1. Plan your food and drink menu around items you can buy in bulk! Sam’s Club, Costco, and Walmart are great places to look to first. Even if it’s too much food for one game, whatever remains unopened can be reused for the next tailgate. Don’t forget trash and recycling bags, too!

2. Start to prep your food the night before. Foods like dips, pasta salad, baked goods, and more can be made ahead of time to allow you to spend more time with your friends and family.

3. Besides grilling, stick to finger foods that are easy to eat and don’t require a lot of plastic ware. Meat, cheese, fruit trays, and chips are always a hit even if they’re simple.

4. For those of you who don’t like to cook, catering is a great option too. It removes a lot of stress, will give you a cohesive menu, and they setup and tear down when the party is over. Plus, by the time you buy all the groceries and prepare the food, it might cost you about the same amount as well.

5. Check the Dollar Store for paper items and party supplies like table cloths, plastic silverware, plates, napkins, and cups. They don’t need to be fancy, just functional…plus they may even have your team colors as well!

6. Music is a must! Bring a wireless speaker so you can play some pump-up jams to get your crew ready for the game. Apple Music and Spotify have a ton of pre-built tailgate playlists you can choose from.

7. For dessert, Jell-O cups in your team’s colors are a fun and cheap way please the party. Rice crispy treats, brownies, fruit kabobs, and cookies are all easy to make and easy to eat, too. And if you feel like showing off, here are 18 amazing football themed desserts!

8. Keep it simple and remember to have fun! Don’t stress yourself out trying to overdo it and please everybody. Your friends and family will be more excited to celebrate the game with you than anything else. I hope you have a fun and safe tailgate season cheering your favorite team on!

- Anna S., Marketing Intern