How to Throw a Football Party Your Friends Will Love

Football season is here… and you know what that means!

How to throw a football party your friends will love

You have an excellent excuse to get your girlfriends together, put out a ridiculously good spread, wear something cute, and pretend you’re watching the game for the football.

Okay, maybe you actually love football. Maybe you know every player, every stat, and exactly what a third-and-seven means.

Or maybe you just know that football season means fall, friends, food, and fun. Either way, why should the guys have all the fun?

This year, skip the boring bowl of pretzels on the counter and throw a football party your friends will still be talking about long after the final whistle.

With a few fun decorations, an easy-but-impressive menu, a festive outfit, and a theme that gives your party some personality, you can turn game day into an event.

And the best part? You don’t have to spend a fortune or spend three days in the kitchen. So let’s get this party started!

This blog is all about how to throw a football party your friends will love.

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FIRST, PICK YOUR PARTY VIBE

Before you start shopping, decide what kind of party you want to throw.

You could go traditional with footballs, turf green, team colors, and a little stadium-inspired décor. Or you can make it a little more you.

Here are a few fun football party themes to consider…

1. Football & Mahjong 🏈🀄

Why choose between football and mahjong when you can have both? Set up a mahjong table in a separate area where your girlfriends can gather for a few hands during the game.

Put out your mahjong tiles, racks, and a fun scoreboard, and let the football fans watch the game while everyone else gets their game on.

You could even give the mahjong table a football twist with team-colored tiles or little football-themed decorations. Find your team tiles HERE.

Let’s be honest… the football game may be on the TV, but the real competition could be happening at the mahjong table. 😉

Serve easy-to-grab snacks and drinks nearby so nobody has to choose between their hand and the food table.

It’s the perfect combination of football, friendship, a little friendly competition, and a whole lot of fun.

If you want just a basic “get started” mahjong set, check THIS ONE out. I bought this when I got started, and I really like it.

2. Touchdowns & Cocktails 🏈🍹

This one is for the girls who appreciate a good drink as much as a good game. Create a signature cocktail for the party and give it a football-inspired name. Try these…

And don’t forget a festive nonalcoholic option for anyone who isn’t drinking. This Party Punch is always a winner.

AMAZON IDEAS

3. Eat Your Team Colors 🏈🍽️

Why should team spirit stop at the decorations? Put it right on the food table!

Choose your team’s colors and create a spread that makes your guests do a double take. You don’t have to make everything match perfectly… just pick a few colorful foods and let the theme do the work.

For example, if your team colors are red and white, think caprese skewers (cherry tomatos/mozzarella pearls/basil), strawberries, salsa, and red velvet cupcakes. Have fun with this!

You can even put out two bowls of candy or snacks in your team’s colors and let your guests munch their way to victory. Or make a snack mix with M&Ms in your team colors. Check out the Tailgate Chex Party Mix HERE.

Bonus points for naming your dishes after the team!

And if you’re feeling extra ambitious, create a team-color charcuterie board. Arrange cheeses, meats, fruit, crackers, and other goodies in your team’s colors. It looks impressive, but it’s surprisingly easy to pull together.

The goal isn’t Pinterest perfection. It’s to create a food table that makes everyone say, “Oh my gosh, this is so cute!” And isn’t that exactly what we want from a party?

AMAZON IDEAS

4. Game Day Glam 🏈👄

Who says game day can’t include a little pampering? Turn your football party into a game day glam day with mini spa treatments and manis/pedis.

Set up a small “spa station” with nail polish in your team’s colors and let everyone give their nails a game-day makeover.

You can keep it simple with one team color on each hand, alternating colors, or go all out with football-themed nail art.

Not a nail-art person? No problem. Grab some under-eye patches and pour yourself a drink. You do you on spa day. 😂

Want to take it up a notch? Add some other spa touches like comfy spa headbands and pedi flip-flops in team colors, sheet masks, hand scrubs, and fab lotions.

You could even make it a “Game Day Glow-Up” and have everyone arrive with bare nails and leave with a fresh team-color mani.

And here’s where you can really have fun… create a little Best Game Day Nails competition. Let everyone vote for the most creative manicure and give the winner a tiny prize.

Because sometimes the most important thing happening during the third quarter isn’t what’s happening on the field. It’s whether your topcoat has dried yet. 💅🏈

Another idea… makeover day. Replace the spa with makeup and blowouts. And add a little team flair with temporary tattoos. You should feel pretty on game day!

AMAZON IDEAS

Game Nails

NEXT, SET THE SCENE WITH EASY FOOTBALL DECORATIONS

You don’t need to turn your living room into an NFL stadium. In fact, I’d recommend choosing three or four statement decorations instead of covering every available surface with footballs.

Start with a football-themed table runner or faux-turf runner. Add a few footballs, team pennants, football-themed napkins, and a fun centerpiece. I love flowers in team colors for my table.

A football serving tray or football-shaped charcuterie board can also do double duty as décor and serveware.

AMAZON IDEAS

Create a Game-Day Food Table 🏈🥣

Your food table will be the star of the show, so give it a little attention. Use different heights to make the table look more interesting.

Put dips in small bowls, use cake stands for desserts, and place your larger serving dishes toward the back. You can even label your food with cute football names…

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip (call it First Down Dip)
Game Day Mini Tacos (Touchdown Tacos)
Guacamole (Game Day Guacamole)
Restaurant-Style Buffalo Chicken Wings (Hail Mary Hot Wings)
Big Mac Sliders (Big Mac Attack Sliders)
Brooke’s Best Bombshell Brownies (Two-Point-Turnover Brownies)

Because honestly, food tastes better with a fun name.

