Find out everything you should pack for a tailgate and bring with you to any outdoor events like a concert, football game, picnic, or the beach!
Want to guess our favorite kind of entertainment?
If you guessed watching football, you’d be close.
Or maybe you guessed going to concerts, which is pretty close too!
How about a picnic with live music at our local vineyard? That’s another good guess!
But all of these fun activities have one thing in common…
Tailgating!
Okay, a picnic is a little different from a tailgate, but we still bring a lot of the same things.
No matter what you call it, spending time outside with good friends is always so much fun!
If you prefer to avoid crowds, be sure to check out our ideas for hosting an at-home football party.
Over the years we’ve learned everything to pack for a tailgate.
Today we’re sharing our number one secret to make it easy to get out the door with you!
We love creating a fun display of food (this is just the snack and dessert table!).
Making our table look festive is part of the fun for us.
Here’s a bunch of fun ideas for decorating a table for a tailgate.
But even if you don’t want things to be fancy, there are still a lot of items to remember to bring.
Can you believe I forgot plates one time?
Good grief!
That won’t happen again, thanks to the tip I’m about to share.
Download our printable Tailgating & Picnic Checklist to ensure you remember everything you might need.
The secret I’ve discovered to always be prepared for the next tailgate is to put together a bag of essentials.
This bag makes it easy to grab and go and be ready for any outdoor gathering away from home!
You can even store the bag in the back of your car, van, or SUV.
Then you’re truly ready at a moments notice to get together with friends and have fun at your next tailgate or picnic.
We shared some fun ideas for a tailgating menu here and you can find over 40 keto-friendly game day recipes here!
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How To Assemble a Tailgating Bag
I’ve found that no matter what kind of tailgate I’m hosting, I always need certain things.
Let’s take a look at the essentials I keep in my bag.
I like to store everything in resealable zipper bags.
Not only does it keep everything organized, it also keeps it clean.
Since the bags are clear it’s also easy to see whether I need to restock anything.
Here are the bagged items in my picnic bag:
- Napkins
- Paper plates
- Plastic utensils
- Trash bags
I used to use the colorful or printed napkins, but they just aren’t as absorbent as regular white napkins.
Buying all these items in bulk from our local Costco or BJs keeps costs down.
Typically I like to keep enough packed in the bag for 3-4 outings.
Some more essentials I keep packed in this bag:
- Package of toothpicks/cocktail sticks with a shot glass to display them on the table
- Reusable plastic serving utensils (large spoons, lark forks, tongs, scoops)
- Bottle opener, corkscrew, and wine bottle stoppers
- Butane lighter and birthday candles
A container of Clorox wipes and a roll of paper towels (not pictured) are also great for cleaning up any messes.
I picked up a package of white shop cloths recently because they have tons of uses!
- washable basket liners
- cleaning if you need something sturdier than a paper towel
- cloth napkins if you want to look a little fancy
The great thing about shop cloths is they’re really inexpensive.
So if one accidentally gets thrown away, it’s not a big deal.
And if a stain gets set in because you couldn’t wash it out quickly? Also not a problem.
I should probably store them in a zip-closed bag too!
My tailgating bag also holds an assortment of coozies, a stack of solo cups, and plastic wine glasses.
We really love this new coozie that works for any size can or bottle!
I tend to make food for tailgating in disposable aluminum pans.
Sadly, we had to toss several casseroles that got water-logged when we were at the game or concert when we put them back in the cooler.
So now I keep an assortment of food storage containers with lids in this bag!
Chip clips are also handy for protecting leftovers.
Everything fits compactly into this large rectangular tote with a wire frame around the top.
This is a similar tote bag that has three exterior pockets along the front.
I also like this bag that has exterior pockets on the short ends.
So now you know my secret to always being ready with the basics for a great tailgate!
This bag is perfect whether you pick up food on your way, or if you bring food with you that’s already prepared.
But what if you want to cook while you’re there?
Or you want your table to look more fancy?
Let’s take a look at my second tailgate bag to answer those questions!
More Tailgating Favorites
I actually have two large rectangular bags that come with me to tailgates.
While one stays packed and ready at all times, the second one carries different things depending on the menu.
Sometimes we only have an hour or two to hang out.
On those days, this bag carries boxes of crackers, bags of snacks, and any food that doesn’t go in the cooler.
Mom tip: Instead of bringing large bags of chips for any outdoor event, bring individual bags. The chips will stay fresh and you don’t have tons of dirty hands reaching into your bowl…
If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll throw in some reusable plastic serving bowls and baskets.
Maybe a tablecloth. (Don’t forget to bring either tablecloth weights or these great clips to keep it in place!)
Click on any image to shop items from this post
Sometimes I bring along a cute little accent for the table like a pumpkin, or pompoms.
When we have longer to tailgate (like for a 3:30 PM or 7 PM kickoff), we step things up a notch!
That’s when we cook food while we’re there.
There’s nothing like grilling at a tailgate or picnic!
When we’re grilling, I put everything we need to grill into this bag:
- Grill tools
- Cooking spray
- Aluminum pans to put the hot food into
- Aluminum foil
- If needed, a small frying pan (our grill can hold a 10-inch pan).
- Oven mitts
Some More Tailgating Gear You’ll Love
Now that my family is tailgating at least once a week, I have my eye on some other fun gear for tailgates!
I’d really like to be able to make pancakes or French toast for those early mornings when there’s a noon kickoff.
I’ve been checking out either a portable electric griddle like this one or this less expensive option that has amazing ratings.
Of course then we’d also need a portable generator…
If we had a generator, I could also bring along a crockpot for chili or a taco bar!
How cool is this crockpot that’s made for traveling with a seal-tight lid?
I’m also eyeing these up to keep foods cool on the table when the weather is really hot.
Prepare for Your Next Tailgate or Picnic Easily
There are lots of different things you can bring to a tailgate or a picnic!
Which means there are lots of things you might forget…
Pre-packing a bag of essentials definitely makes it easier!
Download our printable Tailgating & Picnic Checklist to ensure you remember everything you might need.
If you have any questions or suggestions, contact us or leave a comment below.
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