4 tips for hosting an all-star tailgate 🏈

Hampton Farms has the ultimate tips for hosting a tailgate fit for champs. | Photo provided by Hampton Farms

Let’s hear it for NC State. Yes, it’s that time of year again: football season — which means it’s time to pull out the grill, grab some friends + start planning a winning tailgate party.

Looking to be the best tailgater in the lot? Here are four tailgating tips that will turn your tailgate into tail-great.

🎉 Rep your team with decor

Make your presence known and get your fellow fans excited about the game. Flex your team pride by decorating your car, tent, or table with team colors (or the team mascot). A fun way to take this tip to the next level: Have themed beads, tattoos, flags, and photo props for your guests.

🍂 Make sure guests are comfortable

Have portable chairs on hand so your guests can sit back, relax, and enjoy the pre-game festivities. Pro-tip: If the forecast calls for cooler weather, bring a basket of blankets to ensure it’s the party that stays cool and not your guests.

🍻 Have drink options

While cold beer is a tailgate favorite, it’s not everyone’s drink of choice. Have options like soda, seltzers, wine, water, and non-alcoholic beverages available to accommodate everyone. They’ll thank you later.

🥜 Keep the snacks stocked

Finger foods are a huge part of any tailgating event. Enter: Hampton Farms in-shell peanuts. The peanuts are roasted with flavor packed inside the shell. For those who want a kick, have Cajun Hot Nuts on hand, and, for your saltier friends, bring the Salted Fancy Peanuts. Bonus: Impress your guests with this easy to make Spicy Fried Peanut recipe.*

STOCK UP ON SNACKS

This content was created in partnership with Hampton Farms and written by Michaela Leung.*

POLL

What’s your favorite part of tailgating?

Hanging with friends
The food
The team-spirit atmosphere
Other

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EVENTS

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Today

Jazz in the Square | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 6-8 p.m. | Moore Square, 200 S. Blount St. | Free | Listen to Public Opinion perform smooth jazz sounds + snack on tasty bites from local vendors.
Pancakes & Booze Art Show | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 7 p.m.-1 a.m. | Lincoln Theatre, 126 E. Cabarrus St. | $15 | More than 75 local artists will exhibit work during this underground pop-up art show — there will be all-you-can-eat pancakes.
TK Kirkland | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Goodnights Pop-Up Club, 511 Woodburn Rd. | $25+ | See this comedian, podcast host, writer, businessman, motivator, and actor perform. 🎤

Friday

Pictures At An Exhibition | Fri., Sept. 23 + Sat., Sept. 24 | 8 p.m. | Meymandi Concert Hall, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts | $21.50+ | Celebrate the opening weekend of this North Carolina Symphony production. 🎶

Saturday

Grand Opening: Decree Company | Sat., Sept. 24 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Decree Company, 135 E. Martin St. | Free | Shop luxury, in-house made stationary and gifts + don’t miss the ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. 💌
East Street Block Party | Sat., Sept. 24 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Current Wellness, 219 S. East St. | Free | Enjoy fitness and yoga classes (registration required), a live DJ, local vendors, free mini-massages + more. 🧘
Farm Aid 2022 | Sat., Sept. 24 | 12 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Music Park At Walnut Creek | $75+ | This annual festival is an all-day celebration of music and family farmers.

Sunday

Yoga & Mimosas | Sun., Sept. 25 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | The Artist’s Lounge, 1011 S. Person St. | $25 | Relax with one hour of yoga and two mimosas by the pool. 🥂
Neptunes Comedy Presents: Jake Silberman | Sun., Sept. 25 | 6-9 p.m. | Hartwell Raleigh, 620 W. South St. | $12 | Raleigh’s longest running independent comedy show is back with a show featuring Portland Oregon’s Jake Silberman + many more Raleigh favorites.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*

100+ MORE EVENTS

HEALTH

Quiz: Does autumn in Raleigh make you itchy, sneezy, hivey, or all of the above?

An allergy testing kit sitting on a picnic blanket in the grass.

