Football - If you are heading to a football game, this will get you in the right mindset.  NFL games are great, college games are awesome, but what about the little football game you can play while waiting for your meat to finish up on the grill. 2 hand touch, tackle, whatever.  Just play football before watching football.

Cornhole (Bags) – Throw the bean bag into the hole.  Too damn easy.  If it’s so easy why doesn’t the bag go in every time!?  Cornhole is amazing at tailgates because its something children can play, drunk college kids can stumble through, and even grandpa tailgater can join the fun.  Most home-made sets are 2ft x 4ft but there are also short-board cornhole sets that are lighter and easier to transport.  The cornhole bags each weigh about 1 pound and are filled with whole-kernel corn.  Cornhole games can get intense due to the scorekeeping, so be prepared to battle.

Bocce - Heave big ball at little ball.  Well, the big balls are called Bocce Balls and the little white one is called a Pallino.  Bocce games are great at tailgates since it’s so easy to play bocce with one hand, and hold your beer with the other.  A good tailgate set is probably a lighter version so that it doens’t hit anyone in the legs and inflict some damage.  100mm Bocce Balls are a good size.  Don’t tailgate today without a bocce set in your vehicle.

Horseshoes - Tough for crowded tailgates, but if you are on a nice spread out lawn… set up the shoes!  Horseshoes is one of the ultimate leisure sports so it has to be played at tailgates when possible.  Keep your horseshoe throws under control and keep an eye on the stakes.  Don’t set this game up near drunk people who may fall over into the field of play.  Enjoy a horseshoe game the next time you go tailgating.

Ladder Toss - What a great tailgate game.  It has a zillion names (ladder balls, hillbilly horseshoes, hillbilly golf, testicle toss, lasso golf, redneck golf, dingle balls, chinese golf, monkey golf, monkey balls, beer nuts, and even a trademarked version – ladder golf).  Many people have followed “build your own ladder toss” instructions and have created some pretty good sets.  The tough part is generally the golf balls to create the Bolas.  Ladder Toss is great at tailgates because it is a relatively new tailgate game so people love coming over and giving it a shot, or at least watching your game.  If you enjoy an audience and exploring new lawn games – give ladder toss a try.

Beersbee - Another new-comer to the tailgate scene.  This game also has a few names (Beersbee, beersbie, frisnock, beerzbee, beer frisbee).  It is pretty simple to play, all you need is a frisbee (ultimate disc) and a couple of sticks.  If you want an official set you can buy one here of course.  Otherwise you just place some cans on some sticks and try to knock them over.  I don’t want to get into the beersbee rules here, so you will have to read all about it another time.  Perfect tailgate game to play!  The ultimate disc can be used outside of the beersbee game just to toss around and have a great time.  It can also be played all over the tailgate area and it fits nicely in the back of your shirt so you can just waltz right in the stadium.  Try and hide a football in your shirt and you will understand!

Beer Pong - The old beer pong tailgating is starting to migrate from the college ranks up to the pro-tailgating scene.  Cups, beer pong balls, a beer pong table and beer.  So easy.  No excuses as to why you don’t have beer pong at your tailgate.  Beer Pong tables are now foldable!  They fit right in the backseat of any car, not just trucks or SUV’s, ANY car.  An 8ft table will fold up to 2 ft.  Amazing.  Where has the foldable beer pong table been my whole life!?  Well, I am glad it’s here now and beer pong tailgating is officially here to stay. You don’t need any beer pong rules, just throw the little beer pong ball into the cups.  Drink.  Repeat.

Koozies and Openers - I know koozies (can coolers) and bottle openers are not a tailgate game, but you need to be able to open drinks and then keep them cold while you are playing games… so get them!  Or better yet… koozies and an opener come FREE with every Day of Games purchase of game gear.  So you are set. Lucky DOG.