Hosting a football watch party? These winning game day party ideas cover everything from budget-friendly DIY decorations and free printables to fan-favorite snacks and drinks, so you can throw a party everyone will love.
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Gear up for game day with these football watch party entertaining and hosting favorites.
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Winning Game Day Football Party Ideas Everyone Will Love
Are you planning a football watch party?
Well then, friends, you’re in the right spot.
Whether you’re hosting friends for a game day get-together or the Super Bowl, I’m spilling all my best party-planning secrets to help you host a winning celebration everyone will love.
Affordable DIY decor ideas? Check.
Simple and delicious game day eats? Check.
I’m even throwing in festive and FREE football printables, including a stress-busting planning checklist.
So save this post, put on your game face, and get ready to plan the best football watch party.
Table of Contents
- Winning Game Day Football Party Ideas Everyone Will Love
- Huddling Up The Team: Sending Invitations for Football Watch Party
- Game On: Choose a Theme for Your Football Watch Party
- Setting Up a Festive Game Day Buffet
- Creating the Ultimate Game Day Viewing Spot: Tips and Tricks
- Decorating Playbook: Affordable Game Day Party Decor
- DIY Football Party Decor: Game Winning Decorations
- Game Day Spread: The Ultimate Football Watch Party Menu
- Sip Sip Hooray: Refreshing Beverages for Your Game Day Celebration
- Scoring Big: Free Football Printables for Your Game Day Party
- Halftime Highlights: Games to Play at Your Football Watch Party
- More Game Day Ideas You’ll Love
- Wrapping Up Your Watch Party Festivities
- Did You Enjoy this Post? PIN It for Later!
Huddling Up The Team: Sending Invitations for Football Watch Party
Kick off your party planning by creating and sending out a football watch party invitation. Whether you’re hosting friends for a casual game day to watch your favorite college or pro team or the Super Bowl, invitations are a fun way to help set the tone.
While text invites are common, there’s something truly special about the personal touch of an invitation, even if it’s an e-vite.
It not only reflects the effort you’re putting into making the event memorable but also helps you gauge attendance with RSVPs.
If you’re hosting a potluck-style party, invitations are also a great place to ask guests what snacks or dishes they plan to bring to your game day gathering.
For popular game day favorites like nachos, wings, or sliders, consider having more than one option to ensure there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy.
Game On: Choose a Theme for Your Football Watch Party
Decorating for your football watch party starts with picking the perfect colors.
No matter if it’s a large get-together or a more casual game day gathering, I always start party planning by choosing an inspiration piece.
It sets the tone and helps guide me through the decorating process.
I like to look for inspiration in all sorts of places. Flipping through a magazine, scrolling Pinterest, stumbling on a vintage gem while out thrifting, or even spotting a piece of fabric in the craft store.
For my football party tablescape, I was inspired by an old umpire shirt.
The black and white colors set the tone for my football watch party decor, along with hints of brown and green.
This game day look is perfect regardless of which teams are playing in The Super Bowl, and it works perfectly for any football watch party or even tailgate-style party too.
You can opt for a traditional football theme like mine or mix and match your party decor to coordinate with the colors of the championship teams.
Setting Up a Festive Game Day Buffet
When it comes to setting up a festive game day buffet for your football watch party, establishing zones is key
And no, we aren’t talking about zone defense here.
We’re talking about creating zones on your table where specific items like food, plates, and utensils are grouped together.
Zoning keeps your game day buffet organized and helps guests navigate the mouthwatering spread.
A metal drink tub paired with a large, gallon-sized beverage dispenser helps create a defined drink station for all your game day beverages.
Fill the drink tub with ice to keep bottles and cans chilled, and set out extra glasses like these mason jar mugs for specialty drinks.
Hosting Tip
Give your beverage glasses a game day makeover with the help of some white vinyl pinstriping tape. Simply place four strips of tape on each glass to mimic the look of football laces.
Disposable silverware, plates, and napkins make party clean-up quick and easy.
