The big game: tips for an on-post tailgate party.
There may be no better time to gather with friends, family, and even strangers who will soon be friends than during football season. Gather with your loved ones and get ready to kick off the festivities with a tailgate party on post. From choosing the perfect snacks to keeping it creative, here are ten tips for tailgating fun.
Get creative with your hotel amenities.
An on-post tailgate party can bring the opportunity to connect even further with fellow veterans and service men and women.
Some of our locations, like Fort Carson in Colorado, offer full kitchens with refrigerators, stovetops, and outdoor grills, making it easy to put together all your favorite tailgating food including burgers and hot dogs. Many locations even have outdoor grills and gazebos to gather for the game, including Candlewood Suites®. Just remember to book early, on-post accommodations like West Point’s IHG® Army Hotels Five Star Inn fill up quickly during Army football season.
Hit the commissary early.
A tailgate party requires some serious planning, whether you’re on post or off. Plan your trip to the commissary as early as possible to scoop up game-day grilling favorites as well as chicken, chips, veggie trays, and paper plates and napkins.
While you’re shopping, look for any bulk item deals on snacks and paper products and remember to grab your coupons before you shop to further your savings on post.
Prep the night before.
Tailgate parties should be a day full of fun without the stress of continually preparing snacks. Prep everything you can the night before from a fully packed cooler that just needs ice to kabobs that are already on the skewer and ready to grill. You can also pack a tailgate toolbox with extra paper towels, trash bags, tape, spices, seasonings, bottle openers, tongs, and anything else that will take you from start to finish through your day.
Bring crowd pleasers.
Tailgate party food doesn’t have to be complicated; it just needs to be satisfying and fun to eat. Loaded nachos, wings, and burgers are always popular pre-football crowd-pleasers. For something inventive, try these chicken and waffle sliders or turkey and pepper jack roll-ups for easy to eat finger food with a twist.
Check the rules about open-container policies on post or turn your tailgate party into an in-room gathering. Ask your IHG® Army Hotel about common spaces and outdoor gazebos where you can set-up your tablets and devices to watch the game.
Bring a craft or game for the kids.
Kids can get in on the tailgate party fun, but the long day requires different planning for little football fans. Bring along a craft or activity to keep the kids busy like creating tiny footballs out of pretzel twists and frosting. You can also grab simple supplies like tape and mason jars. Task little football fans with adding white tape to mason jars to resemble football laces, then fill with soda to transform into drinkable footballs.
Little ones are also likely to bring along big appetites to the game, so plan accordingly with kid-friendly food without the hot sauce and spices. A plate of brownies with colored frosting is also a fun way for kids to eat their way through the game while decorating their dessert with team colors and tiny footballs. Remember that many posts also offer playgrounds, giving kids a break from the football frenzy before rejoining the crowd.
Extend a warm welcome.
A successful tailgating party is where everyone feels welcome and creates lifelong memories. Take a moment to spread the word around post that your parking or common area at your IHG® Army Hotels is open for everyone to join. Make an effort to introduce yourself and get all the essentials on your guests’ favorite players and their predictions for the outcome to make them feel right at home.
Don’t forget post-game fun.
The tailgate party isn’t over just because the football game ended. Whether you’re at the stadium or still on post, take your tailgate party to a local pub or restaurant to keep the fun going. You can also look into tours of the stadium or nearby attractions and activities to keep that post-game vibe alive all week long.
With some careful prep work, flexibility and a friendly outlook, the only thing left to do is enjoy the game. Although you may always remember the final score of the game, the real memories are all about time spent with loved ones and new friends. Book your reservations at an IHG® Army Hotel early for your next game day and turn your on-post tailgating party into a new tradition.