The Big Game Bash

It’s Super Bowl Sunday in Wisconsin, and the house is alive long before kickoff. The smell of appetizers fills the air, the TVs hum with pre-game chatter, and friends start arriving in jerseys and team colors. Every year, the same excitement takes over, the sound of laughter, the buzz of predictions, and the friendly rivalry that makes the night what it is.

Over time, these Super Bowl parties became a yearly tradition in Wyocena. Each February, the house turned into a football lover’s dream. The decorations changed every year to match the teams playing, colors, mascots, and trivia woven into the décor like hidden clues. Guests would find little surprises tucked around the room, fun facts about the teams, stats from famous games, or quirky details about the players. It was part scavenger hunt, part conversation starter, and all fun.

As people walked in, they grabbed a game board card, their ticket to the interactive side of the party. Throughout the day, the cards became icebreakers, sparking laughter as people compared notes or spotted new hidden items. The more you looked around, the more you realized the house itself had become part of the game.

The biggest hit, though, was always the Super Bowl Commercial Bingo. Each year I created custom bingo cards filled with brand names and ad themes likely to appear, Pepsi, Doritos, Budweiser, Snickers, and all the classics. Every time a commercial came on, someone would shout “Got it!” while others scrambled to keep up. Whoever scored the first bingo took home a prize worth playing for.

And the prizes? Always good ones. One year, the winner got an official NFL jersey. Another year, it was a Bluetooth speaker. I’ve handed out gift baskets, coolers, even a signed football once. People didn’t just come for the food, they came for the fun of it all, the thrill of guessing right, and the chance to win something special.

Of course, no Super Bowl party is complete without great food and drinks. The kitchen counters were always covered with wings, sliders, nachos, chili cheese dip, and trays of cheese and sausage (because this is Wisconsin, after all). There were bowls of chips and popcorn in every corner, and a bartender mixing up themed drinks like Touchdown Teas, Hail Mary Margaritas, and Lombardi Lemonades.

Big-screen TVs with surround sound made every play feel like it was happening right in the living room. No one ever missed a moment, every seat in the house was part of the action.

During halftime, we held a Best Dressed Fan contest. Everyone secretly voted for their favorite team outfit, and the winner got a smaller prize, maybe a mug, a gift card, or a fun little trophy that said MVP: Most Valuable Partygoer. It was all about showing team spirit and celebrating together.

By the time the game ended, the living room looked like the aftermath of a championship win, empty plates, confetti cups, and smiles all around. Whether your team won or lost, it didn’t matter. What mattered was the laughter, the cheers, and the feeling of being part of something fun and familiar.

Those Super Bowl Sundays weren’t just about football. They were about friendship, connection, and keeping a Wisconsin tradition alive, year after year, game after game.

Written By: Shelley Iverson