6 Ways to Class Up Your Big Game Watch Party

Look, anyone could just toss a whole bunch of snacks onto a table and call it a day—but that’s not how we roll, especially when we’re watching football. Instead, serve up trays that are specifically geared towards both teams playing. Think Missouri-inspired foods like barbecue meat and coleslaw, and Florida-inspired delicacies like Cuban sliders and crab legs (#fancy). See ya next year, pigs in a blanket.

Dubbed the “meal prep mom,” Dini Klein knows a thing or two about preparing a delicious spread for watching the game. In addition to more indulgent foods, she recommends having healthy snacks available too. “Crudité skewers are a great way to entertain during the pandemic, so nobody has to keep reaching their hands into the same platter,” Klein says. “I also like giving each person their own trio of dips in addition to a personalized game-day sub sandwich. Wash it all down with a cold beer straight from the glass bottle (because glass looks much more elegant than cans) and you're good to go!”

It can be really easy to go overboard with your football decorations and the last thing we want is for you to throw a tacky viewing party. Lifestyle influencer Kyle Boen has an easy solution for that. He says, “I think when you add glass bottles to an event it raises the level of sophistication and the sound of bottles clinking together sounds so much better than a can. Plus, you can easily dress up a bottle with decor to match your occasion.”

Drinking the same beer for an entire game can get boring, so switch things up and try making a few different beer cocktails. From Bloody Marys to margaritas to negronis, there’s a cocktail that’ll appeal to everyone. And don’t worry if beer isn’t your thing because there’s also a recipe for a hard cider cocktail. We highly recommend putting your glass pints in the freezer beforehand so your drinks stay super cold once you serve them.

If you’ve ever watched a football game with serious fans, you’ve probably seen the reaction when a penalty flag gets thrown or, um, doesn’t. Hand out these mini ones to your guests to keep them involved in the action. Encourage people to act like refs and throw flags on plays that call for one. It adds a fun extra element to game-watching.

Chances are you’re going to have some guests that don’t actually care for the game at all. In that case, it’s best to have some party game ideas at the ready to keep up the fun. We recommend having a range of games so guests of all ages can participate. One of our favorites for families is football charades or football doughnuts on a string. For the adult crowd, make your own commercial bingo cards or set up a football squares pool.