10 Tips for Hosting a Winning Tailgate Party

Clever seating solutions and portable snacks and drinks will help you bring the creature comforts of home to the stadium, ballpark or field.

Most guests will stand at a tailgate but after hours of food prep, you'll appreciate having a few spots to sit down and relax. Collapsible leather stools are not only comfortable, they're also easy on the eyes. Pick up a few and keep them safely stowed in your trunk. Since they take up very little room when collapsed, you won't have to sacrifice much of your vehicle's storage space.

As the sun goes down, temps can drop drastically. Keep your guests warm with a basket filled with woven throws. In addition to offering cold-weather comfort, blankets are another opportunity to work your team colors into the party.

Instead of a standard plastic cooler, chill drinks in a wheelbarrow a few feet away from your vehicle's tailgate to free up valuable space in the back for serving food or offering guests more spots to sit and relax.

Save yourself precious party time explaining what each platter is by marking your culinary creations with moss, toothpicks and tiny paper flags. This way, guests can easily find the foods they like, freeing you up to mingle and get your pre-game party on.  

Just before heading out, pack your favorite chili recipe into lidded mason jars, use twine to tie a disposible spoon onto each, then pack the jars inside a thermal tote to keep them warm. When you arrive at the stadium, serve the chili to your guests on a tiered tray.

Pre-make s'mores by placing marshmallows on wooden skewers, dip each in melted chocolate then roll in graham cracker crumbs. The bite-size snacks will offer guests the taste of the campfire classic without the need to prepare them fireside.  

As the party comes to a close and everyone prepares to go root on the home team, give your guests a tailgate survival kit packed with cold soda, sunscreen, trail mix, napkins and moist towelettes. The kit will also come in handy when the game is over and your squad heads back to the truck for a post-game celebration.

Instead of serving guests from fragile glass containers, opt for sturdy serveware like woven baskets and unbreakable melamine bowls.