Football season is back and we couldn’t be more excited! There’s no better excuse than game day to get your friends and family together for a party! Don’t stress – we have some simple tips that will make it easy to throw together! Our D.C. Regional Director, Kendall, is a big football fan and she gave us her best game day party ideas.
The Decorations
Skip the plastic solid-color tablecloths that melt as soon as you lay down your hot nacho dip, and invest a few more dollars into higher quality football decorations you can use season after season. The perfect solution is a heavy-duty vinyl tablecloth striped like a football field. Easy to set up and wipe down clean at the end of the night. You can find some of your favorite team mini decorations at your local Party City or on Amazon. You can also have fun with a team bucket for keeping a few beers on ice, and super inexpensive beaded necklaces in your team’s colors.
The Drinks
As with any party, have a few beverage options for your guests – both with and without alcohol. If your main adult beverage is beer, be the host with the most … selection! Find out what your friends like to drink, so they don’t need to pack a cooler when they come to your house. Save money on bottled water and instead, use a glass pitcher with filtered tap water. I love adding fresh flavor to mix it up – cucumber slices or lemons add a nice touch and taste delicious! Have plenty of juice boxes or mini bottles of water on hand for the kids too!
Football Pools
Want to make your party a little more “interesting”? Create a free printable football squares page, and list one team name at the top and the other along the side. Let those guests that care to place a wager (or make it free fun) write their name in a square or multiple squares. Collect the cash into a clear bowl, vase or pitcher so everyone can see the prize! Once all squares are filled, randomly assign the numbers 0-9 across the first row of squares on the top, and again randomly down the left side.
At the end of each quarter, look at the last digits of each team’s score, and figure out which square is designated for that score. For example, 17-13 would be “7” across the top, and “3” down the side. Whoever’s name is occupying that score’s square, wins for the quarter!
The Food
Food can make or break a party, and when you’re planning on a 4 to 5-hour event like a football game viewing party, you’ll want plenty of options, both healthy and hearty.
One way to feed a crowd is with a few Mega Italian Sub Sandwiches, made with a long loaf of French bread and packed with flavorful Pepperoni and Salami.
Ingredients (one sandwich serves 4-6):
• 1 loaf French Bread sliced longways
• 3 Tbs prepared pesto
• 1/2 cup mild giardiniera, such as Marconi
• 6-8 slices each: Pepperoni, Cracked Black Pepper Salami, and Ham (I also like Herb Turkey Breast)
• 4-6 thin slices provolone or mozzarella
• 5-6 slices tomato
• 3 long leaves Romaine lettuce
Directions: Spread pesto across bottom half, and giardiniera on top half. Layer meats, cheese, tomato and finally lettuce. Place top half onto sandwich, and slice into 4-6 servings.
Buffalo Chicken Dip is also a great game-day snack, because it’s easy to prepare and always a crowd favorite.
Ingredients
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened.
• 1 cup cooked chicken breast.
• 1/2 cup Buffalo wing sauce.
• 1/2 cup ranch or blue cheese salad dressing.
• 2 cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese.
• French bread baguette slices, celery ribs or tortilla chips.
Directions: Preheat oven to 350°. Spread cream cheese into an ungreased shallow 1-qt. baking dish. Layer with chicken, wing sauce and salad dressing. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with baguette slices.
My favorite tip of all is to Hire Party Host Helpers! Our team of professional party staff can help setup, serve, refresh drinks and more this game day! There’s no need to make sure your guests have what they need, let us do that for you so you don’t miss a single minute of the game!