Publish Date November / December 2009
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Where can you go see an AC/DC concert, Party on a Yacht, see dogs dressed like alligators, men sporting mullets, and trick or treat with your kids? “The Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”, that’s where. Oh by the way did I mention a 94 year old rivalry and a little football game between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs.

Every year on the last weekend in October 100,000 plus fans of the Hungry Dawgs and Fightin Gators make a pilgrimage from points across the globe to converge on the St Johns River in a border town known as Jacksonville. (Did you know the St Johns River is the only river in the U.S. that flows north) This jumbo gathering has weathered world wars, depressions, recessions, presidential impeachments and many a lopsided butt whoopins. In 1942 Georgia actually beat Florida 75-0. Never the less these devout fans keep coming back to one of the world’s greatest tailgate parties if not maybe “The Greatest”. It is really amazing how many people come to this event and never even go to the game.

To truly understand the magnitude of this event I am going to try and break it down by the three totally unique tailgating experiences that you can enjoy at this game. There is the traditional “Game Day in the Parking Lot” tailgate, The “RV City” party for five days tailgate, and the truly impressive “Party on your Yacht in the Marina” tailgate.

Publish Date October 2009
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One of Tailgating’s newer events that has mustered up quite a head of steam that’s not a football game or a race is a Kenny Chesney concert. When I say newer I mean in the last 7 years for you youngsters. Those of you traditionalists that only think real tailgating takes place on game day or race day really need to find the next Kenny Chesney concert in driving range, load up the rig and plan on having a kickin’ time. Combine all the bubbas from NASCAR and super fans from football, add in some Corona, a splash or gallon of Tequila and finish with some smokin hotties — you’ve got a Kenny Chesney Concert. This would be the younger version of Jimmy Buffets parrotheads.

I must admit that my first Kenny Chesney concert was only last year as my wife and I joined some friends in attending the event in Tampa at the Ford Amphitheater. I had heard there was quite a party taking place pre concert at these events and being a Kenny Chesney fan, we loaded up the trailer and headed out. WOW, what a party and I’ve never seen so many mini skirts with boots in my life (Did I say mini). I knew more Chesney concerts were in my future.

Publish Date July / August 2009
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Well on this typical steaming hot July 11th evening in Orlando, Fl. Fridays Front Row Sports Bar had invited the crew of Tailgateville. com to come out and set-up the rig for a tailgate/viewing party for The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 100). They wanted a tailgate/ viewing party in the parking lot of their restaurant so the guests could watch the fights outside and of course what a better viewing vehicle than our custom Tailgateville trailer with four flat panel TV’s, HD satellite and our monster sound system.

It’s the biggest event in mixed martial arts history, and for UFC 100, the Ultimate Fighting Championship brought out the big guns. Two championships were on the line when UFC heavyweight title holder Brock Lesnar defended his crown against rival Frank Mir in their longawaited grudge match, and UFC welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St-Pierre aka (GSP) put his belt up for grabs against Brazilian knockout artist Thiago “Pitbull” Alves. Also, The Ultimate Fighter coaches collided as Dan Henderson took on Michael “The Count” Bisping in a pivotal middleweight showdown. The hosting of an event like this in the parking lot of a sports bar requires a bit of logistical planning on the front end that’s for sure. Multiple permits were required from the city, including a special event permit to allow drinking in the parking lot, a tent permit and an “I promise to behave” permit. Orlando’s finest Police department was on site for any potential amateur parking lot UFC challenges.

Publish Date July / August 2009
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When you think of tailgating the image of a smoking grill with exuberant fans in team colors in a parking lot outside a stadium or racetrack is what comes to mind. Well not at this tailgate party; imagine a full blown tailgate set-up at an upscale Florida country club on the #10 tee-box with screaming blenders, thumping dance music and smoking hot refreshment attendants.