Picnic ships plans directly to your door, on your schedule — and RALtoday readers get 20% off. | Photo provided by Picnic

At RALtoday, we love everything about fall — except the inevitable allergy spike. (No, it’s not just you — allergies are much worse these days.) But — news flash — you don’t have to suffer (read: sneeze) in silence. 🤧

This at-home allergy test can pinpoint your exact allergy triggers from 294 common irritants. You’ll also receive advice from a doctor on managing symptoms, or even a customized treatment plan of over-the-counter and prescription solutions so you can live your best Raleigh life unbothered.*

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO GET STARTED

NEWS NOTES

Weather

94º | Mostly sunny | 24% chance of rain ☀️

Civic

Watch your speed. Earlier this week, City Council approved a plan to reduce downtown’s speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph + remove seven double-turn lanes. Drivers can expect to see these roadway changes — intended to improve pedestrian safety — by the end of October. 🚗 (WRAL)

Eat

Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week is back Mon., Oct. 3-Sun., Oct. 9. Participating eateries will offer three-course prix-fix meals or limited-time lunch, dinner, and drink specials. Stay tuned for the restaurant reveal this Friday. 👀
It’s the first day of fall, which means it’s officially soup season. Celebrate by trying this yummy Chicken and Vegetable Soup recipe. 🍲 *

Drink

Swing by My Way Tavern tonight for Sticks & Sips at 6 p.m. Guests will get to try four bourbons paired with tapas + a specially selected cigar from Sticks & Vines. Ask the bartender for ticket information ($50). 🥃

Cause

On Sun., Oct. 16, spend the afternoon competing in lawn games (while dancing in costume) at Dix Park to raise money for local organizations during Legends of the Lawn. Teams of two will compete in bocce, cornhole, croquet, kanjam, and kubb in a quest to win The Golden Mallet. Register.

Job

NC State is now accepting applications for Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Scholar positions in various departments including Horticultural Science. View position details + apply.

Try This

Kick off spooky season at The Crowded Table Club’s third meetup on Thurs., Oct. 6. The night will start with drinks at 5 p.m., followed by a showing of the original “Hocus Pocus” at Raleigh Little Theatre. Stay tuned for ticket information. 👻

Watch

The fifth Film Fest 919 is less than one month away. It’s not too late to purchase passes to see some of the latest and best feature films + to celebrate their creators from Wed., Oct. 19-Sun., Oct. 23 in Chapel Hill. View the festival’s full program.

Today Is

The first official day of autumn. Say hello to the new season with upcoming Oktoberfest celebrations + local college football games. Plus, prepare for fall weather with this forecast. 🍂

Biz

Can we take you behind the scenes? This little blurb is called a Text Ad, and it’s one of the many ways that brands local to Raleigh (and beyond) can reach you through advertising in RALtoday. Learn more about how advertising (which helps keep this newsletter free to you) works here.

Trending

Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” broke records for new Prime memberships last week, with more sign-ups over a three hour period to view the Chiefs-Chargers game than on Prime Day, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday. Tonight’s game? Steelers vs. Browns. Join the party with a 30-day free Prime Video trial. 🏈 (CNBC)*

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Development

This news is music to our ears 🤘

A rendering of Downtown South’s new music venue. | Courtesy of Kane Realty Corporation

An elite concert venue that could attract more global touring acts is coming to Raleigh in fall 2024.

On Wednesday, Kane Realty Corporation announced plans to construct a new music venue as a part of its upcoming multi-billion dollar Downtown South development. The 70,000-sqft venue will be operated by AEG Presents, the live entertainment company that promotes legendary performers like Elton John and Taylor Swift + multi-day music events like Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

The venue, which will be built in Downtown South at South Saunders Street, Wilmington Street, and I-40, will be located along an active urban street in front of a wooded, natural area adjacent to a new public park and retail spaces.

The concert venue’s main ballroom will have a capacity of 3,500 people — situating it roughly between The Ritz’s 1,400-person capacity + Red Hat Amphiteater’s 5,990-person capacity. It will be able to accommodate both seated and standing shows. Additionally, an intimate rooftop lounge and special events area will compliment the space.

Construction of the industrial style venue, designed by the local offices of design and architecture firm Gensler, is set to begin in spring 2023, with a grand opening expected the following fall.

THE WRAP

	Today’s issue was written by City Editor Anne. Editor’s pick: It’s Friday Jr. + the first day of fall, so I think you should treat yourself to an autumnal beverage. Yesterday, I tried Sola Coffee’s seasonal Pumpkin Honey Latte and it definitely got me in the spirit of the season. 🎃 Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Seaboard Station development plans are moving forward — with stipulations.
Read More

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