Hosting a Game Day Party? Here are Few Tips...

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Originally published 2020; Reposted September 1, 2023

It’s Party Time!

Football season — both college and pro — is starting up soon. If you have football fans (or any sports fans) in your home, these tips for hosting a game day party will help you make sure a good time is had by all.

However, be careful.

Once you know how to throw a great game day party, you may have friends and family inviting themselves over more often!

Have a Seat

No one wants to watch the big game standing up, so make sure you have plenty of seating space. Having enough seats may mean you have to limit the number of people at your party. Or you may want to borrow chairs if you don’t have enough seats for everyone. Of course, you’ll want to allow the adults to sit on couches and chairs, but you can put large comfortable cushions on the floor for the children.

Plan Ahead

Plan ahead when it comes to food. Don’t wait until the day of the game to decide what snacks you’ll have available. Make a list of the items you want to serve so you can see how much it could cost. If you think it will be too expensive, don’t be afraid to ask friends and family to bring a finger food as their cost of “admission” to your party.

Work Ahead

Make as much food ahead of time as you can. Doing this will help you to be sure you have everything you need as well as not having to cook or prepare the day of the party. Who knows, you may even be able to enjoy yourself while you are hosting because you don’t have to fret about preparing the food.

Easy Access to the Food

Set up the party so the food is easy to find and easy to reach. No one wants to have an empty plate or glass and have to go into the other room to get a refill. They might miss something important. Set up a cooler with drinks and food tables in the same room so guests won’t have to leave.

Grill Early

If you plan on grilling for the party, be sure that you get that done in plenty of time before the game starts. While it might be okay to grill while watching the game in a tailgate party, having one in your home means you’ll want to have everything done ahead of time so you can enjoy the game, too.

Alcohol Optional

Consider options besides alcoholic beverages. You may want to allow friends or family to bring their own drinks, but you may also want to forgo having them at all. Remember, if the party is at your house, you can decide whether or not they are served. Lemonade, soft drinks, punch, and non-alcoholic choices will most likely be fine and you won’t have to worry about friends drinking and driving after the game.

Paper Please

Don’t be a martyr. Even though it is nice to have ‘real’ plates and glasses, your guests won’t mind if you use paper. Using disposables will make clean-up a breeze and you won’t have to spend hours washing all the dishes after hosting a party.

This list of tips for hosting a game day party is by no means exhaustive. However, using these tips will give you the tools you need to plan and execute a great party as well as give you an opportunity to enjoy the food, friends, and family at the same time.