How to Throw a Great Tailgate

Party This Season

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With the arrival of fall, (and the lack of sports,) a lot of people are itching for the beginning of tailgating season. The excellent thing about tailgating is, it can be totally compatible with the social distancing guidelines in your area! Eating and drinking outdoors with people you love could be exactly what you need to cope with all of the craziness that is coming this fall. Fill up your cooler, whip up some delicious eats, and pull up a chair to see how you can throw an amazing tailgate party this season!

What about the sports?

While tailgate culture is synonymous with sports, namely football, it is totally unnecessary to wait for a sporting event to host your tailgate party. With people turning more and more towards outdoor events and parties due to social distancing, you can have a tailgate anywhere and at any time. Here are some tailgating themes and occasions for you to consider.

  • Throw a tailgate for your loved one’s birthday party. For anyone who’s celebrating a milestone birthday in 2020, it can be a real bummer to cancel your big blow-out plans. Rather than canceling, consider relocating it to the great outdoors! After all, Uncle Joe’s 60th birthday is just as big a deal as the big game.

  • Wedding showers, baby showers, and even gender reveals all could easily pivot into a tailgate party. These are the kind of events that are the most heartbreaking to miss or cancel because they aren’t going to come around again next year. You’ll find that almost anything you can do inside, you can also do outside with some distance between you. Designate a truck bed or trunk for gift drop-offs. Wrap up party favors so that you aren’t worried about the spread of germs and enjoy an outdoor gathering with your favorite friends and family!

  • BYOT: Bring Your Own Tailgate. If your group of friends is itching to see each other after months of isolation, it’s a great idea to throw a group tailgate party. Find a large field or parking lot where you can plan to meet up. Think of it as a group picnic. Pack your own cooler with booze and snacks, back your truck up to the group, set out your chairs, and enjoy a good time.

  • Is your pup missing his friends too? Social distancing may be keeping your home from the dog park and your pooch away from his pals. Throw a puppy-themed tailgate party with all of your fellow dog-owners. Bring a basket of tennis balls and make your own dog treats to make sure your furry friend has a great time while you do too.

  • Truly anything worth celebrating is worth celebrating with a tailgate. Whether you’ve just finished grad school, gotten a promotion at work, or found out you're going to be grandparents, call up the gang and arrange a tailgate!



    • What will we do?

    Your tailgate doesn't have to be lackluster just because there is no football. Here are some things you can plan and have ready so that your guests don't find themselves daydreaming of touchdowns.


  • Buy or DIY a cornhole set. Cornhole may be the best possible tailgating game for social distancing. If you don’t already have a cornhole set, you can very easily make your own. You could even paint it in your team colors to pay homage to the season.

  • Lawn dominos and giant Jenga are also excellent outdoor game ideas that you could easily buy or DIY.

  • Don’t forget about the music. If you are tailgating on your own accord rather than in a stadium parking lot, it could get awkwardly quiet. Bring out your Bluetooth speakers and make sure to have your coolest friend play the DJ. These speakers can sync up so that everyone can hear the same music at once, like outdoor surround sound.

    • Is it safe?

    While you should always follow the guidelines in your area for social distancing, being outside in the open air is always a safer alternative than gathering indoors. If you bring extra lawn chairs or ask everyone to bring their own, you can space out seating so that everyone can feel like part of the group without having to be on top of each other. Here are some tips to ensure your tailgate party is super safe.

  • Ditch your giant cooler and opt for several small ones. If you’re expecting everyone to set up their seats in a way to keep their distance, it seems foolish to have them all digging in the same cooler every few minutes. Buy a few small styrofoam coolers and set them around in a circle. Fill each cooler with water and a few beers so that everyone has what they want within reach. This can also guide your guests on where to set up their chairs. Invite your guests to BYOB and they’ll have plenty of space to cool down their beverages!

  • Go for individual servings. Rather than setting out a party size bag of Ruffles for everyone to stick their hands in, grab a bag of individual-sized chips. Not only are you preventing the spread of germs, but you’re also providing way more variety for your guests. When it comes to your main dishes and sides that you make, you could easily pre-portion your food into reusable bento boxes like these. That way everyone can be sure to get a taste of everything without worrying about germs. The best part is you can actually enjoy your leftovers when you inevitably make too much because it won't have been sitting out in the heat for several hours!

  • Create a few hand-sanitizing stations to place around your tailgating area so that people can be sure to stay clean before and after they eat.

    • What will we eat?

    Anything that can be cooked, baked, or packaged into individual serving sizes is going to be the easiest when it comes to both hygiene and clean up. Go for cupcakes or cookies over a full-sized cake. Slice watermelon into slices rather than bringing it whole. Here are some excellent ideas for recipes that are easy to separate into servings.


    Jalapeño Poppers

    Slice jalapeños in half lengthwise. Fill each half with a mixture of cream cheese and shredded sharp cheddar. Wrap the stuffed half with one slice of bacon and bake in a 415-degree oven until the bacon is fully cooked. 

    Stuffed Mushrooms

    Remove the stems from 2 dozen mushrooms. Brown ½ lb of breakfast sausage and throw in the chopped mushroom stems and minced garlic. Season with salt, pepper, and dried Italian seasoning. Add ½ block of cream cheese and ½ cup of shredded parmesan cheese and stir until combined. Fill the mushroom caps with the filling and back in a 385-degree oven for 20-30 minutes.

    BBQ Chicken Bites

    Bake a bag of frozen bbq chicken bites like these according to the package directions. Once they are finished, place a jalapeño bread-n-butter pickle on top and secure with a toothpick.

    Don’t forget the necessities.

    There are a few items you will be kicking yourself if you forget. Use this checklist to make sure you have and pack everything you need.


  • Make sure you bring trash bags. While stadiums surely have staff that walks the grounds after a big game to pick up the trash left behind by fans, that is definitely not the case in the Hobby Lobby parking lot. Bring enough trash bags so that you are not leaving any trash behind. Not only is littering a fineable offense in all fifty states but leaving a mess behind in public places Is just trashy.  

  • Sunscreen and bug spray could save you a lot of headaches. There is nothing worse than creating some of the best memories outdoors only to wake up the next day with a painful burn or itchy welts. Go ahead and apply your sunscreen and insect repellent before you get to your tailgate so that you don’t forget and so that you don’t have to spray yourself right next to someone else’s food. These bug bracelets are perfect for putting around your ankles and wrists to ward off those dreaded mosquitos.  

  • Sunscreen and bug spray could save you a lot of headaches. There is nothing worse than creating some of the best memories outdoors only to wake up the next day with a painful burn or itchy welts. Go ahead and apply your sunscreen and insect repellent before you get to your tailgate so that you don’t forget and so that you don’t have to spray yourself right next to someone else’s food. These bug bracelets are perfect for putting around your ankles and wrists to ward off those dreaded mosquitos.  

  • What is the bathroom situation? This problem isn’t so different from a traditional tailgate. Make sure you know what the bathroom situation is in advance so you can prepare. More importantly, if you’re hosting, don’t forget to warn you, guests, if the bathroom availability is less than ideal.

  • Don’t let yourself get dehydrated. Hangovers are already bad enough, don’t make it worse by forgetting to pack enough water. Make sure that you stay safe and hydrated by bringing plenty of water and reminding your guests to do so too.

    • One thing that we’ve learned this year is that the time shared in fellowship with loved ones is dependent upon so many things that we have no control of. This season, choose to take back what is important to you. Don’t wait around for the world to return to normal, because that’s a risky bet to make. Do the things you love with the people you love (in a safe way, of course) and always find a reason to celebrate.


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