For those of you feeling homesick and with the mid-semester blues, IU’s Official Parents’ Weekend is November 7-9. Invite your parents to spend Friday-Sunday with you in Bloomington, give them a tour of IU, and take them to the tailgate and football game against Penn State at Memorial Stadium on November 8 at 12:00 pm. Now about that tailgate… yes, as a collegiette and a proud Hoosier, you want to have a good time at the tailgate, but since you’ve brought your parents along there are certain etiquette rules you should follow.
Bring everything you need for the tailgate
Set up a tailgate for your family. Either have your parents bring the supplies, like a tent, food/drinks, and IU apparel (of course), or stop by Target, Walmart, or Kroger the night before the game to get everything you will need to have a great tailgate. Take this opportunity to make a few fall/tailgate recipes you have been dying to try out. Bring homemade pumpkin spice lattes in a thermos to pass around and keep warm, or make crockpot chilli the night before and bring it to the tailgate. Collegiettes can check out the Food Network’s Top 50 Tailgating Recipes for more tailgate recipe inspiration.
Don’t get sloppy
Yes, this is an IU tailgate and people will be drinking, maybe including you and your parents. This does not mean collegiettes need to drink a lot and get sloppy though. Keep it classy, otherwise you will only embarrass yourselves and your parents will probably never let you forget. Plus, they’ll worry even more about you being away from home than they already do. Instead, drink lightly, or completely forego the alcohol, and focus on spending quality time with your parents while you can. Surely they have some great stories from their college tailgates.
Actually go to the game!
Attendance at the IU football games is down right depressing, especially in comparison with the number of people at the tailgate. Don’t be one of those, collegiettes. Though IU may not be a football school, after you’ve been tailgating a few hours, take your parents to the game and cheer on the Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. The environment will be more happy and exciting because it’s Parents Weekend, and people are happy to be spending time with their families.
Finish off the day at a classic Bloomington restaurant
Collegiettes, this is THE time to hit up Mother Bears, Nick’s English Hut, and all the other Bloomington classics, regardless of whether your parents are IU alums, out of staters, or locals. Yes, there will probably be a line to get a table, but HC promises these Bloomington institutions are worth it. After all, if they were not would they have that hour long wait? Finish off Parents’ Weekend the right way with some quality time with family over a delicious meal.
And there you have it, all the etiquette tips you’ll need for a successful tailgate and Parents Weekend this November. Stay classy and be the smart collegiettes that you are.
Images courtesy of Melanie Metzman