March Madness Basketball Party

It’s that sacred time of year for many people. March Madness. People LOVE the NCAA basketball tournament and everything involved with it. If this describes you (or someone you love), why not throw a March Madness Basketball Party? There are some great, all-out ideas for March Madness parties on Pinterest if you’re the “let’s coordinate all the décor, food items, decorations, my outfit, my children’s outfits, the dog’s outfit, etc). Hey, it’s great if that’s you. Go for it! But, if you’re like me or like the majority of people, you don’t have the time or the money to go all out for a little BB-watching gathering at your home. So, here are my quick tips for throwing an impromptu March Madness Basketball Party.

I picked up some cute, inflatable beach balls that look like basketballs. I know I said I don’t do the whole décor thing but I figured these can double as decorations/basketballs-to-throw-around-that-won’t-break-things-in-my-house. I found these inexpensive basketball beach ball inflatables for just $2.99. (These will be awesome to use in the pool this summer, too.) For a little half-time entertainment, I’m going to use a pool toy we already own. The Floating Basketball Hoop works great in and out of the pool. We live in Phoenix so actually getting in the pool in March is still a bit chilly, but most guys love the competitive nature of aiming from the pool deck at a floating hoop in the pool. Too cold in your neck of the woods for outdoor play? This toy works great in the house, too. Just clear out any breakables before shooting the ball.

Gotta have food at a party that involves sports. The easiest way to throw a get-together is to have all invited guests bring some food item to share. As the host, I usually provide all the beverages and of course, I will make something to eat as well. Since most of the party attenders will be guys, here’s the perfect dip for a March Madness gathering. This is from thebeeroness.com. The main ingredients are cheese, beer and bacon. Score, score and SCORE! Here’s the recipe:

Beer and Bacon Dip

Ingredients:

• 16 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 5 oz shredded mozzarella
• 2 oz shredded cheddar
• 1/2 tsp each smoked paprika, chili powder, and salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbs cornstarch
• ¾ cup beer
• 8 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Add the cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, cheddar, smoked paprika, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, cornstarch and beer to a food processor. Process on high until smooth and well combined, about 5 minutes.

Stir in most of the chopped bacon, reserving about 2 tablespoons. Pour the dip into an oven safe bowl top with reserved bacon. Bake at 350 until warmed through, about 15-20 minutes.  Serve warm with chips and crackers.

Go ahead and throw a little March Madness party. Use my easy tips to make it a stress-free gathering so you’re party is a slam dunk!