BUILD A MENU THAT IS EASY TO EAT

Nobody wants to balance a plate of spaghetti while trying to watch football. Keep your menu casual, bite-sized, and easy to grab.

Here’s a winning lineup…

The Main Event 🏈🌮

Offer up some delicious main dishes like those mentioned above… sliders, buffalo chicken bites, chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches, mini tacos, or flatbread pizzas. Or just go with a sandwich tray.

The Snack Attack 🏈🍿

Then add in the snacks… guacamole/chips, cheese/crackers, popcorn, party mix, or a simple charcuterie board.

Everyone loves dips and spreads. Ask your guests to bring their favorites.

Something Fresh 🏈🥒

This is where you can sneak some color onto the table. I always have a vegetable tray on hand. Those who are eating low-carb and vegetarians can enjoy the dips and spreads with the veggies.

Bonus… I roast the leftover veggies for that night’s dinner.

You don’t have to turn your football party into a wellness retreat. Just give people a few options besides cheese and carbs.

And Yes… Have Dessert 🏈🧁

Please don’t be the person who invites everyone to a football party and serves only celery. Make room for something fun!

Brownie bites, chocolate-covered pretzels, football-shaped cookies, cupcakes, or a simple sheet cake decorated in team colors are all easy options.

That said, I do always like to have a small fruit tray as well for those who are watching their calories.

DON’T FORGET THE DRINKS

Set up a separate drink station so guests aren’t constantly opening your refrigerator. Offer water, iced tea, lemonade, beer, wine, a signature cocktail (as mentioned above). And don’t forget the nonalcoholic option.

And here’s a hosting tip you’ll appreciate… label everything. Also, nobody should have to open six cabinets looking for a glass. Make everything easy to find.

YOUR FOOTBALL PARTY OUTFIT

Now for the really important part. What are you going to wear? You absolutely do not have to wear a giant team jersey unless that’s your thing.

Here are some tried-and-true gameday looks…

Casual & Cute 🏈👖

Wear blue jeans and a team-color top, or team-color jeans, a white or black top, and a fun scarf with a team design. Add cute sneakers and statement earrings.

AMAZON IDEAS

Sporty Chic 🏈👟

Choose Black leggings, an oversized team sweatshirt, a baseball cap, and sneakers.

AMAZON IDEAS

Elevated Game Day 🏈📿

Kick it up a notch with dark jeans, a pretty sweater in your team color, ankle boots, and gold jewelry. Another option (and my very favorite) is a cute and casual dress in black or your team color and cowboy boots.

AMAZON IDEAS

Tailgate Glam 🏈👢

Go with your favorite jeans, a leather jacket, a sparkly team top, boots, and great jewelry. Sassy!

AMAZON IDEAS

If you’re hosting at home… wear something comfortable. You’re the hostess, not the quarterback.

ADD ONE THING YOUR GUESTS WON’T EXPECT

This is the secret to throwing a party people remember… don’t just give them food and a television. Give them an experience!

Try one of these…

Football Prediction Cards 🏈✏️

Have everyone predict the final score, the first team to score, the player of the game, and who will win.

If you have time, make up some fun cards. The winner gets a prize… something small but awesome. Maybe a funny T-shirt?

Woman Over 50 Winning

Best Game-Day Outfit Contest 🏈👗

Have everyone vote for best team spirit, cutest outfit, most creative, or best accessories. Winner gets bragging rights… or a bottle of wine.

The Football Party Photo Booth 🏈📷

Set up a little photo area with a football, sunglasses, pennants, and a cute sign. You could even create a sign that says “In my defense, there were margaritas.”

Or my personal favorite… “Aging Like a Fine Wine. Acting Like Cheap Tequila.”

MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF

Here’s one final piece of advice… don’t try to do everything yourself. Again, ask your friends to bring something… a dessert, drinks, or an appetizer. You provide the main dish and the party setup. Done.

Current entertaining advice also emphasizes prepping food ahead and dividing responsibilities among guests to make game-day hosting easier and less stressful.

Because the entire point of throwing a football party is to enjoy it with your friends… not spend the entire afternoon sweating in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun.

via GIPHY

THE BEST PART OF A FOOTBALL PARTY OVER 50

Let’s be honest. At this stage of life, the best part of a party isn’t necessarily the football. It’s the people. It’s laughing so hard you miss a play. Or catching up with the friend you haven’t seen in months.

It’s trying a new cocktail, wearing the cute outfit, and eating the brownie. And creating another memory with women you’ve known for years. Or it’s meeting new friends who might become part of your next chapter.

And maybe that’s one of the best things about life after 50. We don’t need a birthday, anniversary, or holiday to get together anymore.

Sometimes football is reason enough.

So pick a game, text your girlfriends, put on your favorite outfit, and start planning. Make the food delicious, the decorations fun, the playlist good, and the drinks festive.

And most importantly, make the memories. Because the best football party isn’t the one with the most impressive decorations or the fanciest menu.

It’s the one where no one wants to leave because they’re having too much fun. Or everyone leaves saying, “We have to do this again.” And THAT is how you know you threw a winning party.

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Now I want to hear from you… What’s one thing you’d add to make your football party unforgettable? Drop your idea in the comments, please!

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