Top University Tailgate Party Locations
It’s fall – “hittin’ weather” as they like to say in the South – and all across America football fields are filled with players of all ages hitting the gridiron on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays.
And heck, even on Thursdays and Mondays and sometimes, even Tuesdays. Football is a big deal in America.
There’s no better place to be for this than college towns and university campuses. And it doesn’t have to be one of the “big boys.” In fact, if you’re new to this kind of thing, then go to a small school – there you can can more easily mingle around the tailgate area, even plop down and tailgate yourself and probably even get a cheap ($10?) ticket into the game.
Where And When To Visit American Universities In The Fall
These schools are all over America, in the Northeast, Midwest, South and all the way to the West Coast. For the best places, I recommend the Northeast such as traditional Ivy League schools, the South and the Midwest. Note that if you’re going to be anywhere but in the South, do this before middle October as it gets cold in a lot of those places. By November it even gets cold in the South.
The Best College Tailgate Parties And Locations
Of course, there’s nothing like being at one of the big schools on a college football weekend. Here’s a rundown of PubClub.com’s top recommendations. Note that finding accommodations on football weekends is very difficult, most of these schools are located in small towns, people pay for the privilege of putting down a tent in a tailgate area so you can’t, and getting a ticket to the game can be difficult to impossible and expensive.
Now that those boring disclaimers are out of the way, time to tailgate party!
1.) The Grove, Ole Miss. Hottie Toddie! This is the battle cry of the people who like to say – and for good reason – “we may have lost the game but we’ve never lost a tailgate party.”
2.) University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. The multi-time and defending National Champions have a great tailgate scene on The Quad, a big grass area a few blocks from the stadium. Be sure and watch the band and cheerleaders assemble for the Elephant Stomp. Walk along University Blvd., and if you can’t get into the game then go to one of the bars to watch it and then wait for the crowds to come back for post-game partying.
3.) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. The crazy Cajuns boil up one heck of a tailgate party with creole cooking and kegs of beer. Anyone is welcome to join their parties. Except Alabama fans. Tip: Don’t wear crimson.
4.) Michigan, Ann Arbor. UM may have a lot of engineers as students and alumni but not all are nerds and they like to tailgate. They are very proud of “Big Blue” and the stadium, which the call “the Big House.”Tip: Don’t drink while you’re walking on a sidewalk. Only on the grass (I know, odd rule but play the game).
5.) The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. UT has the best pre-game traditions of any school in America. First, you must go along the Tennessee River and check out the Volunteer Navy, a series of houseboats tied up to docks across the street from the stadium. Then go just past the main entrance by the stadium to watch the band march through campus and stop to do the “Salute To The Hill” And since the Vols won’t be very good this year, pick up a ticket to the game in time to watch the pre-game “splitting of the ‘T'” as the players run onto the field. And if you were unable to sneak in any Jack Daniels to put in your Coke, some UT fan will surely offer you a nip or two.
So get out there and visit an American campus during college football season. It’s one of the best travel experiences you can have during the fall anywhere in the world.
Cheers!
Leave a Reply