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How to Have the Perfect College Tailgate
A popular national pastime amongst sports fans is tailgating. In the college community, tailgating is a rite of passage; it’s a fun way for students to show their support on game day and have a good time with friends and family in the process. A college tailgate is a special occasion that every student should experience at least once.
Students at almost every college and university with prominent athletic programs will be tailgating around campus the day of a big game — or even as early as the day before. College football tailgates are usually the most common, but sports like basketball, soccer, and baseball can also draw in big crowds.
Another reason why college tailgates are so exciting is because of their epic traditions. At the University of Tennessee, fans can actually tailgate on their boats for every game.
The same goes for the University of Washington as students and fellow fans can party on Lake Washington right outside the stadium. At Ole Miss, tailgaters get to party at The Grove — a massive plot of land that has become synonymous for being one the best places in the country for tailgating.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a student, a longtime fan, or both, tailgating can be a very memorable time for just about everyone, especially if it’s done right. However, with a lack of preparation, tailgating can sometimes turn into a disaster. Check out the key essentials you’ll need, along with some important tailgating tips, to ensure your college tailgate is a total success.
What is a College Tailgate?
College tailgating is basically one massive social gathering where fans party, play games, and grub out on delicious food. Tailgating usually takes place in the parking lot outside the team’s stadium or arena, but tailgating can occur anywhere around colleges.
Students will have game day parties on campus, especially fraternities. The town your college is in might have tailgating events setup in the streets and at local establishments, like bars and restaurants.
Also, many big college football towns tend to have city-wide block parties on game day. Anyone who’s a fan and wants to support their team can participate in tailgating, and it doesn’t actually matter if your car has a tailgate or not.
Sometimes tailgates can seem overwhelming to new people, but as a student, it’s one of best ways you can show your school spirit and develop a true connection to your college, along with the values it stands for. The sense of school pride you get, combined with the electric atmosphere, is what makes college tailgates so special.
Related: 28 Fun Things to Do in College
Tailgating Essentials
If you don’t want your tailgate to be a complete fail, you need to make sure you’re bringing all the essentials. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure you have everything packed and ready to go before you leave the house. Between all the food, drinks, games, and other gear, it can be really easy to forget something.
Food/Drinks
From snacks and dips to burgers and hotdogs, there’s a variety of different foods you can bring for friends and family to grub out on. If you’re a student who’s new to tailgating and just got invited to your first one, you can expect the traditional game day foods, but the cuisine might be a little bit different from what you’re used to depending on the geographic location of your college.
For drinks, most tailgaters usually bring their fair share of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. If you’ll be tailgating on a hot day, remember to bring plenty of water so everyone stays hydrated.
Whether you’re hosting a tailgate party outside a frat house, in a parking lot, or somewhere else on campus, just remember to have plenty of food and drinks. For snacks and sides, consider items like chips, salsa, buffalo chicken dip, and baked beans. For the main course foods, you can’t go wrong with BBQ grilled chicken, burgers, pulled pork, sandwiches, and sausages.
Cooking Necessities
Bringing food to your tailgate is just half the battle. Once you’re all set up, you still have to start grilling your meats and preparing your snacks and side dishes. The list of supplies below will give you a good idea of what exactly you’ll need in order to have a stress-free cooking experience on game day:
- Grilling utensils
- Grilling mitts
- Disposable fork, spoon, and knife set
- Cups
- Plates/bowls
- Napkins
- Paper towels
- Trash bags
- Aluminum foil
Equipment
If you’ve ever been to a tailgate, then you’ve probably seen plenty of grills, canopies, and folding chairs. These are the key pieces of equipment every seasoned sports fan uses when hosting a successful college tailgate.
By utilizing these items, you’ll make your life a whole lot easier and have a more enjoyable time. Here’s a list of the essential equipment you’ll need to ensure your tailgate goes off without a hitch:
- Portable charcoal or propane grill
- Folding table
- Coolers
- Bluetooth speaker
- Chairs
- Outdoor canopy
Games
From beer pong and Cornhole to Spikeball and Washer Toss, there’s an abundance of fun games to play while tailgating. Along with grubbing out on food and chitchatting with fellow fans, playing games is one of the main components of game day celebrations.
Having games and activities at your tailgate is a good way to keep everyone entertained and spirits high. Participating in friendly competitions with your friends and family is also pretty enjoyable.
School Colors
You can’t show up to a college game, let alone host a tailgate party, without repping your school colors — that would be like showing up to a wedding in a tank top and flip flops.
One of the best ways to get in the school spirit and support your team is by stocking up on school apparel to wear on game day. You can wear something comfy and weather-appropriate or dress up in your own unique costume, the possibilities are endless.
Miscellaneous Items
Besides just the essentials, there’s a variety of miscellaneous items you can bring along that might be considered optional depending on the weather and how much effort you want to put into your tailgating endeavors. All that really matters is what you deem necessary in order to have a good time and make things a little more convenient.
When you have the chance, ask other tailgaters what they prefer to bring with them on game day that they find to be particularly useful. This will give you some helpful ideas if you’re new to the whole experience. Here are a few extras you might want to add to your other tailgating gear:
First aid
Blankets
Hand warmers
Poncho
Umbrella
Sunscreen
Bottle opener
- Portable trashcan
Tailgating Quick Tips
Having all your essential gear and supplies is one thing, it’s another to actually host a college tailgate. Your first tailgate might not be 100% perfect, but with the right preparation and execution, you’ll certainly be on your way to hosting game day parties like a seasoned pro.
1. Check Tailgating Policies
One of the first things you should do when planning your own tailgate is to read up on college policies. The rules and regulations regarding tailgates will differ slightly from each college, but they’ll all cover the same basic information — policies for parking, consumption of alcohol, recreational vehicles, trash disposal, and public safety.
Along with some other helpful guidelines, most colleges will include a section that asks all tailgate attendees to conduct themselves in a respectful manner during the festivities.
2. Make a Checklist
I mentioned earlier how easy is can be to forget or misplace a certain item when you’re in a rush to your tailgating location. That’s why it’s important to create a checklist of all the gear you plan on bringing with you.
Before you leave, check your list to make sure you have everything packed and ready to go. The last thing you want to do is forget charcoal for your grill or ice to keep your drinks cold.
3. Arrive Early
Arrival time can be a big factor in determining the type of experience you have on game day. Most seasoned tailgaters will arrive four hours before the game starts so they have plenty of time to setup, cook, and actually enjoy themselves.
Arriving early also increases your chances of finding a quality tailgating area. Setting up beside a large grassy area is ideal if you’d like more room to spread out and toss a football around without getting in the way of other tailgaters. Or you can look for a shaded area if it’s going to be a hot day.
4. Socialize
The whole point of a college tailgate is to support your team and make some fun memories with the people around you. Don’t isolate yourself from other tailgaters. Instead, ask them if you and your friends can hop in on a round of Cornhole or if they need any help setting up. Mingling and sharing the game day experience with others is what makes tailgating so much fun.
5. Clean up
Once the tailgating is over, it’s usually policy to clean up and dispose of all your trash, so make sure your area looks respectable before you leave. Give yourself about an hour before the game kicks off to complete the cleanup process and get all your belongings secured.
