How to Throw a Super Bowl Party

You may not have tickets to the event, but look on the bright side -- unlike the fans in the stadium, you'll be able to see all the cool new multimillion-dollar commercials that debut during the game! Throwing a successful Super Bowl party can be a breeze with some easy planning, so you can ensure that your guests have a good time and don't miss a second of the big game.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Tray of cold cuts
• Cheese tray
• Ice chests
• Crackers
• Football pinatas
• Soft drinks
• Beer
• Two 6-foot sub sandwiches
• Chips
• Vegetable tray
• Super Bowl decorations
• Snack dips

1. Decorate the house in the colors of the team you're rooting for. If one of the teams playing is "your" team, put on all your paraphernalia.

2. Invest in a few foam "bad-call bricks" to throw at the TV so your guests can express their feelings about the refs without doing damage to your house.

3. If you're going to have guests who are rooting for different teams, establish an imaginary line (or for fun, "draw" one with masking tape) down the center of the room. Decorate each side in one team's colors.

4. Order a "Super Bowl Party in a Box" that includes plates, napkins, cups and a football snack bowl. Or invest in paper plates, cups and utensils in your team's color.

5. Pick up veggie, cheese and cold cut plates and a six-foot long sandwich or two from a deli and have all the food laid out on a table within sight of the TV. Don't make your guests choose between eating and watching the game.

6. Buy several six-packs of beer. Keep the beer in a cooler close by so you don't have to run to the fridge when it's third and inches. Restock the cooler at halftime.

7. Have everyone write down who they think will win and what the final score will be before the game starts. Award a silly prize, like a big football piñata, to the person who comes the closest.

Tips & Warnings

• Since this is a drinking event, you may want to offer "free pick-up and delivery" so no one has to worry about drinking and driving. Arrange to pick everyone up before the game and drop everyone off after it's over.

• Since this is a weekend, you may want to set up a kids' room in the back of the house that's stocked with treats, games, a TV and DVD player or DVR.

• Move any fragile or breakable items out of the room before the game starts. You don't want someone to leap up yelling, "You call that holding? He wasn't even touching him!" and break your wife's favorite vase.