Planning a Tailgating Party

How to plan a tailgate party

 

If you are ready for some football, chances are you are also ready for a great tailgating party. If are you thinking about hosting a tailgate party, don’t settle for just another ordinary party.  Have the best tailgate party every.  Don’t know how? Then read on.

*Choose location

When hosting a tailgate party, location is everything. Choose a location that is close enough to the game, but far enough away that you and your buddies can truly enjoy yourself.  A lot of college campuses are banning tailgating in their parking lots, so have a different location in mind just in case. If you do have your tailgate party on the campus parking lot, learn their rules for tailgating. Parks, picnic areas, and beaches are great places to host a tailgate party. You will also need to decide if you will have tables at your party or use the tailgate of your vehicle.

*Decide on the size of the party and menu

Figure out how large your tailgate party will be.  If you are inviting a large number of people, then be sure to you pick a place that is large enough to accommodate your crowd and not interfere with other tailgaters.

*Potluck or Organized Meal

This also a good time to decide if you will prepare all of the food or if you will do potluck. Once you have made this decision, you can decide what type of food you will have at your party. Whether you are doing potluck or doing all the cooking, you will want to carefully plan your menu.

*Prepare some dishes ahead of time

To save time and energy, it is best to prepare some food ahead of time. Marinate your meat and make simple dishes like chili, taco filling, sloppy joes and potato or pasta salads before heading out. Consider how you will keep your food safe from contamination.  Have a specified place to keep your meats and one to keep the rest of your food. Good hand washing is also a must.

*Drinks

You should plan to bring enough soft drinks and water to last football fans throughout the party.  When trying to figure out how many drinks you will need, a good way to estimate is to assume each guest will drink one to two cans per hour of the party. If the weather is cool, you can also prepare hot cocoa or hot coffee.

*Eating utensils

Eat is so easy to forget the plates, cups, paper towels, and other eating utensils.  So, put them at the top of your shopping list. 

*Pack the car

Last, you will need to pack the car or truck.  Put your heavy equipment in first like your smoker, grill, cooler, and deep fryer.  Keep your food dishes away from these items to prevent containers from getting broken.

Football and tailgating go hand in hand. Even though tailgating is an informal party, don’t just throw things together.  Follow the suggestions above and have one of the greatest tailgating parties ever.