Tennis isn’t a sport that people normally think about tailgating. However, many courts do allow and encourage tailgating among fans. One of the biggest tennis tournaments of the year is about to happen. Wimbledon is slated to start on June 28th. Although many of us won’t be making it across the pond to London where Wimbledon happens, we can host a great homegate or tailgate at our next local tennis tournament. Here are some tailgating party ideas that are perfect for tennis tailgating whether out at the courts or at home.
1. Fry Up Some Fish And Chips
Fish and chips is a British staple, you’ll find it everywhere at events and gatherings. It’s all about crispy batter-fried white fish, usually cod, with some thick-cut fries on the side. Just don’t forget to load up on malt vinegar and tartar sauce to keep it real!
2. Make Some Tea Sandwiches
Tea sandwiches are a classic fare served at Wimbledon. You can make traditional tea sandwiches like these from Preppy Kitchen! These sandwiches are lighter and are great to serve as appetizers. However, if you’re looking for something heartier to feed your crowd, you can also make sliders or cut up a favorite sub. We recommend just having a variety of delicious sandwiches to meet everyone’s tastes.
3. Serve Strawberries And Cream
Perhaps the most classic food served at Wimbledon is strawberries. Wimbledon happens at peak strawberry season, so for decades this has been the most famous Wimbledon food. In fact, they’ve been serving strawberries and cream from the Hugh Lowe Farm in Kent for over 200 years. When you’re out shopping for your tennis tailgate, grab a couple of packs of fresh strawberries to serve in the traditional style.
4. Bake Some Tennis Cupcakes
Don’t just stop at strawberries and cream for dessert, whip up some tennis cupcakes. These tasty cupcakes are so adorable they look just like fluffy tennis balls. They’re super easy to make too. They use box cake mix, jarred frosting, food coloring, and shredded coconut. If cake pops are more your style, we also love these sports ball cake pops from Betty Crocker. You can make this recipe for any sport, but the tennis ball design is perfect for Wimbledon.
5. Whip Up A Pimm’s Cup
For drinks, the most important option you have is a Pimm’s Cup. Pimm’s Cups are synonymous with Wimbledon. They are a refreshing drink that is perfect to help beat the summer heat. Made with Pimm’s No. 1, sparkling lemonade, and a mix of mint and fruits, it’s a tasty cocktail that’s easy to make and very refreshing. If you want to make things even easier, you can batch it ahead of time.
6. Taste Test British Beer
There are so many incredible British beers that are perfect for any tailgate. No matter if you like an ale, a bitter, or a stout, there’s a perfect pint for you. To get you started here’s a great list of some of the must-try British beers that will be perfect for serving at your Wimbledon tailgate. Serving up a great pint of beer will ensure your guests feel like they are in London at a pub watching the match live.
7. Plan A Game Of Beer Pong
Once you’ve picked out your selection of British beers, make sure to play beer pong. Not just any beer pong, play table tennis beer pong. Table tennis beer pong is played the same way and with the same equipment as beer pong, but you will just need to pick up some rackets. You can use ping pong rackets or classic tennis rackets. Instead of tossing the ball, you’ll try to hit them with the racket. If you’re fortunate enough to live near a tennis court, you can try playing tennis beer pong. If it’s a public court, you just might want to check on the park’s rules about alcohol first.
8. Set Up A Swingball Set
Not all of us have the space to put a tennis court in our backyards. However, we can still have our guests show off their tennis skills. This swingball set works just like tetherball but instead of an attached volleyball, it’s a tennis ball. It doesn’t take up too much space and all you need to play are a set of tennis rackets. It’s easy to hold a backyard competition and see who among your friends would make it to the championship game.
9. Decorate With Tennis Themed-Decor
Finally, one of the most fun tennis tailgating party ideas is to set up some decorations. There’s a ton of great tennis-themed decor. You can start by decorating your dining table with a tennis themed tablecloth and tennis dinnerware, utensils, and plates. You can also get some serving platters like this tennis racket serving tray that would be perfect for your strawberries and cream. There’s also some great decor that you can put around your house like this festive tennis pennant banner, these cute tennis ball yard signs, or this awesome vintage “Tennis Knowledge” poster. There’s also options like this tennis-themed party kit that can make decorating even easier.
Though we don’t always think about tailgating for tennis matches, it can be a lot of fun. These are just some of the tennis tailgating party ideas that can help you host a great event for your friends and family.
