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Football, Tailgate or Big Game Party

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INVITATIONS

Are you ready for some football? This invitation is heading for a touchdown! The background is a soft plaid texture, reminiscent of a warm blanket to watch the game. The vintage-style illustrations of a football player and fans set the mood for a winning invitation. Check out B.Nute’s Football/Tailgate/Big Game Party invitations on etsy for details.

DECORATIONS

Everybody loves a good football game... whether it’s college football, or NFL-- the big game, a tailgate party, or a party at home, this party will please all fans.

Birthday Theme Party Ideas  >  Football, Tailgate, or Big Game Party

1. Vintage College or Team Pennants

Perhaps you already own a pennant or 2 from your favorite team. If not, check out these online resources-- they add such charm to a space!

Vintage College Pennants

NFL Pennants

Let’s Go, Let’s Fight, Let’s Win Tonight!!


The players are ready, the fans have packed the stands... it’s time to have an old fashioned football, tailgate or Big Game party! 

PICTURES FROM A FOOTBALL, TAILGATE, or BIG GAME PARTY

If you throw a Football party, send us the pictures! We’d love to include them on our website to show everyone the fun that was had!

FOOD & DRINK

Whether your hosting the party out of the back of your car or at your home, here are some menu ideas for game day!

ARTS & CRAFTS

These art activity ideas are great for a big game party at home, or if little ones will be at your tailgate party, consider bringing a small folding table and setting out these activities for some pre-game fun.


Make Your Own Pennant

You can cut pennant shapes from poster board

or buy pre-cut pennants online. Set these out

with crayons or markers and make some colorful

pennants to root for your team! Below are some

online options for buying pre-cut pennants:

  1. Canvas Pennants

  2. Paper Pennants

  3. Felt Pennants




Make “Green” Cheerleading Pom Pons

Girls will love this activity and be even more excited when they are done... they can cheer on their team in style. Best of all, this is a great craft using recycled materials.


  1. Empty your plastic bag bin, and if need be, ask friends and neighbors for their extra plastic bags.

  2. Sort the bags into colors if you’d like, then cut into 1” wide strips.

  3. Lay the plastic bag strips, several 15” pieces of cut string, and colorful electric tape on a table for kids to assemble their own pom pons.

  4. To make the pom pons, have kids gather a bunch of plastic bag strips together

  5. Tie the bunch together in the the center.

  6. Now, fold the bunch in half and bound the folded edge with colorful electric tape.

  7. Make sure to leave the extra string hanging loose.

  8. Tie the extra string in a loop, so kids can wrap around hands to be held.


Now let, the cheering begin!


Face Paint in the Team Colors

Hire a professional face painter, or perhaps just your local teenage

babysitter for some face painting fun. Print out some college

logo and mascot examples as well as NFL logo examples for

helpful guides.


Football Coloring Pages

Check out your team’s website and search for “coloring pages”

to see if you can find any art pages for kids to embellish.

Here are some examples:

  1. NFL Coloring Pages


GAMES

Of course, watching the game is the main attraction of this party, but perhaps you have a large crowd coming or want some half time entertainment ideas... here are some game ideas for your next Football Party:


A “Friendly” Game of Flag/Touch Football

This scene has been played out in many movies and TV shows! Do you remember the scene in the Big Chill when the old friends head out at half time to play ball? How about the hilarious Friends Thanksgiving episode where they play a “friendly” game while the turkey cooks!


Now it’s time for you to have some “friendly” competition at your party with a little scrimmage. Pick up some flag football supplies and find a humorous trophy for the winning team. All will remember the fun!


Football Trivia Game

Print up some of your favorite football trivia questions and quiz your friends of their knowledge during half time. Offer a prize to the winner like tickets to another game, a football jersey, or even just a gift card to the local coffee shop. Here are some search results for football trivia questions:

  1. Football Trivia Questions


Cheerleaders Unite

Are some of your party goers not interested in the scrimmage, but would rather cheer from the sidelines? Put those “Green” pom pons (from the Art Activity section above) to use and make up some cheerleader routines! The funnier and sillier, the better! Here are some websites with some basic cheers:

  1. Basic Cheer Moves

  2. Basic Cheerleading Jumps

  3. Some Cheerleading Yells and Chants


Sing the Cheer Song

Show your team spirit and gather the crowd to sing the cheer song loud and clear! Make sure to look up the words on the college/teams website, so you get it right! Here are some sample College Team Fight Songs (note, some teams have recently moved divisions, so you may need to click the old division to find your team):

  1. PAC 10 Fight Songs

  2. Big 10 Fight Songs

  3. Big 12 Fight Songs

  4. and more...

GOODIE BAG

Goodie bag ideas to come...

TREATS

Treat ideas to come...

Inspiration Board

Email Me

2. Pendleton or Similar Wool Blanket

If it's a warm day, perhaps the blanket could be used not for warmth but for decoration. Drape over the back tailgate or coming out of a picnic basket as a table decoration. It could also be used as a table cloth too! A nice plaid with fall colors is perfect for this theme.

3. Old Football and/or College Memorabilia

Pullout the old college photos, old ticket stubs, old yearbooks and more and decorate the serving table or area around the party with your memorabilia. You could set out a basket with the items inside for folks to peruse at a tailgate party. Football trading cards can also make a great decoration, scattered about the table.

4. Retro Tailgate Picnic Ware and Thermos

A vintage thermos filled with hot cocoa, and old-time picnic ware will not only be utilized, but will also look good too! Check out these vintage picnic ware items on Etsy to get inspired.

Sub Sandwiches

I love the look of sub sandwiches individually wrapped in decorative paper and stacked up ready to grab and eat! These can be handmade and gourmet, or store bought, whatever is easiest for you! Here are a few tasty sub sandwich recipes I found:

  1. Smoky BLT from Country Living (blue cheese, romaine lettuce and beefsteak tomatoes)


Brats and Grilled Fare

Perhaps it's a small portable grill by the tailgate or a large BBQ in your yard -- make sure to throw on some bratwurst, knockwurst, sausages and dogs to be enjoyed by all!


Chili

Chili is great for game day! It's easy to make ahead, and serve in a slow cooker. A hearty chili will satisfy any crowd


Chips & Dip

Potato chips and onion dip; sweet potato crisps and red pepper dip-- traditional or gourmet style, chips and dip are perfect for game day.


Beer and Root Beer

Cold beer is perfect for watching the game. Serve a selection of small local brews or brews from the town/area of the 2 teams that are playing. Specialty sodas and juices are a great option for kids.


More Recipes

  1. myrecipes.com Tailgating Party ideas