First Timer’s Guide to Tailgating

Hosting or attending a tailgate for the first time? Check out our guide to the three essentials of any tailgate: food, fun, and safety.

Tailgate Grub

Whether you pre-prep your game day snacks at home or grill them up right in the parking lot, these menu ideas will keep the crew’s spirits up (and appetites sated) throughout the day.

• The Best Rubs: The folks running the grill are as good as tailgate royalty. Let them eat meat, and let it be rubbed with the best spices in Texas.
• Ultimate Sauces: Is a tailgate complete without barbecue sauce on your face all day? We say no.
• Nacho Burgers: If jalapeño-stuffed patties oozing with cheese and topped with pico de gallo don’t meet your tailgate standards, we don’t know what to tell you.
• Street Corn: Grill up a corn on the cob, smother it in queso fresco and hot sauce, and chow down.
• Quick Guac: Mash up fresh avocados and mix in premade pico de gallo for a two- minute guac fix, or get fancier.
• Armadillo Eggs: Not actually eggs but cheese and sausage stuffed inside a jalapeño, wrapped in thick juicy bacon. Learn how to hatch these bite-size babies.
• Fresh Lemonade: For fall game days that still feel like summer, cool down with the freshest refreshment around.

Games on Games

Pregame, half-time, and when the home team is down 63-0 — these parking-lot games will keep the squad’s attention no matter how slow or rough things get.

Cornhole: Is there anything more quintessential to a Texas tailgate or cookout than a cornhole contest? Don’t forget to pack your boards and bean bags before heading out to the stadium parking lot. If your friends have another set, tell them to bring them along to play simultaneous games in a mega-tournament.

Can Jam: All you need is two trash cans, a frisbee, and two teams of two. Set up the trash cans about 50 feet apart and put one person from each team behind each can. Teams alternate throwing the frisbee at the opposite can. Your teammate on the opposite side then tries to “jam” the frisbee into the can (no grabbing or holding). First team to jam three wins.

Ladder Toss: This carnival classic is like cornhole but standing up. Set up a ladder at a distance and take turns tossing a beanbag between its steps. Landing between the lowest rungs is one point, second-lowest is two points, and so on. First team to 21 points wins.

Safety Playbook

Tailgate parties can be hectic, so things can get messy quickly. Have a safety plan in place to avoid calling unnecessary audibles if things go south.

• Hydrate: Pack plenty of water, especially on hot days. Know the signs of heatstroke (headache, nausea, profuse sweating, and vomiting) and make sure everyone is drinking enough water.
• Plan for rain: Bring ponchos, umbrellas, and plastic covers for food if rain is in the forecast. Be sure to keep electric items such as extension cords, speakers, radios, and TVs dry.
• Watch out for little fans: If your kids are tailing along, be sure to establish boundaries for them to run around without getting lost amidst the hubbub.
• Pack emergency supplies: Tailgaters often forget first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, and sunblock. Have these items on hand, or ask someone to bring them.

Wondering about tailgating etiquette? Read our tailgating do’s and don’ts here.