A Tailgate Party

Fall weekends can mean changing leaves, cooler temperatures, football and the tailgate party. What exactly is tailgating? It is arriving at a game early, firing up the grill, and visiting with friends as well as other party goers until the game begins. Tailgating first began in 1957 when Angela Pisani, wife of a team doctor, opened the tailgate on her station wagon and had sandwiches and lunch items for her children and friends. When a reporter announced that she was having a car picnic for them, she replied with "it is more of a tailgate party".

Any serious tailgater will tell you that it is important to plan ahead before you tailgate. Making a menu and a list of the items you need will help to be sure that everything is loaded prior to leaving home. Tailgate parties can be as simple as hot dogs, hamburgers, and brats or can consist of chicken, ribs, or even pork chops. You will need side dishes and could even have a dessert.

Tailgaters also have other gear that could be considered a must have in essential gear. Items like a first aid kit, trash bags, sun block, toilet paper, and ice could be some of the most essential tailgate items. Of course, you have to have a grill, cooler of beer or cold drinks, camp chairs, cooking utensils, plates and friends to share the fun with. Rain gear could be considered a must have so that even with the occasional shower or rainstorm, you will still be able to tailgate.

Normally, a tailgate party will begin about 3-4 hours before a game. Finding the perfect parking spot can be much easier the earlier that you arrive at the game site. Of course, you must always clean up your area after a tailgate party so that they next partygoers have just as much fun as you have had.

Some people prefer that others to be dressed in their favorite team colors or football gear. Some decorate tents, campers, or fly a flag in order to be easily spotted by friends. The whole point is to enjoy the time before the game with food, friends, and fun! Matter of fact, FUN could be the only necessary part of an entire tailgate party.

For 12 years, Joe Chan has traveled to many college and NFL football games to party with many fellow party goers and he has self-declared himself the "Commissioner of Tailgating". Most teams see it as a way for their fans to enjoy game day, but in 2007 tailgating was banned by the NFL at Super Bowl XLI in Miami due to safety issues.

Football, friends, fun, and fans = tailgate party!