It’s football season and along with rooting for your favorite team, Northwest Indiana tradition calls for the tailgate party. Half the difference between a great lot where you can set up your space and a long cold morning is what made it into the trunk the night before. For newcomers, here’s the quick answer: A tailgate party is a pregame gathering in the stadium parking lot, with food, drinks and games served out of cars and truck beds. This checklist covers tailgate essentials so you can pack smart and enjoy the day, whether you’re heading to South Bend, Chicago or a backyard watch party in Highland.

What is a tailgate party?

A tailgate party is a way to celebrate game day by gathering in the stadium parking lot before game time. It includes all the food, drinks and games you need to get in the team spirit, and they’re all served out of cars and truck beds, usually starting two to four hours before kickoff. The name comes from the dropped pickup truck tailgate as the original serving table. Football owns the tradition, but the same setup works for concerts and other big events.

The point is enjoying the hours before the game, spent with fellow fans. In the Region, tailgating is as much about community as it is about football. In Lake and Porter Counties, you’ll see grills loaded with brats, coolers packed with regional craft beers and tables covered with deli salads. Families bring folding chairs, alumni groups set up tents and friends share recipes that have been passed down for years. The tradition is flexible enough to fit any crowd, whether you’re cooking for two or serving 50.

What do you need for a tailgate?

Every tailgate comes down to five categories: Cooking, serving, food and drinks, comfort and cleanup. Here’s the checklist:

Category	Core Items	Easy to Forget
Cooking	Grill, fuel, tongs, spatula	Venue rules on open flames
Serving	Folding tables, chairs, plates, cups, napkins	Extra chairs, paper towels
Food and Drinks	Mains, chips, sandwiches, potato salad, beer, water	Enough water, ice packs
Comfort	Pop‑up tent, speaker, blankets	Sunscreen, extra layers
Cleanup	Trash bags, wipes	Recycling bags, hand sanitizer

What kind of food should you bring to a tailgate?

A solid tailgate spread needs one main, two or three snacks or dips, one cold side, one dessert and drinks. Once you fill each slot, you’ve covered every appetite without loading the car with extras.

Your neighborhood Strack & Van Til has all the food you need to make your tailgate party as fun as the game itself. Check out the Meat & Seafood Department for great grilling options, such as pub burger varieties, brats and kabobs. “Our high-quality meats are tasty, tender and full of flavor and perfect for your tailgate food menu,” says Meat & Seafood Department Director Gary Teachman.

“The Deli Department is the perfect place to pick up some of ‘Our Own’ Fried Chicken, sub sandwiches and veggie and fruit trays, plus coleslaw, potato salad and a wide selection of sides for tailgating,” notes Director Kristin Snow.

Visit the Bakery for delectable dessert trays that complete your pre-game meal. “Serve brownies and cookies from Strack & Van Til to score a lot of points with game day tailgaters,” Director Stephanie Flynn says.

Portion planning matters as much as menu variety. If you’re feeding a dozen friends, plan for about a half‑pound of meat per person and at least two sides. Strack & Van Til’s party food math and meat per persons make it easy to calculate servings so you don’t run short or overbuy.

For details on Strack & Van Til tailgate food and specific menu suggestions, see the tailgate food ideas.

Gear worth the trunk space

Some items earn their spot every time:

• Grill plus fuel, tongs and a spatula. Check venue rules before packing charcoal.
  
  
• A pop‑up tent for sun or drizzle, folding tables and more chairs than the headcount.
  
  
• Plates, cups, napkins, paper towels and a speaker for music.
  
  
• Trash bags, because every lot has rules and no lot has enough cans.

Think of this as your hardware list. In Northwest Indiana, weather can shift quickly. While portable fans are handy when the temps are still warm, a tent, extra layers, a portable heater or extra blankets can make late‑season games more comfortable.

The cooler plan

Two coolers make the difference:

• One for drinks that gets opened constantly.
• One for food that stays shut.

