Fall is in the air, and football season is here! Join me as I share 5 easy tips for hosting a fun and festive backyard tailgate!
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An Unforgettable Backyard Tailgate
Fall is finally here, and that means football and tailgating season have arrived!
So, in honor of all the game day excitement, I’m teaming up with my supper club friends Stacy, Rachel, Anne, AnnMarie, and Michele to bring you inspiration and tips for hosting a football tailgate party in your backyard.
If you are new to our virtual supper club parties, you can see our past menus and entertaining ideas here.
Each month, we also invite a guest blogger to join us, and we are thrilled to welcome Kristin from White Arrows Home.
If you haven’t met Kristin yet, I hope you will take a few minutes to visit her blog, say hi, and see more of her tailgating party tips and decor ideas.
Welcome To Midwest Life And Style
Whether you’re an old friend or this is your first time visiting, I am so glad you found my little corner of the web.
For those who are new, here, welcome! I’m Jen, a wife, mom, and lifelong Midwest gal.
You will find a bit of everything here at MWLS. From thrifty DIYs to recipes, decor styling tips, and more. I love to share about all the things that make a house a home.
5 Easy Tips For Hosting A Backyard Tailgate
Are you ready for football season? We love football in our house. Like, really love it.
If you’re looking for a fun way to cheer on your team this fall, I’m sharing easy tips and ideas for hosting an unforgettable backyard tailgate party.
So, grab your jerseys and grilling tools; it’s time to celebrate fall, football, and the tradition of tailgating.
Backyard Tailgate Themes And Ideas
Set the scene for your football tailgate party by choosing a theme. You can use the colors of your favorite high school, college, or pro team and include vintage football memorabilia to add a nostalgic touch.
For my backyard tailgate, I chose a traditional fall theme. I used a mix of rustic wood accents, warm colors, and galvanized metal to create a cohesive yet casual look.
Of course, there’s nothing that embodies fall as well as a flannel throw blanket.
I made a small tablecloth for my food table using blue and orange plaid fabric from the craft store, adding a warm and welcoming touch of autumn colors to the table.
Budget-Friendly Backyard Tailgate Party Decor
One of my top tips for hosting a backyard tailgate (or any gathering) is to create a centerpiece that complements your party’s theme.
A beautiful centerpiece makes any get-together feel more special, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to create a fun and festive display.
To make a fall bouquet for my backyard tailgate party, I picked up some fresh flowers from Trader Joe’s!
Those of you who have seen my past tablescape designs know that it’s my favorite place to get affordable seasonal plants and flowers.
To enhance the autumn tones of the table, I combined sunflowers, mums, and some greenery to craft a vibrant floral arrangement.
I also incorporated a couple of vintage elements onto the table. I used a rustic breadboard to showcase some of the tailgate food.
And an old crate I stumbled upon while exploring my grandparents’ farm makes the perfect display for a plate of grilled chicken wings.
Unique Tailgate Party Decor Ideas
When planning the decor for your backyard tailgate, get creative and incorporate cherished family memorabilia or moments like old photos for a unique and personal touch.
This black and white photo dated around 1948 features my husband’s grandpa Al during his time as a player for the Superior Wildcats, his high school team.
Grandpa Al passed away several years ago, so I’m so glad that we have these photos of him and could find a way to honor him as part of this tailgate table.
Side Note: Here’s an interesting fact about this photo that may surprise you! In the late ’90s, a producer noticed it and featured it in Nike’s 1998 Super Bowl commercial titled “I Can.”
If you want to see it, you can easily find it on YouTube by searching for Nike’s “I Can” commercial and looking for the photo at around the 47-second mark.
Add Ambiance To Elevate Your Backyard Tailgate
Add some ambiance to your tailgate party with lighting.
There’s something magical about watching a football game at night under the bright stadium lights.
To help capture some of that same magic for your backyard tailgate hang string lights from a tree or arbor.
The glow of the lights adds to the fun and inviting atmosphere, further setting the stage for an unforgettable tailgate experience.
How To Choose A Tailgate Party Menu
Keep the menu simple with a variety of finger foods and self-serve dishes.
Chicken wings are always a hit (and if you ask my husband, a must-have) at any tailgate.
Glass jars make great containers for serving food. I used two different sizes to dish up some potato salad and to make veggie charcuterie cups.
The jars let your guests grab ‘n go so they can focus more on mingling and less on trying to balance a flimsy paper plate.
Serve A Signature Cocktail
Everybody loves a signature drink! It’s a great way to help set the mood of your backyard tailgate and can easily be tied into your theme.
