Tailgate party facts for kids
A tailgate party is a special social gathering that happens around a vehicle, often near its open back hatch or "tailgate." These parties are very popular in the United States and Canada. People usually set up in parking lots outside stadiums or arenas. They happen before big events like sports games, music concerts, or festivals. Sometimes, they even continue after the event ends!
When people go to a tailgate party, they are "tailgating." You don't even need a car with a tailgate to join in the fun. People often bring their own food, drinks, and grills to share with friends and other fans. Tailgate parties are usually just for fun, not for selling things. They are a big part of the sports experience in North America, often happening right outside the entrance to the venue.
Tailgate parties are not just for American football anymore. You can find them at events for basketball, hockey, baseball, and soccer too. They also happen at other gatherings like weddings or cultural festivals. Even in some parts of Europe, where American football is growing, people are starting to have tailgate parties.
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Tasty Food and Drinks
Tailgating is all about enjoying delicious food and refreshing drinks. People often grill different kinds of meat right there in the parking lot. Some popular foods include hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausages like bratwurst. You might also find baked beans, steak, or even pizza that people brought with them.
Cold salads like coleslaw or potato salad are also common. For snacks, people often share potato chips and tortilla chips with tasty dips like guacamole. Some foods even became famous because of tailgate parties! For example, a type of pimento cheese called Palmetto Cheese first became popular at Atlanta Braves baseball tailgate parties. In warmer areas, some people even cook and share fried seafood.
Cool Tailgating Gear
People use all sorts of vehicles, tables, and grills for their tailgate parties. Many different cars and trucks are perfect for setting up a party. Some people even have special folding tables that can attach to the back of a pickup truck. These tables are super handy for camping, fishing, or just having a place to put your food and drinks at a tailgate.
Fun Games to Play
Games are a big part of the tailgate fun! Many people play "lawn games" like KanJam, cornhole, ladder golf, and washer pitching. These games are easy to set up and play in a parking lot. They are popular because they don't need a lot of special equipment.
It's also common for people to bring sports balls like footballs or soccer balls to toss around. Many tailgaters play music using their car's sound system or external speakers. Some even bring a television and a portable power source to watch other sports games while they wait for the main event to start!
Tailgating in Communities
Tailgating is important for many schools and community sports teams across the United States. Athletic departments, coaches, and parents often use post-game tailgate parties to bring people together. These parties help build strong support for the team. For smaller teams that might not have a lot of money, parents and friends often volunteer to provide food for the team and coaches after games. This helps create a supportive community year after year.
In 2007, the NFL (National Football League) made a rule against tailgating before the Super Bowl. They said it was for security reasons. However, many fans thought it was more about big companies wanting to host their own events. In 2008, many people signed an online petition asking the NFL to change this rule. Sports reporters also questioned if security was the real reason for the ban.
In April 2019, the government in Ontario, Canada, made it legal for people to enjoy drinks outside sports venues. This new rule helped create a way for tailgating-style events to happen there.
Tailgating in Pop Culture
Tailgate parties have also appeared in many TV shows and commercials.
- In an episode of The Simpsons called "Any Given Sundance", Homer takes his family to a tailgate party. He makes them wake up super early to be at the stadium hours before the football game. He even says that "the game is nothing" and the tailgate party is the only reason they are there!
- Season 3 of the Travel Channel show Man v. Food had a special episode about tailgating. It showed different foods from past episodes that would be perfect for an awesome tailgate party.
- You might see tailgate culture in TV commercials, especially those shown during football games. Companies like Bud Light beer and cellphone companies have featured tailgating in their ads.
- In season 3 of Always Sunny in Philadelphia, one of the characters, Frank, convinces another character, Charlie, to go tailgating. This happens while the rest of their friends are trying out for the Philadelphia Eagles football team.
