It’s difficult to sum up the appeal of tailgating in just a few words. This  American custom goes back hundreds of years, and yet it continues to grow and evolve. Many older customs tend to die out in favor of newer trends. Tailgating is not one of these activities that have gone extinct; instead, it is at the peak of its popularity and shows no signs of slowing down. What are the reasons for this constant upward trend? The answer is simple: Tailgating has no strict boundaries, and it has a great amount of overlap with other hobbies and passions. Tailgate games are a timeless way to have a blast with both close friends and total strangers. The pinnacle of American cuisine can be found within the boundaries of any tailgating event. These parties used to be held exclusively around football parties, but they’ve spread to hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, and even weddings and family reunions. They are more than just an event, they are a cultural touchstone for the United States. Needless to say, crafts and creativity play a major role in tailgating. If you go on sites like Pinterest, Etsy, Facebook, or Imgur, you can see amazing and astonishing examples of creativity. If you’re adept with a pencil, knitting needles, or a paintbrush, you may be wondering how you can add an extra bit of flair to your upcoming tailgating event. We’ve got you covered with three crafty tips that will have other guests oohing and ahhing.

Create a “Five Star” Atmosphere For Your Food and Drinks

The French brag about their crepes and cheese, the Germans will offer you a rich chocolate cake, and the Swedish have the most famous meatballs on the planet. However, none of these culinary confections come close to American barbecue. Barbecue is a long, slow way of cooking meat that leads to incredibly delicious results. These recipes are essential for filling up your stomach and giving you the energy to participate in tailgate games. While the other tailgaters will likely be delighted just to smell the delicious scents wafting from your trailer, why not try to tantalize all five senses? Crafty tailgaters have come up with fantastic ways to serve up lunch, dinner, and snacks. Glass jars with custom printed labels are one way to transport and easily identify your sauces and marinades in style. A vintage tailgate stand is a gorgeous way to serve up treats and snacks for your guests. Finally, you can show some team spirit through turf table spreads, logo shaped drink tables, and custom printed napkins. When friends and fans tuck in, they’ll be amazed at your gorgeous spread (and your delicious food).

Tailgate Tables That Will Catch Eyes and Drop Jaws

Creating custom tailgate tables should be left to the experts, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be involved in the process. Having a custom table created for your tailgating event is an awesome way to exercise your artistic side. Planning out the design of the board and what you want to represent is a great exercise for your experimental side. Do you want to show off your love for your favorite team, your family, or maybe just display an abstract or colorful design that looks incredible? Custom cornhole or beer pong tables are guaranteed to impress other tailgaters. Furthermore, custom tables make an excellent memento that last a lifetime. Getting unique boards created for Super Bowl events, big wins for your favorite team, and other notable dates is a great way to commemorate the occasion. If you prefer, you can look for a simple design that shows your commitment to the team you stand behind. Either way, you can bring that visual flair to an event that really rounds out the party and creates a special touch.

Don’t Forget the Accessories!

Some crafty folk have turned their eye to the accessories you play tailgate games with. Bean bags, rings for tossing, and other small accessories are easy to create and you can have a lot of fun with them. Creating bird-themed bean bags when the Baltimore Ravens or the Arizona Cardinals are playing, dolphin rings for a Miami game, or washers bearing the Fleur-de-lis if you’re a New Orleans Saints fan is a fun way to show off your team spirit.

Bump Up the Overall Atmosphere With Creative Decorations

Imagine for a moment that you’ve been invited to a party. You head inside to see many of the usual staples of a party: there are speakers playing music, a table with finger food, and other guests. However, the walls are completely bare and there are no decorations or personal effects. You’d likely feel as if your party spirit had been a little bit dampened. Even though tailgating events are meant to be temporary, there can be a similar effect without any decorations or visual props up. Luckily, a creative tailgater can turn that around! Whether it’s signs to point people towards the tailgate games, cardboard cutouts, streamers, or banners, a little bit of creativity helps the event really come together. For inspiration, look at your team colors and logo. You may also want to decorate according to the season. Bright colors can sharpen up a grey spring day, and cooler shades like blue and white can contrast nicely against a hot summer afternoon.

If you’re into both art and tailgating, why not combine your two passions? The three ideas we suggest above are just a start. Before long, your tailgating crafts will be the talk of the event! Are you looking for inspiration? There are tons of online communities and resources that may spark a fire inside you. If you need more information about the tailgating experience and how you can make the most of it, then visit the All American Tailgate blog for an expert POV.