I think I am the Tailgate Queen!
We had 3 tables...one a folding small picnic table that folded all together with benches into a compact ( but heavy) suitcase with a handle. the top is 40 inches square.
We also have a lightweight aluminum folding table that is about 28 wide by 6 feet long. It folds in half and also has a handle to carry with. And variously we used a card table too, depending on who was tailgating with us too....and I had cloths in the school colors to fit all tables!
And we always did a real "tailgate'...right out the tail of the car or wagon.
We had a kid or 2 at the University for 8 years, so there were lots of friends who came and partied with us....very oftem we were, with another couple and their kids and friends 35 or so, but 20 was par for the course.
I found it easiest when we had food that went on 2 square tables...one table held glasses, knives and forks (we didn't use plastic, we used cheap metal stuff from Sam's club and everyone knew to toss them into a certain bag...and we used dishwasher safe plastic plates that went into the same bag) plates napkins, catsup mustard etc..
Drinks from a cooler on the ground and food on another table. Trash and recycle bags hung from the door handles of the car!
Enjoy....good times!
Linda C

Yesterday I found sturdy 4' folding tables at BigLots for $20. I was thinking that 3 of them would give in flexibility i.e. line them up or have 3 different stations like food, paper goods, and drinks. Great price and lightweight.

As LindaC mentioned, my most useful are the 6' that fold in half with a handle in the middle. I just Freecycled my 6' fold in the middle table yesterday because it was old although still functional.

I agree, a couple of smaller tables is a better choice than a large table. That way you can use only what you need, and not have to lug around a big heavy table if you don't need it.

Have fun, I have a feeling you'll have lots of hungry kids most of the time. Funny how food draws them in, sort of like a live trap!

Annie

lindac, mustangs, and annie -
Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I like the idea of one larger table for the food and one or two smaller tables for plates, utensils, etc. Guess I need to start table shopping - the next home game is Saturday :)

Table??? Isn't that what they make pickup truck tailgates for????

But seriously, I have several of the folding tables from Sam's with heavy plastic tops and metal legs. They are light weight and easy for one person to handle and set up. The 4' ones are great. My favorite is a 4' table with adjustable height. You can raise it up to be a bar or lower for a childrens' table or anything in between. I would think three 4' tables would work just fine for food, etc. I like the versatility of the 4' becuase depending on where you are tailgating you don't always have room for an 8' table but two 4' you can arrange to fit.

However I'm not expert on football tailgating. The bulk of my tailgating experience is at ice hockey rinks in the dead of winter. Wind, ice, trying to level a table sitting on chunks of frozen snow and attemping to keep hot foods hot, that's my experience.

I also like the fold in half tables, and I used the 6 ft. ones, because they are so much easier to cart around. Mine have held alot of food, etc. Some stain pretty easily, so I'd invest in plastic table clothes.

I have never seen the amount of college-related set ups as they have now, well for UT anyway here in SAT, from ice chests that play school fight song when you open (insert annoying, but fun for tailgating...lol), tents, chairs, flags, barbecue grills, not to mention the normal cups, plates, etc. all emblazened with school colors.

"Hungry Friends that the boys invite" -- you gotta remember "hungry" will be key here, especially if they've been living off school food or the like for a month or more!!!

Have fun. While we won't be tailgating this weekend, we will be wearing black/red in a sea of burnt orange.

Brenda