With Fall Football Upon Us, Here’s How to Make the Most of Tailgating

With September’s arrival comes the first indicators of fall – days growing shorter, kids back in school, leaves beginning to turn. Happy to say, the month also brings with it the return of football and the great American tradition of tailgating.

Whether your destination is a massive NFL parking lot or the comparatively subdued surroundings of college football, smart tailgating can substantially enhance the experience, no matter whether which team wins. Here are a few suggestions to make the most of your pre-game party this fall.

Do the Prep Work: Like any other party, lots of planning goes into a successful tailgate. The first step is to create a master checklist with all the items you think you will need – food, beverages, equipment, utensils, paper goods, clean-up materials, etc. Check them off as you gather them and include on the bottom of the list additional tasks you will need to perform, such as washing your vehicle or picking up team merchandise. The more you plan ahead, the easier things will go on game day.

Food and Drink: No matter what you plan to serve, there is still plenty of prep work to be done before you head out to the stadium, such as marinating meat, cutting vegetables, creating skewers or forming burger patties. Likewise, if you plan serving cocktails to your crowd, consider mixing up a sizable quantity beforehand so that all you have to do at the site is stir and pour.

Don’t Forget the Necessities: Avid tailgaters might forgive you given all the other hubbub for overlooking the essentials, but you don’t want to be that host. Make sure to bring enough comfortable chairs for everyone, plenty of water and soft drinks, and always take a long an extra cooler just for storing ice, particularly if you are headed to a game in the warmer, early part in the season.

Go Disposable: Tailgating is a lot more fun for the host when you make sure to bring plenty of plastic spoons, forks and knives, along with a large selection of paper products like napkins and paper towels. You should also pack a supply of aluminum foil bordering on the ridiculous. Simply put, foil is a tailgater’s secret weapon, one that can be sued to keep food warm, scrape a dirty grill and store leftovers for the ride home. Also do not forget the plastic tablecloths and cups.

Be a Good Neighbor: It’s a no-brainer, to be sure, but bears repeating nonetheless – watch your manners out there. For instance, if it is your first time at a particular venue, make sure you are not taking a regular tailgater’s spot by asking, “Is this taken?” Bring heavy-duty trash bags for your garbage and make sure you dispose of it properly. Grilling? Dispose of your charcoal safely and never leave hot coals on the asphalt.Head for the Exits: While the vast majority of your planning and prep goes into getting the party started, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the end of the game. Be sure to plan how most effectively to break down your tailgate, stash your items, clean up after yourself and proceed out of the parking area.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.