15 Winning Party Ideas For The Big Football Game

Hut, hut! It’s time to get ready for the ultimate battle of the pigskin. Whether you’re actually into the big game or just there for the food, we’ve got some crowd-pleasing ideas for this year’s football party. From festive grub and décor to football-themed games and party favors, we’ve put together a list of the best party ideas that’ll have all your guests cheering. Check them out below and get ready to score. And if you need game day duds, browse our customizable apparel, where you can feature your favorite mascot, fantasy team, and more.

5 Ways to Decorate for the Big Game

Ticket Style Invitations

Make sure all of your guests ‘get a ticket’ to the big event. Send out sports-themed ticket invites in the mail. Let everyone know what time Kick Off is at [Your Last Name] Stadium. There are plenty of templates available online that you can customize. All your guests will feel like VIPs.

DIY Football Mugs

Want festive drinkware to sip from while you cheer for your favorite team? Make your own football mugs! Gather up some mason jars that have at least one side blank. Cut strips out of white electrical tape and simply secure them to the mason jars to mimic the laces on a football. Fill with your favorite beer or brown soda and you’ve got a football-themed drink that is sure to be winner.

Mock Concession Stand

Make your guests feel like their enjoying the game from inside the stadium with a mock concession stand. Make a large ‘Concessions’ banner and complete with a cute sign to announce the menu for the day. Serve up your snacks in paper food trays and tubs for a game day feel (and easy clean up!).

Football Field Table

Get enough green felt to cover your table surface and secure it to the table. Mark where you want your yard lines with white duct table. Cut yard line numbers out of white vinyl or construction paper (or just purchase some pre-cut numbers) and stick them down around the duct tape yard lines. And there you have a football field! So easy and cute, plus it’s the perfect place to eat and drink while protecting your table.

Photo Booth

Make a backdrop with black craft paper and use white chalk to draw some x’s and o’s to simulate a football playbook. Break out the helmets, pom-poms, and referee gear and take pictures of guests doing their best touchdown dance.

5 Games & Party Favors

Rate the Commercials

Use foam fingers to rate the commercials. Label the foam fingers 1-10, or use clever sayings such as ‘change the channel’ or ‘instant replay.’ It’s the perfect way to get the not-so football fans involved in the big game!

Guess the Score

Print or make your own bracket so each guest can write in their guess of the final score of the game when they arrive. An easy way to do this is to have each guest write their name and a guess for total points scored. In addition, have each person write down a guess for the winning team’s score in case a tiebreaker is needed. Give the winner a custom t-shirt that says ‘MVP.’

Custom Drink Holder

Keep everyone’s drink cold with custom football-themed koozies. Label them with clever football terms such as ‘off sides’, ‘oh snap’ and ‘in the zone.’ Send each guest home with one as a reminder that it’s always kick off somewhere!

Game Time Commercial Bingo

Find some free printable bingo cards online. There are options featuring different brands, words, phrases and more! Cover up what you see or hear and be the first to get a winning combination.

Pin the Football in the Goal Post

Make a goal post by placing painters tape on an open space on the wall. Use brown construction paper to cut out a handful of football. Give the player a spin and send them on their way. Give a penalty flag prize to anyone who gets a football in the uprights! To make a penalty flag party favor, simply open a large yellow napkin, lay a lollipop in the center, wrap up the lollipop and tie it with a thin ribbon. This is the perfect game to entertain kids during the big game, but is just as fun for adults.

5 Game Day Apps to Tackle Your Appetite

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ditch the messy wings, and go for an easier version of the game day classic. Combine a package of cream cheese and canned chicken with 2 cups shredded cheese, ½ cup ranch or bleu cheese dressing, and ½ cups of your favorite buffalo wing sauce. Heat in the oven or keep warm in the slow cooker. Serve it up with tortilla chips, carrot and celery sticks, or pretzels.

Pigskins in a Blanket

Wrap hotdogs in crescent rolls and slice into thirds. Place wrapped hotdogs in the shape of a football (they should be touching) and brush with an egg wash. Bake at 350F until golden brown. Once cooled, draw lines with mustard to mimic football laces.

Touchdown Taco Bar

Set up a make-your-own taco bar with all of the fixings. Don’t forget the ‘gridiron guacamole’ and ‘half-time habanero salsa.’ For a festive twist, try ‘walking tacos’ where guests can fill personal size bags of Fritos or Doritos with their favorite toppings–that way, everyone can easily chow down while watching football from the couch.

Team Trail Mix

Fill two bowls with a mix of pretzels and popcorn and add mix-ins featuring the colors of the two teams facing off. For example, if the Patriots are playing the Broncos, create one trail mix featuring red and blue M&Ms and another with orange and blue M&Ms. Get creative!

All-American Apple Pie Fries

What says America more than football and apple pie? Lay out one thawed piecrust on a floured service. Spread canned or homemade apple pie filling over the crust until smooth, then lay a second pie crust on top of the filling to seal it in. Use a pizza cutter to slice into fry-size pieces. Bake at 350F for 15-20 minuets and top with cinnamon and sugar once out of the oven. Serve with a side of caramel dipping sauce! These dessert fries will get you big points.

Looking for more football-themed inspiration? Check out our post featuring fantasy football team names as well as our football design templates.