Ah, the smell of Fall is a lovely transition out of the summer months. The blistering heat has cooled into that perfect sweater weather, and the leaves are just beginning their transition from bright, vibrant green to crisp shades of autumn.

Oh, and tailgating season! Okay, maybe it’s not how everyone associates the turn of the seasons, but tailgating season is highly anticipated for many sports fans. It’s even a national holiday. The first Saturday in September is the perfect day to don your favorite team gear, pack up your cooler, and get ready to grill and chill. This year, we encourage you to explore some booze-free options so you can stay sober, hangover-free, and have a blast. Did we mention you’ll want to pack some cannabis-infused sparkling seltzer?

How to Prepare for a Tailgate Party

Tailgating is not your average party. Whether you are a diehard football fan or just like to have a good time with friends, tailgating is the way to go. When you want to take a mobile party to the stadium, you must show up prepared with snacks, beverages, and cozy gear. Let’s get ready for some football!

Plan Ahead

Before you start whipping up homemade dips for all the chips, take a minute to plan out the event beforehand. Call your crew and get the whole squad fired up for the big game. Make sure that tailgating is allowed at the stadium, and you know about any rules beforehand.

Double-check game time and plan to show up at least a few hours before kickoff, so you have plenty of time to cook out and let that grill cool off before heading into the game. Give everyone a task or something to bring so you don’t end up with eight bottles of ketchup and no buns for the burgers. Now, let’s get to the good stuff.

Must-Have Munchies

Tailgating is basically a barbeque, so you’ll want to bring all the grill essentials.

• Grill


• Lighter


• Charcoal


• Grilling utensils


• Plates/utensils


• Reusable cups


• Napkins


• Water


• Trash bags


• Pop-up table


• Bin to haul out dirty dishes

The Main Dish

Burgers and brats are always clutch, so be sure to assign someone the task of bringing the meat and all the toppings you’ll want:

• Burgers


• Brats


• Buns


• Cheese


• Lettuce


• Tomato


• Pickles


• Ketchup


• Mustard


• Relish


• Salt and pepper

Side Dishes & Appetizers

Now that the main meal is tackled, it’s time to select a few choice side dishes. There are plenty of excellent options for tailgating, but here are a few tasty sides and appetizers we recommend:

• Pasta salad


• Potato salad


• Corn on the cob (don’t forget the butter)


• Pigs in a blanket


• Veggie tray (you know you need some vegetables)


• Beer cheese dip (bring it in a crockpot, so it’s extra warm and gooey)


• Chips and salsa (extra chips for the beer cheese dip)


• Buffalo wings (extra ranch and blue cheese because why not)


• BBQ baked beans


• Cream cheese stuffed jalapeno poppers


• Spinach artichoke dip (you can never have too much dip, we checked)


• Pretzel bites (dip those bad boys in the beer cheese dip for ultimate snacking)

Sweet Treats

You can’t forget the dessert. Plan for at least a few fun ideas and make them sports-themed!

• Cookie dough footballs


• Double fudge brownie footballs


• Football whoopie pies


• Peanut butter football dip


• Football rice crispy treats

Pro tip: just about any dessert can turn into a football with a little cocoa and some white icing for the laces of a football. You got this!

Pack a Cooler Full of Wynks

Why does alcohol get to have all the fun? Sure, you can drink beer or margaritas, or, at venues where it is legal to consume cannabis beverages, you could stick to a THC-infused sparkling seltzer and skip the hangover but still enjoy a nice buzz. Our Wynk drinks are low-dose and kick in quickly, so you can enjoy a few beverages during tailgating season.

Look, we get it, there aren’t a lot of places where you can legally consume cannabis in public, but even if you can’t take Wynk to a tailgate party, it’s a delicious alternative to alcohol anywhere you are watching your favorite team do battle on the gridiron, including football watch parties!

Cannabis drinks have several advantages over alcoholic beverages.

• Zero calories means more room for BBQ


• Smooth onset for a mellow, cognizant buzz.


• Effects dissipate after 90 minutes.


• You’ll remember the game and won’t feel dehydrated.

Pack a cooler full of Lime Twist, Juicy Mango, or Black Cherry Fizz and try them all. If you’re craving something more extravagant, use Wynk as your base for various THC mocktails. Curious how alcohol compares to THC? One light beer equates to about 2-5 mg THC.

Not everyone will want to indulge in alcohol or THC during tailgating season. Don’t forget to bring other drinks to the event for anyone who plans to stay sober, or drive the crew home after the game. You can swap out THC-free bubbly water in any of our mocktail recipes. Be sure to bring plenty of water so everyone stays hydrated, and bring along some electrolyte drink mixers for added hydration. Lemonade, iced tea, kombucha, and cold brew are also great choices.

Get Ready to Rumble

You’ve got food, you’ve got drinks, the tailgating season plans are in motion. But, don’t forget your flair. Get there early to secure a good spot, and deck it out.

• Face paint


• Team stickers


• Jerseys/team gear


• Pop up tent


• Chairs


• Speakers


• Flags


• Cornhole or other yard games


• Blankets, hoodies, umbrellas, fans (be mindful of changing weather)

Another great idea is to set up a photo booth. Use your phone cameras, bring football helmets, and make a backdrop that looks like a football card.

Where to Shop for Wynk Sparkling Seltzer

For all you college football fans and tailgaters out there, we’ve got plenty of fully-stocked locations that can’t wait to fill your coolers. To stock up on Wynks, check out the Store Locator on our website.