Football season is in full swing, and we are so excited to catch up with our favorite fall sport. Sure, things look a little different this year. While we wish we could be on campus playing cornhole or claiming our parking spots for a day at Ford Field, we are just glad to be enjoying sports again. Can we get a RAH RAH for that?!
We were inspired by the folks over at Milk Means More to come up with some creative ways that we can still enjoy some of our favorite parts about tailgating from the safety and comfort of our own driveways. Commence: homegating!
Homegating is just like tailgating…without the port-a-potties and without the paid admission! Executed with the precision of a perfectly thrown spiral into the end zone, a driveway get together over football can absolutely be done safely.
A few tips and tricks to get you started:
- Invite your tailgating crew, your neighbors, and most importantly, your babysitter to supervise the kids in the back yard. Seriously, if your kids are not into watching the game, find someone within your circle who is into watching them so you can be sure to catch all the action.
- Plan ahead how you’ll get the game on. Grab that extra TV from the kids playroom, set it up on a table in the garage, hook up your streaming device, and work out all the kinks so you’re ready to go at kickoff. If you cannot make an outdoor TV work, then find your radio or bluetooth speaker!
- Let everyone know you’re playing it safe. Keep the hand sanitizer available, maintain social distance, and minimize touch points. You know the drill.
- Remind your guests to bring their chairs, blankets, and warm beverages to settle in and watch the game. Wanna go next level? Grab an inflatable chair for game day.
- Set up in the driveway just like you do for tailgates. Four hours before game time? Sure. EZ-up tent? Check. Cooler packed? Check. Team flags, pennants, and banners? Check, check, check. Keep that spirit alive!
Of course, no homegating celebration is complete without the FOOD! It’s arguably the most important part of any tailgate, because everyone has to eat. We think you will love some of these simple recipes from our friends at Milk Means More and the United Dairy Industry of Michigan. You can even make these super cute by filling cups or bowls with individual servings for your guests to grab.
Click each photo for recipes!
Spinach-Artichoke Turkey Burgers
Buffalo Cauliflower with Blue Cheese Dressing
Healthy 7 Layer Taco Dip
Touchdown Parfait
When we have tickets to the game, we tailgate in all conditions. Rain or shine. You’ll typically find us layered up in mid-November, hovered around the tailgate grill to warm our hands. However you opt to set up for homegating, and even if you stay indoors with just your spouse and kids, we hope you’ll find these tips and recipes a fun way to celebrate the season with your team!
