It’s almost August, and that means the start of preseason Football!

Whatever your team colors, whatever your style of tailgating, its time to get ready to party while cheering on your favorite football team! Our Party tips are just what you need to throw the perfect Football Party or Tailgating party for your friends and family; whether you go to the game or enjoy it at home.

Tailgating/Football Party invitation ideas:

• Attach a real game ticket to your printed card invitation.
• Send an inflatable football to your guests, with the details written with marker. They inflate the football to get the details!
• Create invitations that look like game tickets, include party kick off time, seat number, car location, etc. You can create these yourself on your computer.
• Cut a football shape out of construction paper and use fancy markers and make laces with string or yarn.

Football Party Activities and Games

• Football Trivia
• Have penny game pools – who will get the first touch down, what lame song will the cheerleaders do a dance to, etc.
• Send them a Football clacker or a Football whistle with the party info attached with a piece of paper.
• Do the pick a square game/pool (see our Super Bowl party tip for more information)
• Use cheer phones to catch the football in the cheer phone game, etc.
• Have a tailgating king and queen – sash, tiara, crown, etc. – make them wear it into the game.

Football or Tailgating Party Food Ideas and Recipes

Cut slices of pumpernickel bread out in the shape of footballs using cookie cutters. Make mini Rueben sandwiches by adding corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing. Garnish the “footballs” with shredded mozzarella cheese placed on the sandwiches to resemble laces.

For dessert, serve brownies and cookies (football shaped), or make a football cake using Wilton’s™ “First and Ten” Football pan. It comes with easy to follow directions, and if you’re feeling adventurous, add another cake in a different flavor to accompany the football on the field…a tribute to your favorite team on game day. Make the other cake in a shape inspired by the mascot, symbol or colors of the team you’ll be cheering for. Set the cake up on an indoor/outdoor grass “turf” board and hear the crowd roar for more

This party calls for beer, pop, mineral water, punch, and coffee…nothing hi-brow! Make sure that you have plenty of ice on hand – usually one pound per adult guest.

Seven Layer Dip
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef 
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans 
4 cups shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend 
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream 
1 cup guacamole 
1 cup salsa 
1 (6 ounce) can black olives, chopped 
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes 
1/2 cup chopped green onions Directions
In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Set aside to drain and cool to room temperature. 
Spread the beans into the bottom of a 9×13 inch serving tray that is about 1 1/2 inches deep. Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded cheese on top of beans. Sprinkle beef on top of cheese. Spread sour cream very slowly on top of beef. Spread guacamole on top of sour cream. Pour salsa over guacamole and spread evenly. Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese. Sprinkle black olives, tomatoes, and green onions on top. 
You can serve this dish immediately, or refrigerate it over night and serve cold. I think it tastes better at room temperature.

Veggie Pizza Bites 
Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls 
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 
1 (1 ounce) package Ranch-style dressing mix 
2 carrots, finely chopped 
1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers 
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 
1/2 cup fresh broccoli, chopped 
1/2 cup chopped green onions Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). 
Roll out crescent rolls onto a large non-stick baking sheet. Stretch and flatten to form a single rectangular shape on the baking sheet. Bake 11 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Allow to cool. 
Place cream cheese in a medium bowl. Mix cream cheese with 1/2 of the ranch dressing mix. Adjust the amount of dressing mix to taste. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust. Arrange carrots, red bell pepper, broccoli and green onions on top. Chill in the refrigerator approximately 1 hour. Cut into bite-size squares to serve. 

Grilled Chicken Wings 

1/2 c. prepared mustard
1/2 c. honey
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 to 1 tsp. curry powder

Prebake chicken wings 20 minutes. Cook on grill. Baste with sauce when brown.