Parrotthead Paradise
Story and Photos by Heather Morse
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As Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band tour across the United States every summer, legions of Parrothead fans gather to put a tropical spin on the tailgating scene. This June, Jimmy and his crew made a stop at Citizen's Bank Park, home of major league baseball's Philadelphia Phillies, and for one day the ballpark was converted into a Margaritaville mecca.
With their wholehearted approach to everything Jimmy Buffett, these die-hard Parrothead fans - who even have the distinction of their own Wikipedia entry - have created a tailgating tradition that is second to none.
From Pavement to Paradise
In a matter of one hour, the normally plain parking lots surrounding the stadium were transformed into tailgating paradises complete with wading pools, palm trees, lounge chairs and tiki bars featuring blenders full of frothy, refreshing margaritas. Canopies in every color under the sun were erected in a matter of minutes thanks to the scorching heat and stifling humidity that day.
As far as the eye could see, people were decked out in bright leis, straw hats, Hawaiian shirts, flip flops, grass skirts and even coconut bras. Everyone was grilling up lots of island-inspired food, playing games like beer pong and washers, laughing, and enjoying themselves in Jimmy Buffett's signature laid-back style. Beyond the laughter, nearly every song in Buffett's repertoire could be heard playing from all directions.
Michele and Judy were two of those Parrotheads enjoying themselves. They arrived extra early to begin tailgating and wander the parking lot to meet people and make friends. Both women have attended more Jimmy Buffett concerts than they could count, and said they plan to keep coming back for many years so they can be a part of the amazing tailgating scene.
To create one such amazing tailgating pad, one large group of fans hailing from Bucks County, Pa., actually hauled in one ton of sand and carefully spread it over a number of parking spots for their very own slice of paradise. To complete their beach-like scene, they also set up a fully stocked bar, tiki torches, a large inflatable shark, vivid flags and paper palm trees all on top of the sand. Thanks to their large spread, they were content to spend the entire day lounging and soaking in the tailgating excitement.
Love and Fun
On the other side of the lot, couple Roger and Linda were hanging out in matching Hawaiian shirts and enjoying the company of a few close friends. Their tailgating oasis consisted of a banner featuring Jimmy's smiling face, a paper parrot and other bright decorations swinging from their canopy, lots of snacks and even more margaritas. For these two, attending any Buffett concert is a special experience - Roger first told Linda he loved her while they were enjoying one of his concerts several years ago. In fact, their shared love for Jimmy Buffett (and each other, of course) runs so deep that they were married two years ago in a Margaritaville-themed wedding.
For these two, each of Jimmy's concert tours brings an opportunity for both love and fun. Roger went on to give his explanation of the widespread Buffett tailgating and concert appeal by stating, "It's like a real-life Peter Pan adventure - for the day, nobody is a grown-up. Everyone gets to act like a kid and be a part of the party."
And with such a kid-friendly environment for all ages, it was no wonder that lots of adults brought along their children for the party. The crowd spanned the ages from toddlers and teenagers to grandparents and retirees, with a number of Parrotheads, both young and old, having fun with toys like squirt guns, water balloons and bubbles.
Cheeseburgers, Checklists and Charity
As the afternoon sun beat down and the party gained speed, the smell of food began to fill the air. Right in the middle of the lot, tailgaters Ed and Susan and their group of eight friends were enjoying a huge spread of chips, salad, fruit, cookies and brownies. Their friend Brian was manning the grill and serving up an endless supply of hot dogs, shrimp with pineapple and mangoes, and cheeseburgers. Thanks to a big plate of fixings like onions, tomatoes and lettuce, they definitely looked like Jimmy's favorite "Cheeseburger in Paradise."
Susan, who lives across the Delaware River in Medford, New Jersey, mentioned that she and her husband organized a "planning meeting" back in May so they could get together with their fellow concert goers to discuss the day's agenda and responsibility checklist (she did say that it was also a good excuse to drink some beer and margaritas to warm up for the main event in June). According to Susan, the meeting was a great idea because compared to their tailgating at last year's concert, they were much more prepared. This year's tailgating goodies included a battery pack to power an awesome blender and a cooling fan, a speaker dock for an iPod filled with island tunes, a brand-new canopy, and plenty of Jimmy Buffett's own refreshing Land Shark Lager.
A few guys across the aisle from Susan's group weren't as well prepared for tailgating all day, though they were still having a blast. The three men, Glenny, Zo and Chip, drove their own hand-painted party bus from Bellmawr, N.J., to attend the party, which was their very first Jimmy Buffett concert. They had plenty of beer on the unique bus, but they were relying on the generosity of their parking lot neighbors for some food to tide them over until the concert started.
Zo mentioned that he was blown away by the spirit of the huge crowd of Parrotheads on hand, calling them "the friendliest tailgating group" he has ever seen. He also loved how everyone was more than willing to share food and drinks, and showed no pretentiousness toward each other.
Don't Stop the Party
With the 7:30 concert drawing near, it was apparent that many of the tailgaters didn't want the parking lot revelry to come to an end. With plenty of snacks and cold drinks still being served, some fans were so intent on tailgating that a number of them weren't even bothering to attend the show and instead wanted to continue partying in the parking lot for the remainder of the evening.
Those fans who were ready to head into the stadium reluctantly began to help each other out by draining the kiddy pools, deflating all the blow-up palm trees and parrots, and disassembling tables and chairs. Tiki torches and citronella candles were extinguished as many Parrotheads quickly opened another beer, and a few even whipped up one last pitcher of margaritas. All across the parking lot, flags celebrating allegiance to pirates, Land Shark beer and the Conch Republic were lowered, signaling an end to this year's tailgating festivities.
In Tailgating We Trust
Though the decor, wardrobe and food is decidedly more beach-like and tropical than your typical NFL game or NASCAR race, many Parrothead fans feel that the vibe felt across the pavement is what truly sets the Jimmy Buffett tailgating experience apart from other events.
As friends Barbara and Maureen commented, the friendly, hometown feeling found in the parking lots before Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band concerts is so powerful that in a way, it "restores faith in humankind." For them and many others, this spirt can only be found during each Parrothead tailgate.
As the "Year of Still Here" tour crosses the U.S. during the remaining summer months, the venue and the crowd may change, but the powerful tailgating atmosphere is sure to remain the same.
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