Every good Southerner should know how to throw a mean tailgate party! Still working on perfecting your skills in this department? Don’t worry—I’ll teach you some of my top tricks from decades of hosting. You’ll be all set by the time college football season is in full swing just a few weeks from now. 

Invite Your Tailgate Crew

When it comes to a good tailgate party, the phrase “the more, the merrier” definitely applies! Send out a football-themed save the date so that your friends and family members will be sure to free up their schedules well in advance of your gathering. Make the occasion feel extra special by going the printed invite route. Work the team colors or even an image of the game ticket into your design and your guests will be extra pleased—simply receiving any kind of snail mail is a treat these days. 

Master Your Tailgate Menu

Certainly don’t wait until the last minute to plan out your tailgate party menu; you don’t want to be scrambling at the grocery store the evening before the big game trying to figure out what you can whip up quickly before driving to the stadium. I’ve come to rely on a few old faithfuls in particular when it comes to tailgate eats. One of these items is chili. Of course, this is best served as we move into the cooler weather months (September game days can still be quite hot in the South!). My favorite chili recipe to whip up is this chicken chili (you’ll also find a picture of me serving it mid-tailgate!). And don’t skimp when it comes to toppings. Some essentials to add to your cart include sour cream, onions, shredded cheese, and more. Another soup I love to serve is crab chowder with corn. It’s rich, creamy, and reminds me of one of my favorite dishes we’d stop to eat in Asheville when I was growing up. 

If it’s still too hot in the season for soup, you can never go wrong with some sandwiches. I like to offer a few varieties and serve them wrapped up in parchment paper. My go-tos include a roast beef and havarti and a ham and brie. Simple yet ultra-satisfying! 

Pimento cheese and beer cheese are Southern staples any time of the year and are easy crowd-pleasers that can be enjoyed alongside crackers, pretzels, cut up veggies, or whatever else your group desires. You can even weave it into a charcuterie display. Not much of a cook? Place a few orders of my premade batches, no shopping or chopping necessary! My canned pepper jelly is also an excellent game day choice and can be used as a simple topping for cream cheese or as a dipping sauce. Whether or not your roots are in Kentucky, don’t forget the bourbon honey mustard, either. I like placing some on top of a hot dog or hamburger for an extra kick! 

Whip Up Tailgate Cocktails

What’s game day without delicious cocktails? Great beverages are a key part of your menu and I recommend prepping some batched cocktails in advance so that guests can easily serve themselves in a mess-free manner. My tried and true offerings include a bourbon sangria as well as old fashioneds with my homemade boozy cherries (yum!). Other drinks to purchase include water, wine, sodas, and beer—this way, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. 

Curate Your Tailgate Decor 

Yes, tailgate parties are primarily about the food, but we all know that Southerners don’t do anything halfway—we love to go all out and embrace festivity as much as we possibly can. Of course, you probably already have tons of school-themed gameday gear like pennants, blankets, folding chairs, and the like that you can display, but you don’t have to stop there. Think of ways that you can make other functional items a bit more fun. For example, I always try to tie in the team’s colors into the napkins, tablecloths, and paper plates that I bring. More creative pieces of decor to consider include vintage footballs (as well as trophies, school pennants, and the like), picnic baskets and galvanized buckets (great for housing packaged snacks and canned drinks), and of course some flowers (zinnias and dahlias are ideal for the fall). Your guests will forget they’re hanging out beside a football field and feel like they’ve set foot into someone’s beautiful home!