If you get the chance to go to Jacksonville this weekend, don't pass it up. I know you may want to use the excuse that you don't have tickets, but in actuality, you don't need tickets. I know what you're thinking; Jacksonville Municipal Stadium did not start a "first come-first serve" rule for the Florida-Georgia game, and you're right. They didn't. You still need tickets to get into the stadium, but that's not where the real party is.

The real reason everyone talks about the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party isn't because of the game as much as it is the party. Otherwise, it would be called the World's Best College Rivalry, and it isn't. It's called the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. 

This is Bucket List-type stuff right here for the true Gator fan, and any tailgater for that matter. Being in Jacksonville and hearing the Dawg fans barking as the Gator give them the "jaws" back is just special. The half-and-half fan count with just as many Florida fans as there are Georgia gives it a feel of a bowl game, but with decades of hatred sprinkled for good measure. 

It's not about the Celebration, the Timeouts, Hanging 'half of a hundred'' between the hedges, or 'Run, Lindsay Run.'  This about 200,000 or more fans that have pure hatred for one another crowding into a small downtown area to talk trash, tailgate, drink, and party before less than half of the lucky ones go into Jacksonville Municipal Stadium to watch the game. The rest are left to watch the game at the tailgate parties, in the number of bars around the area, or at the Landing on the big screens.

One thing is for sure though; the people at the tailgate party watching the game aren't paying $7 for a beer like the guy in the stands. If those points don't change your mind about going to Jacksonville this weekend, there isn't anything that will. All I can say is three words: You're missing out.

Now, on to the 5 tailgating tips for this weekend in Jacksonville. Don't forget to see this guide as well before heading to Jacksonville!

1. It's Halloween as well as Florida-Georgia weekend, so dress the part. You can go all out, or you can keep it calm; but either way you've got to celebrate Halloween. What better way is there than to dress up for Halloween as something that pertains to the game?

You could be the Heisman Trophy, Albert, Tim Tebow, Steve Spurrier (gotta have the Visor), or even better; a bulldog fan. You could get some red (faded to a pinkish color) pants, a ratty-looking Georgia shirt, a mullet hairpiece, some Billy-Bob teeth, and a 12-pack of Natty Light beer to carry around as well.

If you're a girl, your options are limited but you can still do the last suggestion. Buy a Georgia moo-moo (ugly old fashioned nightgown), use a pillow to make yourself look pregnant, put your hair up in read and black curlers, get some hillbilly teeth, and walk around with a Georgia spit cup. I know that some girls think Halloween is about dressing up in a sexy outfit rather than the outfit that was previously mentioned, and you have options in that area as well. How 'bout being a sexy referee? 

2. Don't just stay in your tailgate area. Usually, when you're hosting a tailgate party we recomend that you stay at your location to make sure everyhting runs smoothly; Not for this game though. You will want to wander around in Jacksonville before kickoff.

You won't want to miss out on the aggressive barking from Georgia fans, RV City, Bulldog Alley, the Florida-Georgia Bash (outside the stadium), and all the other fun that creates the greatest tailgate environment in college football. If you stay at your tailgate and just walk to the game right before kickoff, you will miss most of what makes Florida-Georgia THE cocktail party of the year.

3. Take a noose and a red bulldog.  Georgia is a hated rival. There's nothing like taking your aggression out on a stuffed animal, and allowing other Gators to do the same. Sure, watching the Gator football team push them around Jacksonville Municipal Stadium is fun, but there's nothing like the physical act of kicking a bulldog....or slamming it on the asfault....or letting cars run over it....or relieving all the beer you drank earlier in the day on it.

Disclaimer: PETA supporters should ignore #3.

4. Know the weather. Regardless of the temperature, plan on a lot of wind. With Jacksonville being the river city, the wind has a tendency to come off the water in gusts that will blow your tent and/or flags away in a heartbeat. Being that most of Jacksonville's tailgating will be on paved parking lots, stakes won't help at all. Make sure to bring some twine or rope and plan on tying your tent down to a full cooler, your vehicle, or anything else that has enough weight to hold it down. 

5. You have an extra hour to celebrate Saturday night. Jacksonville bars are just like Gainesville's bars in that they all close at 2 am on Sunday morning. The main positive of the "Spring forward and Fall backward" time change (other than the conservation of electricity) is the falling backward part.

As the clock strikes 2 in the morning on Sunday, a lot of people will start to head to the doors out of pure habit. Knowing the lights will come on any minute and that the bouncers will begin pushing the crowd out the door, many will notice that none of the aforementioned events are occuring as normal.  

Wait! There was no last call and the crowd doesn't seem to be dying down at all. What the heck? That's right. It's Daylight Savings time, and although you thought it was 2 am, it's really only 1.  What does that mean? It's just one more hour to harrass those lowly Bulldogs as they get ready to take that all familiar drive back to Athens with another loss to the Florida Gators!

Rusty Thompson is one of the Founders of GatorTailgating.com