Are your familiar with the concept of “The Bucket List”? The movie with the same name that follows Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as they try to complete a wish list of things to do before they “kick the bucket”? This inspired me to come up with a “Bucket List” of tailgate parties that every tailgater should experience before they die. In no particular order…
The Infield at Talladega Super Speedway – Most tailgate parties last three to four hours prior to the start of the event. The tailgate party at Talladega lasts for three to four days before the green flag drops. Just the sheer acreage that is the Talladega Infield makes it a living, breathing Mardi Gras for race fans or just anyone that enjoys a good party. Take it from the folks at Laidbackracing.com, “There is no party anywhere as big as the Talladega Infield! Actually, there is no party anywhere as big as Talladega, period!”
“The Zoo” inside Brainerd International Raceway – Drag racing usually involves a lot of smoke, burning tires, and sensory overload to anyone that has ever been to an NHRA event. The same words could describe the tailgating experience inside the infield of Brainerd International Raceway, a.k.a. “The Zoo”. A lot of the tailgaters in The Zoo never make it into their seats to watch the race because the race is secondary to the tailgating. The friendly hospitality in The Zoo is incredible and you will be offered more beers from strangers than at a fraternity party during rush week.
World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party: Florida vs. Georgia in Jacksonville – With a name like “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”, how can this not be on any self-respecting tailgater’s bucket list? The amount of booze poured at this tailgate party would make Mickey Mantle blush. Since the game is held on a neutral site, fans from both schools mingle and socialize up until game time. A popular tailgating game is trying to figure out which school’s co-eds are hotter. We’re all winners when playing this game.
Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha, Nebraska during The College World Series – If you build it, they will tailgate. You’ll come for the pure love of college baseball but you’ll come back again for the tailgate. An added bonus is if the LSU and Texas teams both make it to Omaha. The tailgating outside “the Blatt” when those teams’ fans are in town makes the tailgating fare something to behold. Men, make sure to invest in the industrial size bottle of Gold Bond. Omaha. June. Grilling outside. Using any other brand of baby powder and you’ll be making pancakes in your socks.
The Rose Bowl on January 1st – The BCS has really killed a lot of the spirit of the college football bowls but the Rose Bowl has somehow managed to maintain its rich traditions. Those traditions are apparent in the tailgating parking area prior to the “Granddaddy of Them All.” Because the Rose Bowl was built in 1921 there was not a lot of thought put into accommodating tailgaters. No problem. Tailgaters just park on the adjacent golf course and put out their chairs and fire up their grills. And because of the tradition of the game and the venue in which it is played, it does not matter which teams are competing.
Did we miss something? What classic tailgate party was left off this Bucket List? Leave a comment and state your case.
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