As much of our sporting events are held in the winter months, you have to think about brightening up the space where your tailgate party is to be held. As well, many games are held at night. There’s nothing more gloomy than a drab site and it is impossible to get that tailgate party vibe in the dark.
Portable Light For The Grill
Don’t cook in the dark – light up the barbecue grill. There are plenty of lights on the market – some clamp on and others have little spot lights that can be held on with magnets. But a Pedestal Grill Light will illuminate the whole space.
Pedestal Grill Light
A wide magnetic base allows it to sit on the side table of any grill and its 4 high intensity led lights illuminate the entire grilling surface. Depending on where you place them, you can entirely avoid worker shadow. It’s important to see what you are cooking – especially the riskier meats such as chicken and turkey and some of the mixed-meat sausages and burgers.
The compact design works with 3 AAA batteries (included) but do bring along a spare set of batteries just in case of failure. When you buy ‘batteries included’, you really don’t have any idea of their shelf life.
Even though this light will illuminate the entire grill, for extra efficiency, I would recommend two, one for each side (for a large BBQ area). One should be heaps for your compact portable grill. Being magnetic, it will stay on the BBQ where you want it and is not dependent on any flimsy clamps or the need to angle the light.
MSRP = $24.97
Have A Good Power Source
Most lights can only be strung up if you have a power source. Some lights have their own batteries. Check this before you go. If you are going to use the power from your car’s cigarette lighter, for instance, be careful not to end up with a flat battery. Oh, and make sure the connection matches the one on your light.
No power? You can buy a power pack that has a 12 volt outlet and this will run your lights for the party. This handy device is great for camping and tailgating and means that you can be free to park in any place and will never be without power.
Schumacher PSJ-2212
Here’s the technical info:
2200 peak amperes, 330 cranking ampere and 275 cold cranking amperes
22 Ah professional grade, high output AGM battery
12 Volt DC power outlet (Note you will need an adaptor to plug your lights in. This outlet is similar to the cigarette lighter in the car and you need a 2 pin normal plug.
3 ampere built-in, automatic charger
Heavy duty clamp have replaceable copper jaws
Gives you around 8 hours of continuous power on one charge for a set of lights or a few months of jump starting a car. You can also hook up a tire pump to it in case of a flat so it is a really useful gadget to have in your toolshed.
Price: $117.28
So now you have power – hook up some lights – and you have the choice between battery operated ones and ones that need to be plugged in.
Fun Lights For The Tailgate Party
Red cup string lights are totally tailgate-worthy. The cups are small, around the size of a shot glass. Many guys like to string these across their bars and that normally takes two or three sets which can be joined together. If you invest in one of those smart demountable bars, (such as this one Best of Times Patio Bar and Tailgating Center Deluxe Package) these would make it look amazing. They are a little fragile so pack them carefully after use for the next tailgate party.
Best news of all is that these are battery powered.
Red Cup String Lights
MSRP = $9.85
These Football Helmet Lights do need to be plugged in but they are so cute that you’ll want to buy a few sets. They feature the team logo football helmet lights of your favorite NFL team so make sure you order the set you want and specify the team. Each 12 ft. strand contains 10 team logo helmet globes and I am thinking that 4 sets would be a great decoration for your tailgate parties or home-patio decorations.
MSRP = $12.99
Football Helmet Lights
If you want the ultimate in personalized lighting then this is the perfect product for you. Totally customizable you can make this all about your team or all about you! Makes the best welcome statement ever. It does need to be plugged in so make sure you have a power supply.
It’s built from the highest quality clear acrylic plastic and lighting. This is a personalized sign, and you need to inform the seller exactly the name and details you want to engraved in your sign, for example Peter/ Peter’s etc. with the correct punctuation, upper or lower case and any other details.
If you need a color other than the one shown in this photo, do specify that in your order, for instance, team colors.
The seller provides a plug with default voltage according to your country’s standard.
110v to: USA & CA 240v to: UK, France, Germany, European and other countries.
Approximate size: W 12″x H 9″ (W 300mm x H 220mm). Over 92.8% sign’s contents are in the scale of 1:1 to 1:1.34 (height : width), 12″ x 9″ which scale is 1:1.334 is the best scale
Carved with the latest 3D, Surface and Line engraving technologies (attractive in all directions).
This is super cool ! Needs to be plugged in, but you could easily adapt its switch to a battery pack or plug into your car’s cigarette lighter. A nice little welcome sign to put by your door for your man-cave based tailgate party or to feature on your bar in the car park. You can have anything put on there, so be creative!
MSRP = $39.99
Tailgate Party Custom Neon Sign
You’ll only get a couple of tailgate parties out of a set of these as they only last 15 – 20 hours but they are totally awesome fun! Then, unless you want to keep them unlit to keep drinks cool, throw them out! The internal battery is not replaceable. Simple push-button on/off mode selection switch.
You can set them to Rainbow mode, plus they can be locked in one of the numerous solid colors and I would pick one that matches the team logo.
They are made of high quality FDA approved clear acrylic and filled with freezable gel similar to the inside of cooler bricks. The great thing about them is that they keep your drink cold while flashing in a color of your choice. They look really good in your own see-through jug or pitcher of drink.
Also, all your tailgating party buds can choose a cube and set a different color so they always know which drink is theirs.
For what they are and for just 15-20 hours of battery life, they seem a bit expensive and, as they are used actually IN your drinks, you have to be 100% sure that they will not leak. Check each cube carefully before your guests use them – test each out. If you get any duds in the set, send them back and get a refund.
Flashing LED Freezable Ice Cubes
MSRP = $28.16
Some of my friends invested in a portapotty/Portable Toilet. They bring it to some of the bigger car parks (well packed in a box) and erect it in its own little pop-up privacy tent, filling it with the necessary chemicals and water. You’d be surprised at the (envious and sometimes needy) people who you meet this way, but that’s another story. It saves a lot of walking to the restrooms. Anyway, even though the light can shine through the waterproof fabric, it can be a bit dark on gloomy days so I bought a couple of Motion Activated Battery Powered Safety Lights and they are awesome. When people use the john, these little beauties light up automatically. When it is lit, everyone knows it is occupied. Now I am working on a motion activated iPod with some loud music to substitute for the courtesy flush.
• Osram Sylvania No. 72178 SylWHT motion-activating light
• 1 bright white LED, on/off/auto switch, on for 12 seconds when motion activated
• Head rotates up and down and side to side, 13-feet and 130-degree detection range
• Comes with three AAA batteries, indoor and outdoor use
• Dimensions: 4.5 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide by 2 inches deep
Price: $11.19
Note that it has a hole for a screw but as you are installing in a fabric tent, such as for a toilet cubicle on the go, just use this to attach using some cord, a velcro strap or a carabiner.
Sylvania 72178
If you’re looking to mark out your tailgate territory or set some boundaries the NFL Fan Zone Floor Stand is for you!
Battery operated, the red flashing light at the top of a caution stand warns the competition to make way for the diehard fans!
They come in all team logo designs.
Perfect for tailgating, dorm room, bedroom or office. This one is a two-sided New England Patriots design but you can find your teams easily. Product stands 30 inches tall with flashing light attached which draws attention to your next sport outing. Officially Licensed by the NFL. Batteries not included.
Use a couple to mark out your territory at the next game!
NFL “Fan Zone” Floor Stand
Tailgate Party Tape
Tie some Party Tape around your tailgate party area and you’re all set to let the fun begin!
