Tailgating Tips: 10 Steps To A Better Party

It’s gametime! Are you ready? Our tailgating tips make sure of it.

You got your team jersey. But what about a camp chair? Check out our handy tailgate checklist that covers all the essentials. And remember The Six P’s: Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Here are our top tailgating tips for avoiding a fumble on game day. 

1. Pack a survival kit. Before the first game of the season, fill a plastic bin with your basic gear: paper towels, plates, utensils, tin foil, trash bags, ponchos, extra batteries, maybe even a small fire extinguisher (better safe than sorry). Keep it stocked, and you’ll be ready to rumble at a moment’s notice.
2. KISS your menu. Our of all our tailgating tips, this is the most important: Keep your menu stupid simple. Prep, cut, and make as much as you can at home, especially cold sandwiches, pasta salads, dips, or slaws for the cooler. Put some cookies, brownies, chips, or other snacks in a bag. Leave only a couple-three things for the grill, especially simple stuff like sausage and peppers or steaks. That way you’re grilling at the tailgate, but not spending all day doing it. If you’re a grill master, of course, step it up as much as you like. Either way, make a menu and equipment list so you don’t forget anything.
3. Food safety first. Keep raw meat in its own cooler away from veggies and beverages. And use a separate cutting board for raw meat. Disposable food safe gloves make it easy to avoid cross contamination (most big box stores carry them including these Oklahoma Joe’s one size fits all gloves). A pocket thermometer also makes sure your meats are properly cooked. And bleach wipes make sanitizing and cleanup a breeze.
4. Use a chimney. If you’re a charcoal griller, skip the lighter fluid: it makes your food taste like gasoline. Pack an inexpensive chimney instead like the Weber charcoal chimney. All you need is some crumpled paper and a lighter and you’ll have hot coals in 15 minutes.
5. Table it. Bring a portable table. A simple roll-top table takes up no more room than a camp chair. Or, if you have room, a 6-foot folding table is ideal. You might even need more than one if you’re prepping and serving food. For tall grill masters, save your back by raising the table up: cut 2” round PVC pipe into four 18” sections, and place a table leg into each one.
6. Lock it down. A sudden gust of wind can quickly turn your team-themed popup canopy into a dangerous projectile that crashes your neighbor’s party. To avoid a buzzkill, strap your canopy legs to heavy coolers or water jugs. Or buy a canopy with built-in weights. 
7. Power up. If you’re going all out, you might want a small generator (available for under $200). A little electricity can brighten the party with themed lights, a blender, sound system, or even just a crock pot for your famous chili.
8. Hit the outdoor store. Camping supply stores stock just about everything you need for a rockin’ tailgate: games, coolers, portable speakers, camp chairs, popup tents, collapsible water jugs—even portable heaters and grills. Check out some other cool stuff in our lineup of fun tailgating gear. Cigars could be just the thing you need for hanging out at the grill.
9. Don’t get burned. When you’re grilling, make sure everyone has a good time. Keep friends and family (especially young kids) a safe distance from hot grills. And never leave a hot grill unattended, especially if you want to find your car intact after the fourth quarter. If your stadium doesn’t have coal dumpsters, a cheap steel ash pail is a smart buy.
10. Think disposable. Paper or plastic plates, cups, and utensils are the easiest and lightest way to go. When they’re dirty, toss them in the trash. It’s no fun trying to wash dishes with only minutes to go before kickoff.

Many of these tips were adapted from The Tailgater’s Cookbook by David Joachim.