More on that after this TV timeout: Allow me to introduce myself to you the readers of this fine publication that is devoted to showcasing a good time. I experienced my first tailgate party in the 1960′s as a mere child while attending the unlimited hydroplane boat races throughout the U.S. as my dad was a crew chief on a race boat. Not even knowing there was a word “tailgating” yet, I figured out many years later that was what those 100,000 people gathered on and around the lakes and rivers were doing for those three days of boat racing. In the 1980′s I really started to fully embrace tailgating as a sport going to boat races, car races, The Reno Air Races, and Miami Dolphins football games. The 90′s came along with my marriage into a fanatical Florida Gators family and now tailgating is as important as changing the peanut oil in my turkey fryer. As a 27 year producer of live corporate events my tailgating hobby has now evolved into a tailgating business called Tailgateville.com. That, my friends, is how I got invited to that crazy fund raising golf tournament.

The Tailgateville team participated in their first public festival on March 13 &14 at the Pig on the Pond BBQ competition located on the Lakefront park in Clermont, Fl. Tailgateville was located in the center of BBQ Alley in the midst of 30 professional BBQ teams from around the south at this sanctioned Florida BBQ event attended by 30,000 people. This group of seasoned BBQ professionals had not seen the likes of what the Tailgateville Party Trailer was about to unfold. We set-up our usual kick ass tailgate party package complete with 14’ Tiki Bar, flags and banners, Flat Panel TV’s and Kickin DJ system. We not only Rocked the Lot but the entire Lakefront Park. Our 20’x 40’ space quickly swelled into our friendly neighbors cooking areas as fellow lot lizards poured in. The competing BBQ teams kept wondering if we cooked anything other than popcorn, shortly they realized the grill was only for looks. The fine local Sheriffs department did manage to stop by and pull the plug on the fun shortly after 10pm. Tailgateville attendance here was a test for future festival events as to determine the viability of participating as a vendor/marketer for a specific brand. One thing for sure is if we ever get a sponsor we will surely attract a lot of people to the trailer to check it out. Be sure to Check out the photos in our gallery of Pig on the Pond @ www.tailgateville.com.

Once again the infield of The Great American Race in none other than Daytona Beach, Florida proved to be one of Americas best tailgate adventures. Those who have participated in the infield tailgating events know that when the sun goes down there are some mighty entertaining and innovative forms of audience participation that takes place. Everything imaginable from dancing at the Turn 3 nightclub to excessive skin abrasions at the wheelbarrow races to the Yager Bombs at the Tiki Bar; you will find fun loving bead seeking friendly people. Oh, did I mention bead seeking people. Tailgating has many facets to it, most think of it as grilling, eating and drinking. NASCAR Tailgating is a whole different animal. Food (Especially a greasy Breakfast) is only a vital necessity to soak up the mass quantity of liquid still sloshing around in your belly from the night before. Unlike football tailgating where it”s about the food, NASCAR Tailgating is about a good time, a really good time. The crew of Tailgateville kicked some ass, left some brain cells scattered around the track and introduced the new “Wheel of Good and Evil” to the Daytona bead seekers.I captured a ton of good video at Daytona that will be posted as soon as I can figure out how to edit it. Everyone who loves tailgating needs to hook up with the Lot Lizards for the 400 race in Daytona this 4th of July.

Tailgateville.com rolled into Miami Dolphin Stadium at first light in anticipation of the big National Championship game between the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners. Grills fired up early, beverages began to flow and the tailgate was on by 8am. Fans from both sides poured in all day but early into the day it became clear this was a Florida home game.Tailgateville hosted 100”s of fans throughout the day to food, beverage, tailgate games, flat panel TVs” w/HD satellite, and DJ w/ dance music. Tailgateville “Rocked the Lot” into the wee hrs. of the morning as the Gators celebrated their 3rd National Championship.

Tailgateville attended the second annual super brawl of tailgating in Tampa during Super Bowl week and nearly won. In a tailgating decathlon event that was attended by professional teams from Oakland, Dallas, Green Bay, Pittsburg and more, the Lot Lizards from Clermont narrowly missed grabbing the coveted Grand Champion Tailgate Trophy. The event which pitted teams against each other in a competition of multiple tailgate events including a Texas Hold”em tournament, Corn hole, Ladder golf, Washers, Hot babe, Radical Rig, Bloody Maria, Wing Eating and of course the BBQ cook-off. Each event was awarded points and trophies for the winners and the team with the most accumulated points took home the Championship trophy. (Actually the trophy disappeared during the event and has yet to found) After four days of hard tailgating Lenny slithered home to get ready for the Daytona 500. Be sure to checkout the photo gallery on the website for the 100 yard shot.