Tailgating is serious business. And, with football season quickly approaching, it’s time to start making plans and organizing for tailgating season.
A tailgate is what you make of it, and there are some ways you can take it from a nice tailgate to an epic tailgate. Here are some ideas for how to host the best football tailgate possible.
Serve Top-Notch Food and Drinks
No tailgate is complete without an endless supply of delicious food and refreshing drinks. Finger foods make the best game-day grubs, so consider preparing items like chicken wings, nachos, tacos, hot dogs and hamburgers. These are all quick meals to prep and cook so you don’t have to spend your whole tailgate party cooking for guests.
When it comes to beverages, staying hydrated is important. While most tailgates tend to focus on adult drinks, be the wise host and also have options available, such as water and sports drinks, to keep your guests hydrated. To take your tailgate up a notch, create a themed beverage for each game. This will excite your guests and earn you major points as a tailgate host.
Just remember, the worst thing that could happen is running out of food and drinks. Make sure you plan accordingly to ensure adequate refreshments for the tailgate.
Create a TV Viewing Area
Whether for pre-game, post-game or game time, tailgate guests expect to see the game on television. Some fans can’t miss the pre-game, which tends to start a few hours before game time. Other guests may be planning to watch the game from the party, while some may want to linger for the post-game show. A great tailgate host is prepared for everyone.
This means you also need to have seating area available for your guests. Whether that be space for chairs or blankets on the ground, your guests will appreciate the opportunity to take a load off during the day.
Just a side note: the bigger the TV, the cooler you will be.
Focus on Presentation and Decorations
Fans “bleed” the color of the team they are supporting, so be sure to display those colors loud and proud at your tailgate. And, don’t hold back on the decorations. Themed plates, napkins, cups, balloons, table cloths or any other team-focused decorations that can be used, should be used. There is no such thing as going overboard on tailgate decor, so have fun. Make sure your tailgate party stands out from the crowd.
Provide Activities for Entertainment
Football days can be very long days, especially when tailgating. So, be prepared to entertain guests for the day to keep the fun going. An obvious choice would be to have footballs on hand to throw around, but other activities, such as horseshoes, frisbee, ring toss and bean bag toss, can be fun and entertaining activities to keep your guests active and enthusiastic throughout the day.
For football fans, game day is sacred, and so is the tailgate. Respect the tradition of the tailgate and endeavor to provide your guests with a tailgate experience they won’t forget. These simple ideas will get you moving in the right direction toward being the best tailgate host ever.
