Give Your Super Bowl Party Some Local Flavor

Every town has its own native food traditions, and those that are home to this year’s Super Bowl contenders are no exception. Theme your party menu to suit 49ers and Chiefs fans by cooking up snacks inspired by San Francisco and Kansas City, Chowhound says. K.C. is known for its barbecue, so whip up a hearty selection of burnt ends, macaroni and cheese, ribs, and baked beans. San Francisco’s seaside location and gourmet farm-to-table traditions suggest a baked goat cheese salad and cioppino chowder — not just Rice-a-Roni. Toasting the touchdowns? Try San Fran’s Anchor Steam or K.C.’s Boulevard brews.

Entertaining Super Bowl Party Activities

The big game doesn’t have to be the only game on Super Bowl Sunday, Country Living says. If you’re hosting, you can offer a variety of fun party activities that will keep people entertained even if the game turns out to be a dud. Try Super Bowl bingo cards that feature entries for all of the expensive ads, a football target toss, a football trivia challenge or a tabletop “flick” football game, the site suggests. Or — weather permitting — pump up the pigskin and grab a few friends for a quick game of flag football to burn off some of those snacks!

Super Bowl Snacks That Are Easy to Make

Super Bowl Sunday is second only to Thanksgiving when it comes to indulgent eating — and most of it is easy-to-make finger foods. Winning recipes from Good Housekeeping include several iterations of nachos including vegetarian black bean and barbecue beef; queso, French onion, guacamole and Buffalo chicken dips; a variety of pizzas and flatbreads; tacos, wings, “slider” sandwiches and more. While recipes such as quinoa quesadillas might be considered healthy, be forewarned: Many will have guests reaching for the antacids at halftime.

Get the Kids Involved in Super Bowl Party Planning

Watching the big game might get a bit boring for younger children, but not if you get them involved in hosting the party. The Spruce suggests more than a dozen craft ideas that will keep kids amused while decking out the house in gridiron style — Astroturf bunting, burlap football coasters and DIY foam fingers, to name just a few. You can also get kids to help with game-day snacks by making football-shaped ice cream sandwiches or a giant Rice Krispie treat, and even help them practice their math skills by teaching them to keep score.

Keep the Super Bowl Interesting With a Party Game

If you want to get even the guests who don’t like or understand football involved on game day, try adding an activity to your Super Bowl party. If the crowd is large enough, you can start a friendly football pool, The Spruce suggests, or a game of Super Bowl Bingo, which will entice guests to mark their cards when they see a team mascot, a face-painted fan or Gisele Bündchen onscreen with novelty prizes. For the younger set, try a football-themed scavenger hunt — not only will it be fun for the kids, but it will also keep them busy while the adults watch the game.