Music blares, people laugh and hundreds of hotdogs and hamburgers sizzle on the grill. The Essex parking lot is where members of K-Life, a Kirkwood youth group run by Kanakuk Camps, tailgate before every home football game.
“It’s an awesome way to meet new people,” Meghan Rintoul, senior, said. “It gives us the chance to become friends with people we never imagined we would talk to.”
According to Ryan Dougan, group leader, there is an average of 150 people at the tailgates, and they are open to everyone. They generally start at 5:45 p.m. and end around 6:30 p.m. when students leave to go to the game.
“I love football, and we have so much fun beforehand,” Dougan said. “It’s a great way to get people pumped before the game even starts.”
K-Life provides food for everyone who comes, members and newcomers alike. On average, they use 150 burgers, 300 hot dogs, an assortment of different chips, water and sweet tea paid for by donations from members of the community.
The tailgates also provide activities that get students psyched before the football games. According to Jack Mullendore, sophomore, people come to play games, eat good food, listen to upbeat music and hang out with other students. While there is a lot of excitement leading up to the games, the tailgates allow students to get together before the atmosphere becomes crazy.
Dougan said the best part of tailgating is everyone is welcome and everything is free: the food, the games and the fun.
K-Life also arranges carnival games and competitions students can play while tailgating, like the bean bag toss.
Mullendore said tailgating is a great way to get ready for a football game and support Kirkwood. New people are encouraged to come, join the fun and make new friends.
“The tailgates help reach out to the community, especially Kirkwood students, in a down-to-earth, fun way,” Rintoul said.
K-Life is currently the only organized group to tailgate at Kirkwood football games, but others come out before the game as well.
“It would be really awesome to have more people at our tailgates, or even people tailgating on their own,” Dougan said. “Anything to support the Pioneers.”
