*These great ideas were taken from BuzzFeed.
Visit them for more.
BuzzFeed.com
Plan to arrive four
hours before the game starts. Then eat two hours before the game so you have
plenty of time to set up and clean up.
BHQ.com
PREP AND PACKING
1. Always keep a toolbox
packed with tailgate essentials in the trunk of your car or truck.
Main
Compartment
Middle Compartment Bottom Drawer
spatulas trash bags your favorite condiments,
bottle openers paper towels spices and seasonings.
tongs wet wipes
can opener hand sanitizer
toothpicks sunscreen
wooden skewers
poncho
basting brush plastic zip bages
mini flashlight Sharpie
Masking tape
2. Learn the rules of
packing a cooler.
3. Skewer and marinate
kebabs the night before.
4. Shape and pack up
burger patties between sheets of wax paper the night before, too.
5. Slice and pack up
burger toppings in advance like this.
6. Label your coolers so guests can find drinks
easily.
*You do not want them
constantly opening your meat cooler looking for their drinks.
7. Freeze water bottles
to use in place of ice in coolers so you have cold water to drink after they
melt.
8. Fill a six pack holder
with your favorite hot sauces and other condiments.
9. Pack a mini first-aid
kit into an old prescription bottle or Altoids tin.
10. Pack extra set of the
essentials.
*Bring extra charcoal
or an extra 1-lb tank of LP gas. You need two tongs (one for raw meat, one for
everything else). Be sure one entire cooler is full of ice for drinks.
11. Bring a large plastic
tub to haul back dirty dishes.
*Bring items in a large
plastic tub. When you are ready to pack up, line the tub with a garbage bag and
then put your dirty dishes inside.
12. Pack jumper cables.
13. Bring a metal bucket
for still-glowing coals and make sure your grill is extinguished properly.
*It should be cool to
the touch. Store your LP tank in the car in a secure and upright position.
14. Turn a cooler into a
warming oven using foil and hot bricks.
SETTING UP CAMP
15. Float a big helium
balloon on a long string from your car, so friends can find you.
16. Consider wind
direction when you position your grill.
*If it’s a very windy
day and you have a charcoal grill, be sure you bring a little extra charcoal
because the wind can make it burn faster. Point the front leg of the kettle
grill into the wind to minimize wind coming into the bottom vents. If you have
a gas grill, turn the grill perpendicular to where the wind is coming from to
minimize its effect on your food. Get more great windy-day grilling tips here.
17. Use an empty laundry
detergent dispenser as a hand-washing station.
18. Hang a paper towel
roll using a bungee cord from the tent struts.
19. Bring a pre-packed set
of drawers so everything is handy and organized while you’re cooking.
*Designate and label
drawers: One for napkins, plates and utensils; one for koozies and bottle
openers and cups; one for SPF and insect repellant, etc.
20. Turn a case of drinks into a toss-away drink cooler.
*In lieu of a cooler,
get a case of your favorite drinks, empty it and line it with two garbage bags
(so it doesn’t leak), then put the drinks back in and add ice. Afterwards, put
the whole thing in the trash. I always double the bag so I don’t have any
leaks.”
21. Convert the back of
your car into a fully-stocked bar with a set of shelves.
FOOD AND DRINK
22. Set up a condiment and drink bar.
23. Cook breakfast
burritos on your grill using a skillet.
*Your setup would look
like this.
24. Serve breakfast you
can eat with your hands, like sausage and bacon wrapped in pancakes.
25. Set up a frito pie station. Use the chip bags for bowls.
*Plug it in before you
go to bed the night before.
26. Repurpose a drink
holder as a crudite plate.
27. Set up a DIY toppings
bar so people can customize their hot dogs.
28. Serve chili in bread bowls
instead of using paper plates.
29. For colder months,
bring a variety of soups in thermoses and tin mugs.
30. Pack portable jello in your team colors.
31. Serve a specialty
drink in your school’s color with a matching “anti-insect” cupcake liner lid.
32. Ice a cake in your
team’s color with this guide to
team color icing formulas.
FINISHING TOUCHES
33. DIY a football field
tablecloth.
*This blogger turned a $4 green chenille kitchen rug from Target into a
“field” by lining it with plastic electricians tape and numbers from the
mailbox section of Walmart.
34. "CUTIFY" (MAKE CUTE) ADD YOUR OWN TOUCHES.
35. Bring extra fun
accessories for friends.
*Temporary tattoos,
beaded necklaces, bandanas, etc.
36. Class it up with a few
special touches:
*The cupcake stand,
paper towel holder, and chalkboard make this look especially nice.
37. Build a tailgate pong table.
Directions here.
38. Decorate the cooler!
39. And take it on the
road.
*Scooter coolers exist. Call us for the team logo you want. They run from $200 to $600.
40. Take every opportunity
to remind guests and neighbors that your team is going to win.
41. In a case of emergency,
learn to open a bottle with your car door.
42. Most importantly: Make
nice, introduce yourself to your neighbors.
Good form.
ALSO - Most Importantly -
RELAX and have fun!
*Serve up burgers or
another fun meal AFTER the game to help keep the party going and avoid sitting
in traffic.