Labor Day weekend is upon us, the unofficial end of summer and the “Don’t Wear White After Monday” holiday (although we’ve heard that’s no longer a rule). But Labor Day also means it’s the start of the football season. It’s time to break out the jerseys and your favorite tailgating recipes, and begin to cheer on your favorite team!
Indiana University and Purdue University fans will still have a great time, win or lose, but preseason polls have the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in the #5 spot as of this writing. For fans of the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, click on each school’s name for their football schedule.
Best of luck to all the teams! In the meantime, let’s huddle up and start tailgating!
Any good tailgate party starts with a master checklist and a plan and we’ve got you covered here, thanks to tailgatemaster.com:
Arrange Your Formation (Make Your Plan)!
Check your venue’s website for their policies on alcohol, glass containers, types of food carriers, etc. Plastic cups and drink pitchers are usually a safe bet. Plan out your entire menu—then divide and conquer. Ask your friends to join the tailgate team and bring a dish or two to share. Don’t forget plates, napkins, utensils, ice, water, sunscreen, and trash bags for cleanup.
Pack Your Gear!
If you’ll be grilling, have all your grill tools ready. Bring a small fire extinguisher and metal bucket with a lid to put out and store used coals safely.
Get Your Head In the Game And Prepare Some Food Ahead Of Time!
Prepare as much food ahead of time as possible. Marinate meats the night before. Press burgers and stack them between sheets of wax paper. Many foods like corn or baked potatoes can be cooked in advance and then heated up on a portable grill. Bring a big bag of homemade kettle corn to snack on all day long.
Suit Up According To the Weather!
Since the football season spans a couple different seasons, you’ll definitely want to check the weather forecast and have appropriate attire available. Multiple layers are usually a good idea when the weather starts to turn chilly.
Claim Your Line Of Scrimmage (Choose Your Tailgating Spot)!
If able, set up your gear the night before. Then plan to arrive at the tailgate area at least 4 hours before kickoff. Bring a flag to fly at your site to make it easily identifiable, so your friends can locate you.
Keep Hot Foods In the Red Zone and Cold Foods In the Cooling Zone!
It’s important to keep food at the right temperature. Insulated coolers packed with ice or ice packs will help keep foods cold.
Keep warm foods in foil trays that are wrapped with towels or double wrapped in foil. Bring multiple coolers. One cooler should be designated specifically for hot food as it will trap the heat. Chafing dishes might seem like a luxury, but they can keep your food warm for hours and can be reused.
Clearly label coolers for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks so everyone can find what they want quickly. Don’t forget the wine tumblers.
Take Care Of Your Eligible Receivers (Your Guests)!
Have fun! Mix and mingle with your fellow tailgaters. Play some cornhole, cards, beer pong, or other fan-favorite games. Offer samples of your prized dishes to passersby. Be a good sport with fans of the visiting team. If you’re going to the game, be sure you give yourself enough time to clean up your tailgating space. If you’re not going to the game, keep the party going by turning up the radio so the sports fans won’t miss a minute of the action.
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