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We’re meeting friends at the Newport polo grounds for tailgating. We’ve been asked to bring food for a potluck picnic. What are we expected to bring? What should we know about going to a polo tournament?

What could be more fun than Newport polo tailgating!

Find out exactly where on the polo grounds you’re meeting your friends and learn if they’ve reserved tailgate parking that includes your car. If you’ve been invited, there may be a parking space for you on the sidelines.

On the other hand, if you’re meeting up with them there, not to worry: general parking not on the sidelines is free. Go online (nptpolo.com) to find out precisely where you have to go to park and where your friends have reserved are parking.

They may have a seasonal corporate membership or have reserved numbered spaces for a number of cars. If there isn’t space for your car in the reserved section, you want to know where to find them.

Every individual over 15-years of age pays general admission in a tailgate reserved area, whether their car is parked there or not.

Figure out if you’ll need to reimburse your friends and ask what you can contribute, or offer to bring items from the lists below.

What to wear:

• No riding clothing of any kind. Look like a guest and not a groomsman.
• Dress code is Smart Casual. Meaning your best relaxed clothing: White or colored trousers, blue blazer, sundress, beautiful hats and big sunglasses, shoes that won’t sink into the turf and get caught in the divots at halftime.
• Take along plenty of sunscreen and wet wipes.

• A cotton blanket or French tablecloth and plenty of napkins, cloth or paper.
• No beach umbrella because you’ll block someone else’s view, but you can take folded lawn chairs.
• Lots to drink to keep throats from getting parched.
• Cheese and crackers, fruit, Champagne, Prosecco, and ingredients for Pimm’s Cups.
• Prepare your picnic food ahead of time.
• Bring ice, utensils, paper plates, glasses.

Alternatively, there are many places to buy picnic food on the island:

• Rosemary & Thyme Cafe (rosemaryandthymecafe.com), Sweet Berry Farm (sweetberryfarm.com), Flo’s Clam Shack (flosclamshacks.com) and the Newport Lobster Shack (newportlobstershack.com) — all terrific sources for prepared picnic food to go.

What to bring to impress:

• Pimm’s Cups:  Easy to prepare when you arrive at your tailgate destination. Use the English liquor Pimm’s Cup No. 1 poured over ice in a tall glass (or paper cup) with a slice of lemon and cucumber peel topped off with a splash of a fruit flavored drink, such as Del’s Lemonade or the unsweetened La Croix flavored soda water.
• Sandwiches on soft rolls or in wraps:  tuna, chicken or egg salad, slicked turkey and cheese with bacon or avocado, along with chips.
• Desserts:  brownies, chocolate chip cookies, lemon squares and fruit salad flavored with a splash of Pimm’s.
• To the best of your ability, try to stay plastic free; plastic bags are increasingly frowned upon.
• Use a straw basket to carry in your food and take out your waste.