Speaking of signature drinks, I created an apple cider mojito for my tailgate. It’s the perfect fall cocktail and the ultimate game day drink.
5 Easy Tips For Hosting A Backyard Tailgate
Okay, friends. That’s it! My top 5 tips and tricks for hosting a fun and casual backyard tailgate.
Are you ready for some football? I can’t wait to host a big pre-game neighborhood tailgate party soon!
I hope you enjoyed reading my 5 easy tips for hosting a backyard tailgate.
Don’t forget to check out our football tailgate menu, too! It is filled with simple and delicious recipes that are guaranteed to make your backyard tailgate party a hit.
More Fall Tailgate Party Ideas And Inspiration
Looking for more fall tailgate ideas Check out all the football tailgate party inspiration linked below.
Cheers!
Jen at Midwest Life and Style / Stacy at Bricks ‘n Blooms / Anne and AnnMarie at Simply2Moms
Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse / Kristin at White Arrows Home / Michele at Vintage Home Designs
Did You Enjoy this Post? PIN It for Later!
Tailgating at home is just my speed! I adore your table the plaid, photos and flowers just couldn’t be more perfect for football season! Pinned!
Thank you, Michelle. Staying home for the pre-game festivities is more my speed too! Can’t wait for football season to start!
Love this so much, Jen! It looks like the perfect place to relax and unwind on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. All the extra special touches you’ve added are amazing. – including the picture of Kirk’s granddaddy – that is so cool. Love your style so much lady, you inspire me all the time! Hugs, CoCo
Thank you, CoCo. Reading your sweet comment brought tears to my eyes. I’m so glad you enjoyed the extra special touches. I think they really made the setting complete. Hugs to you as well and happy weekend!
Ok Jen this turned out darling! We are huge football fans too and after last year I am ready to go! Love your theme and especially the pictures of Kirk’s grandpa…so special! Hopefully I can stop by soon:) Enjoy!!!
Thank you, Kelly! We had copies of this photo hanging in the “man cave” in our old home. Our current basement is unfinished, so I’m glad I could find a way to incorporate the photos on the table to give it an extra special touch. Anytime you are in Nebraska let me know. I’d love to tailgate and enjoy some football together!
Jen!! I love all your tailgate tips! I’ve been planning a football party for this fall and now I have a few ideas for how to get set up!!! Loved this!
Thank you, sweet friend! Bring on football season! Hoping my Huskers and my hubby’s Packers both have a good year!
Hey Jen. Let’s hope we get cooler weather so we can all enjoy your tailgate party and many more all across the country. I like your style. By the way G B R from a fellow Nebraskan
Yes. I am hoping we get some cool fall weather soon. Thanks for stopping by the blog today and GBR!💖🌽🏈
These are some great ideas for a backyard tailgate party, Jen! Love the fresh flowers and the jars for the grab-and-go food! Pinned!
Thank you, Julie. Happy tailgating season!
I love the table covering you choose and the individual portions of food look so appetizing! I’m not even a football fan, but this has me wanting to celebrate.
Thanks so much, Shawna!
Jen,
Your table is so fun. I love the sunflowers and those cute individual cups are perfect. So fun doing these together. Yours is so creative.
Thank you so much, Rachel. I agree that I love doing these each month. Always so fun to see everyone’s creative take on the theme.
Gorgeous Jen! Absolutely love the fall color scheme with the mix of woods and metals…my fave. And the vintage photos…what a cool story. Pinned!
Thank you, AnnMarie. The photos are one of my favorite parts of the table, too!
Your table looks amazing and I love the idea of charcuterie/veggie cups instead of flimsy paper plates! I never think of those things. I get stuck in easy clean up mode so I’m taking notes! Hope y’all have lots of parties this season. So fun.
Thanks so much, Cindy! I hope so too!
Your tailgate in the backyard looks so good! I really love the ideas of using the small mason jars. What a fun fact about the football pic! Happy tailgating!
Thank you, Kim. If you get a chance you’ll have to look up the video. I love the song they use for it too. So fun!
Beautiful as always Jen! I love the flannel plaid tablecloth and those vintage football photos! Such a unique and perfect touch.
Thank you, Michele. I love plaid for the fall and I thought the photos were the perfect finishing touch. I’m happy I was able to use them and find a way to honor my husband’s grandpa.
I love your backyard tailgate! It looks so pretty! I’ll be right over! xo
Thanks so much, Stacy! Such a fun theme this month and a great way to kick off the start to football season!