Location
If you didn’t know, I graduated from The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 2017! Hotty Toddy (:
That being said, I am a master at maneuvering around The Grove during Football season. I’m sure most of you have heard of The Grove or Ole Miss from the movie The Blind Side, or because it is quite literally the best tailgating experience in the country. I’m not being biased at all; it’s actually true! People from all around the country travel to Oxford, MS, every year just to experience game day in The Grove.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Ole Miss, cheering on opposing team or just in Oxford to experience the tailgate you’ll be welcomed with open arms!
What is The Grove:
The Grove is 10 acres of land located right in the heart of campus. Where fans have been tailgating before home games for 65+ years. Up until the mid 80s cars, RVs etc. were used to tailgate, but due to a huge rainstorm one year leaving The Grove a muddy messy, cars were then banned, and tents took their place. The rest is history!
The 411 on how all of these tents get to The Grove: Most people hire companies to set up their tents for each game. Every Friday night companies set up hundreds of tents for grove goers. Typically people have tents with their families, hometowns, or sororities/ fraternities. Everyone included chips in each game or year for the cost of tent set up, planning and putting up decorations and food!
When visiting The Grove for the first time, there is one thing you can’t miss. Watching the team walk down The Walk of Champions. A brick walk in the middle of The Grove dedicated to the only ever undefeated team in Ole Miss history. Two hours before each home game the football team walks down the walk into the stadium. It’s a super cool to see
What to Expect:
Now, this is not your standard tailgate. At Ole Miss, you’ll see fully decked out tents equipped with TV’s, large flower arrangements, food served on anything but a throwaway container, chandeliers, real silverware, fans for those super hot games- it is the south after all.
Nothing is off limits, and you can definitely expect to see things that you would never dream of seeing at a college football tailgate.
What Not To Expect:
Beer, beer is actually illegal on the Ole Miss campus. Feel free to sneak it in, but if you get caught the police will make you pour each can out one by one. I’ve seen it happen plenty of times. But really, enjoy all of your adult beverages inside a solo cup, and not a single person will question you!
Grills Due to all the grass and trees in The Grove grills are prohibited. You won’t see anyone cooking anything over an open flame.
Dress Code:
There isn’t a “dress code” per say. Feel free to wear whatever you want, but in The Grove, 98% of us dress up for the occasion.
The girls wear dresses, skirts, cute tops, some even wear heels, but I’m a boot kinda gal. The guys wear khakis or nice jeans, polos, button downs, loafers or cowboy boots. You get the drift. Some say we wear our “Sunday Best” but a lot less conservative LOL
If you ever make it The Grove I hope you have an amazing time. It really is something that should be on everyone’s bucket list whether you are a football fan or not!
The only thing I ask of you is that you know the response to, “ARE YOU READY?!”
Assisted me a lot, just what I was looking for : D.
YAY!!! So glad I could help, Krysten! Thanks for reading
xx
S