Whether or not you're a football fan, Super Bowl Sunday is always a fun excuse to meet up with friends and family over good food. Is your house too small to accommodate your dozens of friends? Bundle up, get together in the backyard, and stream the game together.
There are a few dos and don't's to hosting an outdoor event, including which tasty snacks you choose to serve, and making sure your guests are comfortable and happy to hang throughout the game. Read on how to make your next Super Bowl an outdoor blast.
One Month Before Game Day
Figure Out How You're Going to Show the Game
When it comes to showing the game outdoors you have two options: to use a projector or a large television that is portable. The latter may be more difficult to set up and won't have the same giant screen effect as the projector option. It's crucial to test out your setup before you send out the invites so you can be sure that the game can be played outdoors in good quality and loud enough so everyone can hear (with background noise).
You can either project the game onto a projector screen or more affordably, onto a large white sheet. If you decide to go the sheet route, be sure to pull it as taut as possible, so that the wind doesn't move the screen too much and the texture of the sheet (think wrinkles) doesn't affect the screen quality too much.
Here's a list of items you will need to watch the Super Bowl from a projector outside:
- A battery-powered projector
- A projector screen
- A device to stream the Super Bowl (Amazon Fire Stick, Roku Player) or a Laptop and an HDMI cable
- Wi-Fi connection
- A good speaker
Think of the Timeline
When you are beginning to plan out your Super Bowl bash, first think through the timeline of the event. While kickoff may start at 5:30 PM, you'll want to begin the party at least an hour in advance to give guests time to arrive, settle in, mingle, and eat a few snacks (read: nobody wants to miss the first play of the game).
Send Out Invites
When creating your guest list consider how many people your backyard can comfortably fit and how many people you are comfortable feeding. Once you've completed your list, go ahead and send out those invites so people can make plans ahead of time. You can either send invites by mail or more causally through text or email.
Decide Whether You Need to Rent Infrastructure
Depending on the scale of the event and the weather, you might consider renting a tent to sit underneath while watching the game. Weather is always a factor to consider when hosting an outdoor event, and in February, temps (especially as you get farther into the evening) can get chilly. Tents can help block wind and many rental companies have options to add heaters inside the tents. If you decide to forgo the tent option, you can still rent out some portable space heaters to keep your fellow fans warm. If you do, think about the power source needed to support it.
Additional chairs and tables may also need to be rented. Make sure you have enough seating for all of your guests. If you don't have enough chairs for everyone, you can request they bring their own lawn chairs if you'd rather save money on renting costs.
One Week Before Game Day
Plan Out Your Super Bowl Menu
Only two teams get to face off at the Super Bowl. But there is a bevy of food options to choose from to keep the fans snacking throughout the game. Begin thinking through exactly what you plan to serve on game day and how much food you'll need to feed all your guests. If you don't know what you want to serve, we have lots of inspiration for tasty Super Bowl entrees, snacks, appetizers, and desserts.
Gather Up Your Drinks
Whether you're sipping on a can of soda, beer, iced tea, or a glass of wine, you'll need to keep the drinks coming on game day. Go ahead and get your drinks now before they are all bought up, and ensure you have enough coolers to hold them all. Provide plenty of water at your event so guests stay hydrated. Also, if kids are attending the party, be sure to provide options for them as well: think fruit punch or lemonade.
Purchase Decorations and Party Supplies
You simply can't have a party without decorations. Luckily, this event has a definite theme and color scheme. Reach for the team's colors you're rooting for, or go for both if you have guests rooting for both sides. You can get football-themed plates, napkins, tablecloths, banners, and balloons.
A photo booth is an easy way for friends to remember the party—simply hang up a few tinsel fringe curtains in either green and brown (football colors) or alternate the teams' colors. If you're serving your food on a long rectangular table, you can purchase a football field tablecloth that will easily amplify your snack table.
Along with the decor, go ahead and pre-purchase any party supplies you may need. Spend time making a shopping list to take with you to the stores so you don't forget a thing.
Plan Super Bowl Games
While watching the game is the main event, planning a few additional activities is a fun way to get the group engaged. Simply setting out some lawn games, such as cornhole, giant Jenga, or horseshoes, is a great way to keep the fun going during dull moments. Another fun idea is to print out some bingo cards with a variety of brands that plan on airing commercials during the big game. The first one who wins gets a prize!
1-3 Days Before Game Day
Clean Up Your Backyard
If you're hosting your Super Bowl Bash in your backyard, you'll need to tidy it up. Rake up fallen leaves, mow the lawn, pick up any trash or toys, and sweep your porch. You may also need to clean your outdoor furniture.
Start Cooking
The best way to avoid a stressful game day is to do as much cooking and kitchen prep before game day as you can. Prepare any make-ahead dishes and store them in the fridge. Then simply, take them out on Sunday and reheat them as needed.
Game Day
Super Bowl Sunday is finally here! Now it's time to get your game face on. Here's a quick checklist of everything you need to do to get ready for kick-off:
- Purchase ice and get drinks in coolers an hour before the event
- Set up a projector or television and ensure it works perfectly
- Set up decorations
- Set out tables and chairs
- Place all serving utensils, plates, napkins, cutlery, etc.
- Be sure your bathroom is stocked with toiletries for guests
- Set up portable space heaters
- Serve food, abiding by food safety rules
Additional Super Bowl Party Tips
Make Sure Guests Stay Warm
If you live in a cold-weather zone, nothing will put a damper on your party like shivering guests leaving halfway through the game. Stocking your patio (or wherever you're hosting) with throws and fleece blankets will help everyone stay cozy and happy throughout.
Add Lighting
If your lawn doesn't get ample lighting at night, you should probably string up a few lights so that guests can move around and see their surroundings and each other clearly.
Fire Up the Grill
Utilizing your outdoor grill will be the best way to keep the food coming while you interact with your guests. Thisgrilling guidewill walk you through how to prepare food on the grill in any season, whether or not you're already a pro.
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