Five Must-Haves for a Terrific Tailgate!
Updated: 2 days ago
Football is in the air, and there's no denying it! Fans across the country are gearing up to cheer on their favorite teams. Tailgating is almost as popular as the game itself! Whether you're tailgating outside your team's stadium or 'tailgating' in your own backyard or neighborhood, here are the five must-haves to make it a hit!
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Create a High-Energy Atmosphere
Everyone's gathered to cheer on the hometown team, so the vibes need to be high-energy from the start! Use your space to make a statement. Team colors, mascots, and football decor create a fabulous environment and get your fans pumped! You can't go overboard when it comes to a great tailgate—just about anything goes.
Tablecloths, plates, napkins, cups, and other serveware in team colors and logos are an easy way to set the tone.
Flags and banners are perfect for claiming the space and supporting the team.
Consider fun accent decor around the space. Inflatable palm trees, big inflatable coolers, or garland in team colors all add visual interest. A large inflatable football decoration helps guests find your spot!
For evening games, use string lights in team colors or find logo'd lights to really make your tailgate pop!
Show up to represent! Wear your favorite jersey and team colors. Encourage guests to do the same. It goes a long way in getting everyone excited!
Pump Up the Party with Music and Games
Your guests are here to cheer on the team, so let’s create a high-energy environment to get them psyched for the game! It’s easy to get everyone pumped and ready to go.
Have your playlist ready with songs that get the heart pumping and the crowd excited. Add local and team favorites, and play it loud! Learn more about Sirius XM's Tailgating Anthem soundtrack and play it on the app. It makes it easy to play great pre-game tunes!
Include activities for guests to enjoy while waiting for the game to start. Cornhole, footballs, dart games, golf chipping games, and oversized games like Jenga and Connect Four make it a fun hang.
Give guests easy, fun team accessories to get them game-ready: bead necklaces, bracelets, bandanas, hats, scarves, etc. This way, everyone can get into the team spirit while feeling included in the party!
If you’re hosting a home tailgate, turn ALL TVs on to the game. If you have access to multiple games via streaming services, have different games going at the same time. Bonus points if you can bring the game outside and enjoy great fall weather while watching with friends!
Delicious Food and Snacks for Everyone
Admit it, when you hear the word 'tailgate', you think about all the delicious food and snacks! You're definitely not alone. Get ready to feed a crowd with favorites everyone looks forward to on game day.
Chili and soup in large crockpots are easy to make in advance, and everyone loves it! You’ll find my favorite white chicken chili recipe here! Don’t forget the fixings like cheese, sour cream, oyster crackers, and hot sauces.
If you’re grilling, think beyond burgers and hot dogs. German sausages, ribs, and chicken wings are always a hit!
Sliders are fabulous for a crowd and go quickly. Think mini-burger sliders, rotisserie chicken sliders, or simple turkey, ham, and roast beef sliders. Serve them warm, especially for cool or cold-weather games.
Dips are another easy make-ahead dish that keeps guests noshing throughout the tailgate. Buffalo Chicken Dip and Spinach Artichoke Dip are high on the favorites list, easy to make ahead of time, and absolutely delicious! This list of tailgate foods from Tired Mom Supermom is one of the best I’ve found for great food ideas.
Keep drinks and cocktails easy for a stadium tailgate. Prep a cooler with beer, soda, and water. For morning tailgating, a simple Bloody Mary bar with quality vodka and garnishes is always a hit. Pre-make Bloody Mary skewers with bacon, cheeses, olives, pickles, etc., for guests to easily add to their drinks.
Celebrate Local Flavors
This must-have gets its own section because including local favorites contributes to the team dynamic and hometown pride! Depending on where you live, you know what your friends and guests crave. And if you're hosting out-of-towners, it’s always fun to share the hometown faves!
Consider both recipes and brands. For instance, in the Greater Cincinnati area, we have goetta, Skyline Chili, and Graeter's ice cream (just to name a few). Serve the favorites on their own or include them in recipes to elevate the hometown flavor.
Get creative! Nachos with local ingredients, sandwiches with local flavors, etc., are all great ways to incorporate regional tastes.
Also, consider local breweries. Serving a variety of local beers, seltzers, and sodas is another fun way to immerse guests in local and team pride.
Quick Setup and Cleanup Tips
When tailgating outside of a stadium, quick setup and cleanup are critical to everyone's enjoyment of the day. Getting the space ready and then breaking it down should be quick and easy—you don’t want to be cleaning up the parking lot during the coin toss! Get ready with these tips.
Think about the space you have available. How many people are coming? What foods am I serving? Will I have or need electric? What about rain/weather? Planning these details in advance will help you make the best decisions about the tailgate.
Reach out to friends who have tailgated before to get the scoop on expectations at that specific venue. There may be rules or other regulations to consider. For instance, grills may or may not be allowed. Consult online resources for other requirements.
Think through all details. This includes:
- Know your start time and breakdown time—and communicate it. Have this defined in advance and share it with guests. Those who may show up late shouldn’t be surprised when the food is getting put away so you can all get to the game.
- Plan all tables needed for food, drinks, serving items, desserts, etc.
- Bring chairs. Space is at a premium, so people usually stand and mingle. However, you should have at least a couple of fold-out chairs—or at least have them readily available—if you find friends need to sit a spell.
- Plan all decor. Know where you’ll stage all items. Pre-open packages to make setup easier, and check for quality if needed. I also recommend a kit with tape, scissors, string, batteries, etc., to address windy days or unruly decorations.
- Be specific with guests about what to bring. Two or three extra dips or desserts mean you run out of space. It's okay to ask them to contribute, just be specific with the ask. It’s also fine to direct guests not to bring food or snacks due to space considerations.
- Consider leftovers. Be prepared to wrap food items in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, or place them in leftover dishes and store them in coolers for food safety. Items you don’t think will store well may need to be thrown away. For more on planning to reduce food waste, check out my blog post.
- Ask for setup and cleanup crew help in advance. Have people on point to help; it makes ALL the difference for quick setup and breakdown. Some guests may store the tables in their car, another the drink coolers, another the food coolers, etc. And do NOT turn down additional help when it comes to cleaning up!
- PLAN FOR GARBAGE, SPILLS, AND MESSES. This means having plenty of garbage bags, as well as paper towels and spray cleaner. Also, know the trash removal situation around the stadium. Some places may have bins where you can dispose of the trash; other places may require you to keep it in your car.
BONUS TIP FOR AT-HOME TAILGATING: Serve Up a Halftime Snack or Dessert Bar
If you weren't lucky enough to score tickets to the game, have fun tailgating in your backyard or neighborhood! Surprise and delight guests with a tasty halftime snack or dessert! Think soft pretzels with a variety of mustards and cheeses, a nacho bar, or a chili dog station. If you want to satisfy those sweet tooths, a brownie bar, cookie selection, or 'Super Sundae' bar are decadent ways to keep guests fed heading into the second half!
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