Football paper plates paired with green silverware and green paper napkins coordinate perfectly with the football game day party theme.
Small galvanized buckets organize silverware and double as caddies for party supplies like paper straws and appetizer skewers.
And galvanized metal pieces, including a cake stand and a large round riser, create the perfect elevated serving stations for all your game day snacks.
Hosting Tip
Your serving trays or displays can also be part of your decor! Use pieces that coordinate to create a cohesive look with the rest of your Super Bowl party decorations.
Creating the Ultimate Game Day Viewing Spot: Tips and Tricks
When setting up for your football watch party, prioritize having the food close by.
In our home, where the kitchen, dining, and living room areas seamlessly connect, it’s a breeze to keep the game day spread and football action within easy reach.
A large TV is ideal for all game day action, especially during The Super Bowl.
However, if you have a smaller TV like us, you can consider adding a second screen to ensure everyone enjoys a good view of the game.
You can also enhance the sound experience with speakers or a soundbar.
And don’t forget about seating…one couch won’t do the trick!
Borrow folding chairs from your neighbors and friends to create extra seating around the room.
Hosting Tip
If you’re worried about seating, ask your guests to BYOC — bring your own chair! This fun and casual solution ensures everyone has a comfy seat and adds a laid-back feel to your game day or Super Bowl watch party.
Decorating Playbook: Affordable Game Day Party Decor
When hosting a party for game day, remember it’s all about three things: great food, good friends, and of course, the game!
And, if you’re anything like me, the commercials and halftime show are high on your list too.
So, when it comes to decorating for a football-themed party, opt for a casual and laid-back look with simple decorations that work for any game day gathering.
Start with a neutral textured linen tablecloth as the base. Then add a moss table runner to mimic football field turf.
For the centerpiece, get creative!
Use an umpire jersey draped casually across the table, along with a whistle and a football for a festive touch.
And add a pop of color and some texture by incorporating pom poms in your team colors or other team memorabilia that match the color scheme.
For an extra festive touch, create some DIY paper pennants in coordinating party colors and display them in a mason jar.
(You can print your own football party pennants with the free download included in my football watch party pack available below.)
And finish your casual game day tablescape by sprinkling football party toothpicks along the table for added color and a fun, playful vibe.
Combined, these affordable football party ideas will elevate the atmosphere for your game day celebration without breaking the bank!
Hosting Tip
Save some money by shopping your home first! Look around for items you already have on hand that can double as football-themed decorations for your football watch party.
DIY Football Party Decor: Game Winning Decorations
Stir up some fun at your football watch party or game day get-together with these easy and creative DIY football drink stir sticks.
This budget-friendly craft is the perfect way to give your favorite game day drinks a personal touch.
You only need a handful of supplies.
And if you can handle a can of spray paint and a hot glue gun, you can create these customized stir sticks for any football watch party, including The Super Bowl!
Game Day Spread: The Ultimate Football Watch Party Menu
Set the scene for your football watch party with a small tabletop chalkboard displaying the menu, so your guests know exactly what food is being served at the party.
Mix up your game day snacks with a variety of hot and cold dishes.
For a savory lineup, consider serving charcuterie cups with homemade creamy herb dip in pre-portioned paper party cups.
Game day sliders and wings are always fan-favorites.
Or go for hot dips like a cheesy shrimp dip, an easy cream cheese bean dip.
“Dump and forget” appetizers like our family’s favorite go-to crock pot BBQ meatballs or bourbon BBQ meatballs are winners, too.
For a touchdown-worthy game day snack, try a football-shaped jalapeño popper cheese ball.
And don’t forget about the sweet side of things!
Treat your guests with cupcakes or other bite-sized desserts served in individual portions for the perfect game day treats.
