Tailgate parties are lots of fun. Everyone sits around the back of a vehicle eating, drinking, and having great conversation. If you're going to see the fireworks on July 4th, imagine how much more fun tailgating would be either before or during the fireworks show! Here are some ideas for planning an easy Fourth of July tailgate party.
Things to Bring
- Food & Drinks
- Condiments
- Serving platters & bowls
- Cooler with ice for drinks
- Plates, cups, napkins and utensils
- Fold-up chairs
- Aluminum Foil for covering leftovers
Tailgate Party Menu
Keeping your menu simple will allow you to fix everything quickly and still have time to enjoy yourself. Instead of having to lug a grill to the tailgate party and back, think about bringing a big sandwich which will satisfy even the heartiest appetite but will be easy to prepare.
A great sandwich to bring to a tailgate party is a round layered sandwich. Take a round loaf of bread, slice it in half length-wise and cut out the majority of the bread inside. Layer in deli meats, cheeses, veggies and sandwich spreads to taste. These can be prepared two days in advance of the party and kept in the refrigerator. Have enough side dishes and snacks on hand to ensure everyone has enough to eat.
More Food Ideas
- Potato salad and macaroni salad – don’t let them sit out too long. Keep them inside the cooler until serving time
- Deviled eggs - keep these chilled until serving time as well
- Relish tray with pickles, tomatoes, and chopped or sliced onion
- Potato chips
- Soft drinks
- Alcoholic beverages – make sure you check your local ordinances before brining any type of alcohol to a tailgate party
- Dessert – an easy Fourth of July themed dessert to bring to a tailgate party is Fourth of July Rice Krispies Treats
Recipe for Rice Krispie Treats: Melt 3 tablespoons of butter over low heat in large saucepan. Add one ten ounce package of marshmallows. Stir until melted. Remove from heat. Add six cups of Rice Krispies, stirring until coated. Using a buttered spatula, press mixture into a 13x9 baking pan coated with cooking spray. Decorate with red, white and blue sprinkles (pressing them down onto the top of the mixture to hold them in place). Let cool and cut into two inch squares. These fun and easy treats can be prepared well in advance and transported easily.
Tailgate Party Tips
- Arrive at the fireworks area early so you can obtain a good parking spot.
- Bring extra trash bags for easy clean up.
- Decorate your vehicle using red white and blue streamers, balloons which you can tie to your roof rack or antenna or hang large flags on the sides of your vehicle making sure they don’t touch the ground. If you have card tables set up for eating, use red, white and blue tablecloths and a festive center piece.
- Bring sparklers for the kids to light at dusk (make sure they are supervised) or let them wear glow-in-the-dark necklaces.
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