of these kids can’t go back to school and it’s been draining on the parents in regards to teaching them at home.”

Knowing that Chicago winters can be brutal, and potentially even worse during a pandemic, the Sanni siblings are working to expand their picnic experience into the fall and winter.

“There’s still a lot of opportunity for us ... to keep our clients enclosed to do things that are still around our mission, and even if that means to be out and outside of their homes and in an indoor facility,” said Tunji, 35. “There are just some really exciting things coming up.”

The Sanni siblings cherish being a part of people’s stories in meaningful ways. While part of their mission is to release stress, another purpose of the picnics is creating connection and intimacy in a time of significant loss.

“We want to bring people together, and we want them to experience these moments with their family, their friends in a way that COVID-19 has sort of stopped us,” Tunji said. “Being outside in nature and enjoying that experience outside around food, around conversations, around the sun, that’s ultimately what we’re trying to do: provide this luxury experience to our guests when they’re around each other and to take that mental escape from the pandemic we’re currently in and to enjoy that in a space around the picnic.”

chrjohnson@chicagotribune.com

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