Here are a few more easy football watch party food ideas that are sure to be winners for game day:
Dippable Favorites
Savory Appetizers and Snacks for Sharing
A Cheese Ball Blitz
Soups to Steal the Show
Sandwiches and Sliders
Super Bowl Sweets
Sip Sip Hooray: Refreshing Beverages for Your Game Day Celebration
Get the party going with themed drinks that perfectly match the game day vibe, whether you’re hosting a football watch party or the Super Bowl.
Consider offering hard seltzers and canned cocktails for guests who want something easy to grab.
And don’t forget to round out your drink selection with refreshing non-alcoholic options. Mocktails, flavored water, or lemonade iced tea are all great game day choices.
Of course, guests are always welcome to bring their own beverages. As the host, you can also curate a beverage list that celebrates local or regional beers and wines. This makes it easy for everyone to grab a drink and get back to the game.
Scoring Big: Free Football Printables for Your Game Day Party
I’ve put together a free pack of football printables that work perfectly for any football watch party, including The Super Bowl.
Your free football watch party printables include:
You can easily print these at home on cardstock. Then just cut them out, and they’re ready to use!
How easy is that?
Just click below to download your game day football printable bundle.
As a Midwest Life and Style VIP you’ll have access to all my free printables located in my printables library.
Download and Get Your FREE Football Game Day Printables HERE
If you are already a subscriber to Midwest Life and Style, my game day printables can be found by visiting the printables tab located on the main menu. The password is located at the bottom of each e-newsletter.
Halftime Highlights: Games to Play at Your Football Watch Party
Make your football watch party or Super Bowl bash even more fun by adding games and activities for breaks in the game action.
My friends at Simply 2 Moms have put together an incredible bundle of fun football watch party games on their website.
Their game day printables include interactive games like football bingo, rate the commercial, and a game day word scramble.
Don’t miss out – be sure to stop by and check it out!
Shop My Game Day Favorites
Gear up for game day with these football watch party entertaining and hosting favorites.
Football Watch Party Buffet Supplies: Drink Tub / Beverage Dispenser / Mason Jar Mugs / Black and White Stripe Paper Straws / White Vinyl Pinstriping Tape /Galvanized Cake Stand / Large Galvanized Round Riser / Linen Tablecloth / Moss Table Runner / Tabletop Menu Chalkboard
Football Party Decorations: Umpire Uniform / Football /Pom Poms / Football Party Paper Plates / Football Flag Wooden Picks / Black and White Stripe Baking Cups / Galvanized Buckets / Green Silverware / Green Paper Napkins
Football Game Day Party Printable Supplies: Cardstock / Wood Dowels /Party Toothpicks
Football Watch Party Must-Haves: TV / Soundbar / Folding Chairs
More Game Day Ideas You’ll Love
If you enjoyed these football watch party ideas, you might also love these posts
The Best Football Tailgate Recipes for a Winning Game Day Menu
Wrapping Up Your Watch Party Festivities
Thank you for stopping by! I hope these football watch party ideas and tips for Super Bowl party planning make your game day celebration a breeze.
Feel free to leave any questions or comments below, and don’t forget to pin this post to save it for later.
Cheers!
Did You Enjoy this Post? PIN It for Later!
Hi Jen! Your game day setup looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing such fun and festive ideas! I’ll be sharing this post in my January Rewind newsletter on Saturday! Take care!
I have always enjoyed your posts. However, lately it seems like you are recycling a lot of old posts and recipes. Would love to see some new content.
Hi Lauren, I really appreciate you being a long-time reader and for sharing this. You’re not wrong. I’ve been refreshing some older favorites lately while juggling a very full season of family life, but I promise I have new content in the works! I just shared a new breakfast recipe last week and have more new recipes coming soon once the gloomy weather cooperates for photos. Thanks so much for sticking with me!
Great! Will look forward to them!
I would love to come to this Super Bowl Party! It looks so festive and fun! I know your family loves your creative decorations and I do too!
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the free printables and have fun watching the game!
I love all of these fabulous ideas, Jen! I know who will be having the best party in town!
Thanks so much, Kim! I confess that I mostly watch for the commericals, but it should be a good match-up this year!