Texas Tailgate 101: How to Celebrate with Longhorn Fans

• Longhorn City Limits

Longhorn City limits, unlike Bevo Boulevard, is a free concert held on every match day on the LBJ lawn. The previous features include Kaitlin Butts, Antwan André “Big Boi” Patton, and Pat Green. It typically starts a few hours before the game, and you can enjoy listening to music with a beer in hand.

• Texas Exes

Texas Exes is yet another official tailgate, which, similar to others, starts a few hours before the game. It’s free for Texas Exes Alumni Association members, while for non-members, you need to pay $5 as an entry fee. But its air conditioning alone makes the fee worth it.

It’s the only location other than Bevo Boulevard, situated opposite the stadium, with a full-service cocktail bar. Kids 17 and under can get in free. Besides, it’s a great place for those who want to break from the heat during half-time.

Unofficial Tailgates

Other than the official ones, there are other places where you can get into, interact with fellow fans, sip on a drink, and have a great time. Here are a few:

• Horn-Ball Texas Tailgaters

It’s one of the most popular tailgates in the state, and as per the fans, the experience they get is worth the tickets. Tickets are $50 for adults for general admission and $250 for a season pass.  It includes complimentary food, beer and liquor, HD televisions, games, tables and chairs, restrooms, fans, and other privileges every match day. The tickets are, however, $20 and $100 for minors (under 21), excluding the alcohol. And it opens at least three hours before a home game.

• Longhorn Tailgaters

Longhorn tailgater is a group that tailgates for every home game. Located at the same location as Horn-Ball Texas Tailgaters, it’s completely donation-based and is open to everyone who contacts them beforehand on the website.

• 101X & KLBJ Tailgates

Both are located at the Scottish Rite Theater parking lot and are open to the public for free. They have plenty of options for food and drink, and you can even participate in a host of activities held every matchday. However, it’s only for adults over 21 years old and is a great place to spend a few hours before the game.   

Other than that, you can host your tailgate, and there’s an official way for that as well. Reach the University of Texas’ official fan experience partner, REVELxp, and reserve full-service tailgate services where the company takes care of everything. The prices start at $600 for a 10-by-10 tent for ten guests. You can customize food, beverage, and television packages.

Now that you have decided on tailgating in Texas, here are a few policies you must keep in mind:

• Every tailgating group must have a delegated person who oversights the space and ensures it’s cleaned and all the trash is bagged before leaving the property.
• Tailgating is permitted within the area bounded on the north by Martin Luther King Jr.
• Tailgating times are available until 6:00 p.m. Friday or 6:00 p.m. the day before an official home game.
• Parking lots or tailgating spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis unless you’ve reserved the space and paid in advance.

Tailgate Essentials for Every Party

Parking lot parties, chilled beers, and grilled food with your friends and fans is as exciting and fun as watching a nerve-wracking football game. And as the football season is knocking on the door, it’s time to plan your menu, stock your supplies, and get the gear needed for a successful tailgating.

Tailgate cooking items

If your tailgate foods include burgers, BBQ, fries, and other items that people often enjoy at these parties, then you need the following:

• Portable gas grill: Get a portable propane gas grill that features quick-fold legs, integrated wheels and a table, and separate knobs for each burner. Also, ensure it’s made of iron and finished with porcelain so you get perfect grills every time.
• Meat thermometer: It’s easy to get distracted on a game day. So, avoid over-grilled or undercooked meat by getting a meat thermometer. It helps you monitor the heat of the meat and lets you end up with perfectly cooked meat every time.
• Grills Utensil Set: If you don’t want to burn your hands, get grill utensils set to flip your burger and other items.

Tailgate food & drinks

Carry ready-to-eat food if you don’t plan to cook your food and spend time cheering, drinking, and having a great time with fellow Longhorn fans. It includes packaged snacks, smoked chicken wings, watermelon wedges, and chicken bites.

And for drinks, offer your guests something more spirited than just bottomless water. You can take beer, wine, and fruit drinks with you or get them from the tailgate's official and unofficial locations.

