Ask Partytrick: What Do I Need to Bring to a Tailgate?

Ask Partytrick is our advice series where we answer common hosting questions with practical guidance, thoughtful ideas, and easy-to-follow tips. Whether you're planning your first gathering or figuring out how to make entertaining feel a little easier, we're here to help.

This week's question: “I’m hosting a tailgate before the game, but I’ve never planned one. What do I need to bring, and how do I keep the food, drinks, and setup organized?”

The short answer: Start with the game plan

Before you pack the car, confirm where and when the tailgate will take place, decide what food you are serving, and sort everything you need into five groups: food, drinks, serving supplies, setup, and cleanup.

That structure keeps small but important items, such as ice, tongs, and trash bags, from getting lost in the rush. Use the checklist below, then assign each item to one person so everyone knows what to bring.

Check the tailgate details before you pack

The venue rules and game schedule should guide the plan. Check the stadium or venue website for its current tailgating policy, including when the parking lot opens, where tailgating is allowed, and when your group needs to leave the area.

Look for specific rules about grills, open flames, glass containers, alcohol, tents, canopies, and amplified music. A setup that works at one stadium may not be permitted at another. Also check what guests can carry into the game, so no one is left figuring out what to do with a cooler, a large bag, or a prohibited item at the gate.

Next, confirm the practical details:

• How many people are coming?
• Will guests eat a full meal or stop by for a snack?
• Will everyone arrive together, or will people come and go?
• How far is the parking spot from the stadium entrance?
• What does the weather forecast call for?
• How much room will you have for tables, chairs, and cooking equipment?

These answers determine how much food to bring and how involved the setup should be. For a first tailgate, a compact plan is easier to manage than a full outdoor kitchen.

What food and drinks should you bring to a tailgate?

Choose a short menu that fits your space, equipment, and available prep time. One main food option, one or two simple sides, a snack, and cold drinks will cover most casual tailgates. If your group will be there for several hours, add another substantial handheld bite rather than several small dishes that require separate serving pieces.

A simple no-grill tailgate

A no-grill menu is a good choice for a first-time host or a venue that restricts cooking equipment. Try:

• Sandwiches, wraps, or sliders made before arrival
• Pasta salad, fruit, or a sturdy chopped salad
• Chips, pretzels, or snack mix
• Cookies or another easy-to-hold dessert
• Water, sparkling water, and any other permitted drinks

Keep cold food in a cooler until serving time. Pack foods in sealed containers, and separate anything that could leak. A portable Cooler Bag by Business & Pleasure Co. can help keep drinks and chilled dishes together during transport.

A grill tailgate

If the venue permits grilling and you are comfortable cooking on-site, build the menu around one main item, such as burgers, sausages, or chicken. Prep toppings and sides at home so the grill is your only active cooking station.

Bring the grill, permitted fuel, grill tools, a food thermometer, heat-safe gloves, and a safe way to handle raw ingredients. Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat food, use different utensils and boards for each, and plan where hot equipment will cool before it goes back into the car. The Square Grill by Le Creuset or High Dome Grill by Swag may suit a portable setup, but confirm the venue's grill rules before choosing one.

For a more filling menu, use Tailgate Menu: Heavier Bites to choose one dish that works with your equipment. You can also read Hosting Before the Game for simpler pregame formats, including a parking lot picnic.

The tailgate packing checklist

Use this as a starting point, then remove anything your menu or venue does not require.

Food and drinks

• Prepared main food
• Sides and snacks
• Dessert, if serving one
• Water and other permitted drinks
• Ice
• Cooler or insulated bags
• Sealed food storage containers
• Separate container for raw ingredients, if grilling

Serving supplies

• Plates or food trays
• Cups
• Napkins
• Forks, spoons, and knives as needed
• Serving spoons and tongs
• Condiments
• Bottle opener or can opener
• Labels for dishes with common allergens
• Cutting board and knife, only if food must be finished on-site

Pack one serving utensil for each shared dish. A Fundamental Wood Ruffle Salad Server Set by Coton Colors works for salads and larger sides, while Bamboo Cutting Boards by Nordstrom Rack can provide a stable prep surface if you need one.

