Our ideas for keeping this party simple, portable, and easy to clean up will help you focus on what tailgating is all about: good friends enjoying the great outdoors together.

Get Ready

Tailgating isn't just for football Saturdays. Any sunny fall afternoon is a great time to assemble a team of friends, pack some handy snacks, and head outside to enjoy the gorgeous fall color.

Set the Scene

Yardage of fabric and a few extra-long bamboo garden stakes make a low-cost canopy that creates ambience, covers the food, and provides shelter from the sun. Use tent stakes to make holes in the ground, stick the bamboo into the holes, then drape the fabric over the top of the poles and secure it with twine. If your car has a luggage rack, tie the back corners of the canopy to it.

Double-Duty Basket

A large woven trunk is a neat and practical way to cart around sporting goods, plus it offers seating for lunch (bring a blanket or thin throw pillow for extra cushion).

Sophisticated Picnic Fare

Serve a selection of soups plus simple snacks that don't require utensils, plates, bowls, or electricity. Fresh and dried fruits, nuts, flatbreads, and crackers fill the bill. For a drink, offer apple cider served from a large splatterware jug that has a spigot.

Brown Bag Buffet

Pack snacks in plain brown paper bags at home. To serve, just roll down the tops of the bags and you've got serving "bowls" that can be thrown away at the end of the day. Choose foods that can be stored and served at room temperature.

Super Soups

Vintage insulated bottles are appealing and practical for toting and serving soup. Keep the soups simple (purchased or homemade) and drinkable (nothing too chunky) to avoid the need for spoons.

Lap-Friendly Lunch

Serve lunch on large woven chargers, each lined with a dish towel. Line the chargers at home, then stack them and pack them in the car for quick retrieval.