Tailgate comfort items

Aside from drinks, food, and cooking items, comfort items like tents, folding chairs, and cushions like lazy pillows are essential. Also, remember to carry an umbrella or pop-up canopy for shade and sunscreen, blankets, and layers if the day gets a bit cold. With these, you can ensure a comfortable time with your friends or watch the match.

Tailgate electric items

When it comes to powering your tailgate, you need a portable generator to uplift the mood of fellow fans by playing sound systems and keeping the grills sizzling all day. Whether you’re a low-key tailgater, who needs to charge phones and speakers or a die-hard fan who rises early to set up a grill, fans, TV, or cookers, a proper generator can make or break your day.

Jackery Solar Generators is one of the best out there. These are available in many sizes and capacities, so you can get any that fits your needs and power your electrical appliances for hours. Besides, these operate quietly and keep appliances safe even during power failure.

Tailgate games

Games are also essential to having fun tailgating with your friends or fellow fans. You can bring along cornhole, dominoes, ring toss, washers, or a frisbee. Hold friendly contests or tournaments to keep everyone entertained. You can also play hip-shaking music or pre-match commentary to ensure your tailgate party isn’t a snooze fest.

Tailgate clean-up

Abide by the policy by cleaning the tailgating spot. Carry trash bags (separate ones for recyclables and trash), a portable sink, paper towels, and sanitizer. But cleaning can be difficult, so you can clean as you go. Follow the instructions as follows:

• If you’re grilling, extinguish the coals completely by soaking them in water and safely disposing of them once you’re done.
• Avoid leaving any perishable food behind. If there are any leftovers, pack them up or give them away.
• Dump all the packets and other waste items in a trash bag, which goes in a trash can.

Try to keep the tailgate spot as clean as it was when you arrived. Be a considerate and responsible fan.

Jackery Solar Generators for Tailgate Party

A portable generator is a must when deciding what tailgate gear to carry for the party. The best tailgating generator must be portable and capable enough to keep most of your electrical appliances running and keep the spirit of the fans high all the time. Here are a few of the appliances you carry to a tailgating party:

Jackery is a well-known name for manufacturing solar products like solar panels, solar generators, and portable power stations. For tailgating, Jackery is one of the most efficient solar systems due to its ergonomic design, portability, and high capacity. You can charge most of your appliances for hours.

Solar generators combine Jackery Portable Power Stations and Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels, which collect and convert sunlight into AC electricity. The cables attached transmit the electricity to the connected appliances.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

Due to its expandability, Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is a versatile battery backup solution. Just add a battery pack, and you can use it to power heavy-duty appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, and others. Nonetheless, alone, it’s suitable for tailgating, off-grid living, camping, and emergency power backup at your residence. Its pull rods and wheel design make it easy to carry around.

Appliance Running Hours

• Portable Grill (700W): 2.4H
• Camera (60W): 29H
• Portable Speaker (200W): 8.7H
• Video Game (60W):29H
• Cooler (300W): 5.8H
• Fan (150W): 11.6H

Customer Review: “Set up on a partly sunny day to test and performed very well. Operated various appliances, including a mid-sized electric heater. Performed as expected. “- Julie Botsko

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus

Due to its ergonomic and portable design, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus fits right into the back of your car trunk and travels with you to your tailgating parties. Its unparalleled output and decent battery capacity let you run your camera, portable speaker, video game, cooler, fan, and other appliances for hours. Whether tailgating, RVing, camping, living off the grid, or others, it is a reliable option.

Appliance Running Hours

• Portable Grill (700W): 1.4H
• Camera (60W):18.0H
• Portable Speaker (200W): 5.1H
• Video Game (60W): 18.0H
• Cooler (300W): 3.4H
• Fan (150W): 7.1H

Customer Review: “We've had the unit for a while now and absolutely love how rugged it is. The solar panels work great, and the peace of mind of knowing we have a battery backup for all our devices and some appliances is awesome.”- John Brogan

How to Host Your Own Tailgate Party

Rather than going outdoors, you can host your tailgate party at home. With the right decorations, food, and seating arrangement for guests, you can host an ultimate tailgate party without visiting the stadium. Here’s how:

Set a Date and Time, and Invite Family and Friends

Start by deciding which matchday and location you’ll host your tailgate party. You can host the guests outdoors if the weather is great or inside your house if there’s enough space available. The key here is to do whatever you’re comfortable with. Now, ask your friends and family to arrive 30-45 minutes before the match starts or earlier, depending on your plan.

