What Makes a Perfect UVA Football Tailgate?

Fried chicken, ham biscuits and Virginia peanuts make a tailgate!

Editor’s Note: this blog was updated August 24, 2003.

Fall is on its way, and, as the leaves acknowledge, there’s orange everywhere– orange and blue, that is. It’s Football season, and hope springs eternal around Scott Stadium. Coach Tony Elliott is determined to put the Hoos back on track, but regardless of win or loss, rain or shine, the Cavalier Nation will always tailgate.

Across Charlottesville, on the way to Scott Stadium, numerous suppliers await to fill you basket so that your spread can delight. Here’s how to make your tailgate the best one in the lot.

The Spread

It’s not a tailgate without snacks, and it’s not a UVA tailgate without a few key Charlottesville dishes. Here’s our A-List of the best tailgate provisions:

  1. Wayside Chicken – Undeniably some of the best fried chicken around. 
  2. Bellair Market – This gas station is the flagship of a fleet known as The Markets at Tiger Fuel. Locally-owned and beautifully innovative, this boutique market has set the pace for noshing in Charlottesville for years. Now their signature sandwiches like The Crozet and The Farmington are available all over town, and they travel like champs! 
  3. Bodo’s Bagels  – as failsafe as any food selection in town, Bodos is the uniform choice for brunch tailgates.
  4. Catering from Foods of All Nations – The classic grocery store, equally beloved by townies and alums, will put together an excellent catering spread for you, plus you can stock up on extras, craft beers, and wines, making this the best of the one-stop shops. 
  5. Cheese Plates from Feast! – Any party is better with a cheese plate, and a tailgate is no exception. Under new ownership, Feast! continues to amaze with their high-quality and innovative array of gourmet delectables. We highly recommend! 
  6. Ham Biscuits & Fried Chicken from Multiverse Kitchens – Led by UVA grad Harrison Keevil, Multiverse Kitchens is absolutely go-to for your pre-game order of perfect Virginia Ham Biscuits and Golden Fried Chicken in the form of Grilled, Spicy Marinated Wings, the Mother Clucker or Chicken Skin Sliders.  Did you go to a UVA game if you didn’t eat a ham biscuit or fried chicken? Also, find these at Foods. 
  7. Virginia Peanuts – A favorite of the classic crowd, you’ll see our state’s famous peanuts on many orange tablecloths. The best selection in town is at The Virginia Shop in Barracks Road Shopping Center. 

The Libations

Are you a wine tailgater, a beer tailgater, or a liquor tailgater? Pre-mixed themed cocktail of the game, or light brews in orange koozies? Every fan has his or her own preference, and every tailgate has its own spirit.  If we learned anything from the Boy Scouts, it’s to always be prepared, so if you’re not sure what you’ll want to have on offer, it’s best to have everything- and the best place to get everything is Beer Run, if you’re coming from in town.

Coming down 29? Stop in the Rio shopping center, hit Wine Warehouse, Kroger and the Rio ABC in one swoop.

(Pro Tip: Shopping in town? Buy liquor the day before the game or earlier. The ABC stores get absolutely mobbed, especially the Barracks ABC.)

The Table

Tailgates mean decorations. The best tailgates are on-theme but not overly themed; you don’t need a life-sized Cav Man (there’s already one wandering around) but some tasteful elements will go a long way. Head to The Virginia Shop at Barracks for game day linens, order up some official corn hole boards, and grab some orange and blue glitter confetti to complete the look!

The Fashion 

“Guys in Ties, Girls in Pearls” might be fading among a good deal of the crowd, but you’ll still see die-hards dressed to their wahoo nines. If you’re going all out for the perfect tailgate, you might as well match. For a masculine look, pair a Vineyard Vines UVA bowtie (available at Mincer’s) with some pastel orange pants and a button down (branded, of course- check out the Bookstore for ideas.) For a feminine outfit, the best thing to do is check out Finch on the Corner for the latest in tailgate fashion. Or, take a leaf out of our book, and get a warm + fuzzy gameday onesie from Tipsy Elves for the whole crew.

What makes your tailgate perfect? Tag us in your game day successes on Instagram!