Why miss out on the fun when you can tailgate in your own backyard?

The smell of hamburgers and hotdogs being made accompanies the smoke coming from a charcoal grill. Off in the distance, you hear glasses clinking and your friends and family playing corn hole. Your friend approaches, nudges you, and says, “So do you think we’ll win today.” “Of course we will win!!” you proclaim looking at everyone in the parking lot. Everyone then proceeds to chant your team’s fight song. These are just some of the great things about the season that goes hand in hand with fall; football season.

There is nothing like getting together with your close friends and family outside of the stadium before your favorite team plays to enjoy a bit of food, games, and fun. While the pandemic has put a huge damper on all of this, it is still very possible to have the same celebration. So why not tailgate in your own backyard?

First, start off by inviting those friends that you would consider your first draft pick. Once you have a list of people who would want to attend, be sure you have everything they would need to enjoy a party in your backyard. Things like chairs, logs for the fire pit if you have it, coolers full of ice, gas for the grill, and tents for needed shade. Backyards like the one seen at 305 Divot Ct. in Peletier (pictured) have a screened-in porch which would be great to set up a TV and a pergola for some shade! This house is currently back on the market and shouldn’t last long!

Properties like the one at 1810 Ocean Drive in Emerald  Isle (pictured) will be sure to get your guests talking with its view of the ocean from the backyard, room for a game of corn hole, and social distancing! With this house, you could always have fun decorating the palms trees out back with twinkle lights and set up tables with festive team-colored table cloths around the pool.

For the party itself, be sure that before everyone comes you ask them to bring a mask as well as their own food and drinks. Let them know there will be corn hole and other games to do at a safe distance. All the room on the back patio of 117 Ocean Bluff Drive in Indian Beach along with the fire pit and bar will keep your guests entertained. You can never have enough decorations, music, games, or other fun things to do. So go all out and bring the tailgate to your backyard!

Use this checklist to help you get started! Feel free to save it to your Pinterest board, too.

Tailgate in Your Own Backyard Essentials

• Coolers filled with Ice
• Rady-to-eat food
• Outdoor tent or umbrellas
• Corn hole board and bags
• Football team decor and paperware
• Water bottles or individually packaged drinks
• Portable TV or radio to follow along with the game
• Decorative string lights
• Hand sanitizer and extra masks
• Sharpie for writing names on drink cups
• Seating or blankets to lay in the yard

Backyard Tailgate Essentials Checklist