Put Together a Matchday Menu

When preparing a menu for a gathering, consider how many people you’re hosting, if there’s any theme to your party, if your guests have any food allergies, and what kind of food you’ll make. Once you’ve thought these through, search for recipes and cookbooks online to find the perfect combination of foods to savor as you cheer your team.

Aside from the food, keep a stock of drinks depending on the type of people you host. You can keep beers and alcohol for adults over 21 and fruit drinks for those under 21.

Shop for The Items

You can visit a supermarket a day or two earlier or order fresh groceries from a service like InstaCart or Amazon Fresh. Get everything you need, including cups, cutlery, paper plates, and other decorative items. Also, get pitchers and coolers to serve batched drinks like tea and lemonade.

Set the Mood With Decor

Get everyone pumped for the upcoming football match by decorating your house with flags, balloons, and tablecloths in your team's color. You can get napkins and tableware with your team’s colors and logos from local stores. Or you can opt for general sports-related items if you don’t feel like having team-specific decorations.

Set Up a TV and a Sound System

If you’re hosting the tailgating outside, you’ll need a TV and a sound system to watch the match. Indoor TVs aren’t always suitable for outdoor tailgates as you can barely see anything on the screen from the glare, which potentially hampers your viewing experience. So, consider investing in an outdoor TV and a sound system for the guests to catch up with the action.

Play Games

Get in the spirit of the game by engaging the guests in some competitive activities. Some popular tailgating games include horseshoes, cornhole toss, ladder ball, lawn bowling, giant jenga, lawn darts, etc. You can also arrange for little prizes like a team jersey or a hat to give to the winners to make it more fun and competitive.

Clean the Space Once Guests are Gone

Cleaning after a tailgate party is a big task, but with some organization, it’s manageable. Here’s how:

• Gather cleaning supplies like trash bags, brooms, plastic bins, and paper towels.
• Go around and collect the trash, paper utensils, and cups and put them in recycling bins.
• Check for any leftover items and put them to refrigerate or discard them.
• Wipe the chairs, tables, or any surfaces you use
• Remove all the decorations, dispose of them, or keep them if they are usable in the future.

Following these steps, you can ensure the area is kept clean and tidy after hosting your tailgate party.

Texas Tailgate FAQs

What size of solar generator do I need for my tailgating?

The size of the solar generator you need for your tailgating depends on how many appliances you power with it and for how long. For example, you’re powering a portable grill (700W) and cooler (300W) with Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus.

So, Working Time = Capacity of Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro in Wh × 0.85 / Operating wattage of the appliances.

Working Time =  2042.8Wh × 0.85 / 1000W = 1.73H

Note: There is some power loss while charging the devices. Hence, we have multiplied the overall battery capacity by 0.85.  

Where to tailgate for Texas football?

There are many popular officials such as Bevo Boulevard, Longhorn city limits, and Texas exes. At the same time, Horn-Ball Texas tailgaters, Longhorn tailgaters, and 101X & KLBJ tailgates are the popular unofficial ones.

What do you do at a tailgate party?

Tailgate parties are social gatherings where you connect with people, support your team, and celebrate sports.  

Why is it called a tailgate party?

The term “tailgating” comes from the back of a truck, wagon, or station wagon that folds down to serve as a meal table. Similarly, a tailgate party is a gathering at a parking space where food and drinks are served near the back of a parked vehicle, hence the name.  

Is Bevo Blvd free?

Yes, entry to Bevo Blvd is free, but you need to pay for the food and drinks you consume.

Final Thoughts

Texas tailgates, especially with the Longhorn fans, hold significant social and cultural importance for building a strong sense of community, cherishing the storied traditions, enhancing the school spirit, and having a solid experience. If you plan and pack properly, you can make a tailgate party, the one for record books. You may also carry the other essentials, such as the Jackery Solar Generators, to power your electrical appliances and keep the party going all day.