Saturdays in the Fall are fabulous for a long list of reasons… cooler weather, the coziest of flannel shirts, time to actually get that pumpkin spice latte… but the biggest one in many football fans’ books remains the return of tailgating season and a chance to cheer for their favorite team back on the field. As you gear up for game day this Saturday, consider recruiting these tailgate tips and tricks for a win of your own!
- Forget the table and create a tailgate-on-the-go by draping a tablecloth or blanket on the back of your SUV. Bonus points for using team colors.
- If you’re not using disposable items, do yourself a favor and pick up a plastic tote to stow dirty dishes or serving platters. It contains the mess and makes for a single trip inside at the end of the night. Simply wipe out the tote or rinse with water from the hose when you’re done. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself!
- Entertain your guests and add some swag to your tailgate with a customized cornhole board. Etsy has so many options and styles. While a bit of a tailgate investment at around $200 per set, you can expect a priceless return and many game day memories ahead with this duo!
- Leave the fancy silver at home and embrace fall’s festivity to the fullest with this adorable hollowed pumpkin, a la ice bucket! While it might take some leg work the night before to clean the pumpkin out, you can treat yourself to some tasty seeds for all your hard work and rest assure that your tailgate scene will be as cute as they come!
- While we all pine for Fall’s finest crop of crisp and comfortable weather, experience has taught us that a sweltering sauna or shivering rain shower isn’t exactly out of the realm of possibilities. Avoid a miserable day after a misread weather report by preparing for the elements and storing the necessary gear nearby! Keep a hooded rain jacket or umbrella in the car and while you’re at it, a pop up canopy might not be a bad idea (doubly smart for shade, too, if the sun gets a blazin’). Plaid blankets or a couple in your team’s colors make great décor pieces to drape over camping chairs and also cozy up with if things turn chilly!
- If you’re pressed for time, save some of your energy (and sanity) for Saturday and call up a local bakery for your tailgate treats. While we’d all love to replicate every recipe on our Pinterest page to perfection, sometimes life has other plans. It’s not cheating, it’s smart.
- Four words: sangria in a jar. Subtract the work, add the flavor and fun! Grab the mason jars and premix the fruit and wine medley the night before in each jar. Don’t forget to pack straws (of course, team colors are preferred!) alongside your sangria; and simply add ice and your carbonated beverage at the tailgate!
- Channel your inner crafter and add some stylish spirit to your tailgate with a DIY pennant banner. While a great option to (naturally) don in your team’s colors, black looks chic and will lend itself to other purposes too. Check out the full tutorial from the Celebrations at Home Blog!
- Noon games can call for dedicated fans to be up and at ‘em early! Keep your tailgate crew charged with a breakfast to go, like these genius sausage-filled pancake muffins. With only three ingredients, these are as quick to make as they are to disappear!
- For a surefire tailgate touchdown, we recommend creating a checklist of the essentials to keep with your game day gear. While this list isn’t a one size fits all, it’s not a bad place to start and may jog your memory of a few necessities you might have not thought about!
How are you prepping for Saturday’s tailgate?
