Tailgating has grown to be a traditional activity at spectator sports, concerts, and just about anywhere people can gather in open spaces, with their pickup trucks packed with the necessities of outdoor partying. Tailgating doesn’t just involve pickup beds. It’s a whole culture in itself, and it involves several key ingredients.
Location Tailgating is usually held at parking lots wherever there are football games, concerts and other similar events are held. The best places to tailgate are, of course, flat and open spaces.
Food and alcohol Tailgating traditionally involves alcohol intake, mixed with grilled food, mostly meat. Traditional tailgating fare includes picnic food, like hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs, beans, and salads. Some view tailgating to be hazardous to the health because of this. Nonetheless, serious tailgaters swear by the warming effect of booze and grilled fare, especially during cold nights outdoors.
Entertainment Tailgating is usually held at spectator events, like concerts, races, football games, and the like. Therefore it makes sense to bring along television sets so you and your tailgate buddies can watch the game from the comfort of your own trucks.
Games While the football game or racing event is usually the highlight, tailgating will not be complete without recreational activities. You can try beer pong, where teams toss a ping pong ball across tables, with the intent of landing it inside a beer cup (contents of which are to be drank by the team that owns it). You can also try ladder golf, where a pair of golf balls tied together are thrown at ladder rungs, which correspond to different points.
Chairs and tables Be sure to bring enough chairs for everyone in your group. You will probably be spending a lot of time chatting, eating, and watching the game on TV, so might as well be comfortable. It’s best to bring folding chairs, so you can just easily pack them and stow them away when the party’s over. Same with tables. Eating at the tailgate party is best when you have a table to serve food on and eat. But if you cannot bring a folding table, then the truck’s bed, hood or even the roof can serve as a table where you can serve and eat food.
Tents and sleeping bags Tailgate parties can turn into all-nighters, and can even extend to several days. You can set up tents and sleeping bags on your truck bed, for spending the night in. Some tailgaters even roll out a tarp onto the grass and extend their tent area. Hardcore fanatics of the game and tailgating go as far as bringing their own Astroturf to sit and lie on.
Yourself Perhaps the most important part of tailgating is the people. Aside from yourself, do remember to bring enough change of clothes and other essentials. Be sure to wear casual, comfortable clothes. The tailgating culture is all about community, after all, and there’s no sense in being too uptight or formal in these events!
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