Students all over the country are returning to school for the fall semester and that can only mean one thing- football season is just around the corner!
For some high schools, their seasons kicked off last week with a Jamboree game. For many others, Labor Day Weekend will indicate the beginning of their season.
Nevertheless, we want to make sure you're prepared with all of the tailgating essentials that will come in handy as you cheer on your favorite teams- all season long!
Come along as we share our top tailgating essentials and where you can find them- right here in the Shoals!

1. What to wear
The first and perhaps most obvious game-day necessity is apparel to rep your favorite team! For game day gear, we recommend strolling the aisles at Goodman's and the UNA Bookstore. Whether you're looking for merchandise to represent the UNA Lions, Alabama or Auburn, or your local high school team, Goodman's variety of game-day basics can't be beat. Located in the heart of campus, the UNA Bookstore also has a selection of North Alabama apparel that is a great choice when looking to spice up your tailgating wardrobe!
2. What to eat

After you've picked out your perfect outfit, the next tailgating essential on your list is more than likely food! For us, chicken fingers are always a go-to because they're delicious, satisfy the whole family, and give us an opportunity to support our local restaurants. This season, consider visiting Champy's Fried Chicken in Muscle Shoals or one of Zaxby's several Shoals locations- for dine-in or take-out chicken finger platters!

3. What to drink

Tailgates and ice-cold beverages to cool off with just go hand in hand. Luckily, our friends at Northwood Wine and Spirits stay stocked and ready with a supply of beverages that will keep you cool, calm, & collected during even the most stressful of games.

4. How to cool down

Once you've purchased your drink of choice, swing by Peck Ace Hardware in 7 Points to invest in a nice cooler to ice them down with!

5. Where to relax

Our next tailgating must-have are comfortable lawn chairs. For this essential, we suggest shopping with Alabama Outdoors! Conveniently located on Court Street, just a couple of blocks from UNA, Alabama Outdoors carries a variety of outdoor seating options that will be sure to elevate your tailgating game!
6. How to watch the big game

It's no secret that during the peak of football season, there often are multiple big games happening at once. For football fanatics like us, we like to make sure we're prepared for any scenario by having all the necessary gear to stream or listen to multiple games at once! Electronic Express is the best in the business when it comes to keeping us equipped with radios and TVs to set up on the go, we and rely on
7. How to spend your downtime
Last but not least, there's nothing like a little friendly competition to keep a tailgate interesting! We bring a portable game of cornhole with us to all of our tailgating functions to break out during any downtime there may be. For all of our games, (and any other last-minute items we may have missed), you can't go wrong with shopping at Walmart!

All this talk about tailgating has us more anxious than ever for our collegiate teams to once again take the field next weekend. Until then, we're looking forward to joining North Alabama Athletics and the Downtown Florence Alliance for the annual "UNA First Friday" on Friday, September 3rd- and we hope to see you there!