Fill roughly a third of each with ice and freeze water bottles to double as ice packs. Raw food rides sealed at the bottom of the food cooler, away from anything eaten cold. Perishables stay under 40°F and come off the table within two hours.

This two‑cooler rule is simple but effective. It keeps drinks cold without risking food safety and makes it easier to organize when you’re serving a crowd. In Northwest Indiana, where early fall temperatures can swing from hot afternoons to chilly evenings, this method ensures food stays safe whatever the weather.

Timing, parking and lot rules

Arrive two to three hours before kickoff; lots fill even earlier for big games. Read the venue’s lot rules the week before, because restrictions on glass, grills and open flames vary from lot to lot. Pack your car in reverse so the first thing needed goes in last. Budget cleanup time before heading in and leave a bag for the ride home.

Strack & Van Til makes the food half of the checklist easy. One stop on the drive to the lot covers mains, sides and drinks, with SVT To Go! orders ready at pickup.

Stocking the checklist at Strack & Van Til

For tailgate essentials, everything you need is in‑store:

• Meat counter brats and patties, deli sandwiches and sides, chips and bakery buns.
  
  
• Bags of ice, charcoal and beverages on the same receipt.
  
  
• SVT To Go! pickup at locations across Lake and Porter Counties, timed for the drive out.
  
  
• Planning ahead? Order tailgate food in person in the Strack & Van Til Deli Department, by phone at 219-961-9119 or online at strackandvantil.com/catering. Orders must be placed 24 hours in advance and special bakery requests must be submitted 48 hours prior to pick up.

FAQ: Tailgate essentials

What is a tailgate party? A tailgate party is a pregame gathering in a stadium lot with food, drinks and games. It usually starts two to four hours before kickoff.

What do I need for a tailgate? You’ll need cooking gear, serving supplies, food and drinks, comfort items and cleanup tools. The checklist above covers each category.

What do people always forget at a tailgate? Extra chairs, paper towels, sunscreen and enough water are the most common items left behind.

How do I keep food safe at a tailgate? Use two coolers, keep perishables under 40 degrees F and remove food from the table within two hours.

Can I order food ahead of time? Yes. Strack & Van Til offers SVT To Go! pickup across Lake and Porter Counties, making it easy to stock up before heading out.

How early should I set up for a tailgate in Northwest Indiana? Arrive three hours before kickoff for rivalry games; lots fill quickly.

What’s the best way to clean up after a tailgate? Pack extra trash bags and recycling sacks and leave the lot cleaner than you found it.

Where can I pick up tailgate food in Lake and Porter Counties? You can find all the tailgate food you need at your local Strack & Van Til. Order in-person in the Deli Department, by phone at 219-961-9119 or at strackandvantil.com/catering. Pick it up on your drive to the game with Strack & Van Til To Go! Pick up is available at all stores in Lake and Porter Counties. Orders must be placed 24 hours in advance and special bakery requests must be submitted 48 hours prior to pick up.  

Check the list, hit the road

Print the tailgate essentials checklist, prepare in advance and enjoy your tailgate party. That way, you’ll spend game day with fellow fans instead of worrying about what you forgot. The categories, the two‑cooler rule, the early arrival — these are the basics that make tailgating smoother. You can order tailgate food ahead of time in person in the Strack & Van Til Deli Department, by phone at 219-961-9119 or online at strackandvantil.com/catering. Or place your order and pick it up on your drive to the game with Strack & Van Til To Go! Pick up is available at all stores in Lake and Porter Counties.

Where’s the best place to get tailgate food?

There’s no better place for easy tailgate food than at your hometown grocer, Strack & Van Til. Whether you’re in Hammond, Schererville, Crown Point or Valparaiso, you’ll find all the entrees, sides, produce and desserts you need to kick off all the fun before kickoff. So be sure to take your tailgate party into the end zone with plenty of tailgate essentials from Strack & Van Til.

By Karyn G. Zafran