Setup

• Folding table
• Folding chairs
• Washable or disposable table covering
• Shade or shelter, if permitted
• Weights or clips for windy conditions
• Team or school decor that is easy to pack
• Cooler stand or a designated spot that keeps drinks accessible

Practical extras

• Paper towels
• Hand wipes or hand sanitizer
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray, if needed
• Phone charger or battery pack
• Tape and scissors
• Reusable bins or sturdy bags for transporting supplies
• Extra water
• Weather layers, ponchos, or blankets as needed

Cleanup

• Trash bags
• Recycling bags, where appropriate
• Containers or zip bags for leftovers
• A bin for used serving pieces
• Paper towels or cleaning wipes
• A plan for cooling and transporting grill equipment

Place the cleanup kit where everyone can see it. A trash station set up at the beginning is much easier than collecting cups and napkins as the group heads to the stadium.

Decide who is bringing what

The fastest way to avoid a crowded group text is to assign specific items. The host can handle the main setup and food, then ask guests to bring drinks, ice, snacks, or serving supplies.

Here is one simple way to divide the list:

• Folding table and chairs: The host brings them at setup.
• Main food: The host brings it at setup.
• Drinks: Guest 1 brings them before guests arrive.
• Ice: Guest 2 brings it shortly before serving.
• Snacks: Guest 3 brings them before kickoff.

Make each request concrete. Asking someone to bring two bags of ice by 10:30 a.m. is clearer than asking them to help with drinks.

You can start with the Classic Tailgate Playbook, customize the tasks for your group, and assign responsibilities so each person can see what they own. Partytrick keeps the event details, tasks, menu, and guest plan together, which makes last-minute checks much easier than searching across several text threads.

Give yourself a setup and pack-up timeline

A tailgate needs an end plan as much as a start plan. Work backward from the time your group should walk to the stadium, then leave enough room to clean up without rushing.

Use this sequence:

1. Arrive and unload. Give yourself time to find the parking spot, unload safely, and adjust if the lot is crowded.
2. Set up the essentials first. Start with the table, cooler, chairs, and trash station.
3. Put out food close to serving time. Keep cold items chilled and hot items at a safe temperature until people are ready to eat.
4. Begin packing before the group needs to leave. Close food containers, collect serving pieces, and load items that are no longer in use.
5. Do one final check. Look under tables and cars for trash, confirm that all equipment is cool and secure, and decide what to do with leftovers.

If kickoff is at noon, do not treat noon as the tailgate's end time. Account for the walk to the gate, security lines, and the time needed to put equipment away.

Plan your tailgate with Partytrick

The easiest way to stay organized is to give the tailgate one home. Add the date, arrival time, parking details, guest list, menu, supplies, and task owners to the same plan. Then everyone can check the latest details without having to ask the host to repeat them.

Create your tailgate plan with Partytrick, choose the tasks that fit your venue and menu, and assign each responsibility before shopping begins.

A good first tailgate does not need an elaborate menu or a fully decorated parking spot. If you have enough food, cold drinks, a comfortable place to gather, and a clear plan for packing everything up, you have the essentials covered.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most important tailgate essentials?

Start with food, water and other drinks, ice, a cooler, plates, cups, napkins, serving utensils, a table, chairs, and trash bags. Add weather protection and cooking equipment only if the forecast, venue, and menu require them.

What should I bring to a tailgate if I’m not grilling?

Bring ready-to-serve foods such as sandwiches, wraps, sliders, pasta salad, fruit, chips, and cookies. You will also need a cooler with ice, sealed containers, serving pieces, napkins, and cleanup supplies. A no-grill menu reduces equipment and gives the host more time with guests.

How early should I arrive to set up a tailgate?

Check when the parking lot opens and work backward from kickoff. Allow time to park, unload, set up, eat, clean, and walk to the entrance. The right arrival time depends on the venue, lot location, group size, and security lines.

What food is easiest to bring to a tailgate?

Choose food that travels in a sealed container and needs little assembly. Sandwiches, wraps, sliders, sturdy salads, fruit, snack mix, and cookies are practical choices. If grilling, prep toppings and sides at home and cook only the main item on-site.

How do I keep tailgate food and drinks organized?

Pack by category. Keep drinks in one cooler, chilled food in another cooler or insulated section, serving supplies in a labeled bin, and cleanup items in an easy-to-reach bag. Assign each shared item to one person and note when it should arrive.

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