Entertain, Featured, Local Makers, Sports

How To Elevate Your March Madness Spread

by Renée Stewart-Hester | Mar 2025

Photos: Chris Emeott

Take basketball watch parties from a toss-up to a slam dunk.

Interest in basketball, specifically women’s collegiate match ups, has ramped up over the last couple of years. This month can be a downright hoops nirvana for fans of men’s and women’s basketball with the NCAA’s tournament, March Madness, hitting the court.

If basketball fandom can elevate its numbers, why can’t tournament watch parties ramp it up a notch? We recruited Excelsior’s Tasteful Tables Luxury Picnics & Events, Fig & Ivy Charcuterie, Wayzata’s The Thirsty Whale Bakery and Lunds & Byerlys for their expert suggestions for making game-day celebrations a win-win.

Lunds & Byerlys’ punch is ideal for pregame and postgame celebrations. Guests enjoy tucking into nummy cups of salty meets sweet. Fig & Ivy Charcuterie presents a winning combination of brie, Cotswold and Gouda cheeses, fruit, gherkin pickles, Italian dried salami, pretzel sticks, smoked almonds and chocolate-dipped biscuit sticks. (Trust us. These are delicious.)

“One of the best ways to elevate parties is opting to use real plates instead of disposable ones, real drinkware, table runners, plush blankets and floor pillows to relax on while viewing,” says Katrina Olson, co-owner of Tasteful Tables Luxury Picnics & Events.

Start with a neutral base for a tablescape, and layer in your team’s colors. Use real glassware and silverware, avoiding paper or plastic dining services.

“I think starting with a neutral base is a great way to start planning,” Olson says. “It’s less overwhelming for expert party planners or newbies alike. You can keep it as simple as layering your team’s colors on the tablescape with a table runner and pops of color with flowers. Alternatively, if you want a bolder look, you can add on more theme-colored elements like colored cloth napkins and colored glass drinkware.”

Speaking of color use, Sarah Navarro, co-owner, suggests using a neutral color base with strategic pops of your favorite team’s colors to give a gathering a more elegant and tasteful feel. “It also means you can use the same base elements (plates, pillows, napkins) for multiple occasions. Just change the pop of color to coordinate with the team you are rooting for,” she says.

Olson suggests other fun ways to incorporate those team colors, including signature cocktails/mocktails and basketball-themed charcuterie boards. She says displaying team-colored flowers, candles and more, “also add a stylish spin to the watch party.”

Enhance the gathering with a custom floral centerpiece or bouquets in your team’s colors, similar to this absolute stunner by Lilia Flower Boutique in Excelsior. Flowers always bring a sense of celebration and thoughtful design to any celebration.

How about party attire? “Ask guests to dress up,” Navarro says. “Instead of wearing their favorite team jersey or T-shirts, they can wear a dress or more formal wear in their favorite team colors. This both elevates your party and incorporates team colors for the theme.”

“Luxury is all about the details. Small things like adding a display sign at the door to set the party mood and having printed game day menus or tent cards will go a long way,” Navarro says, reminding to add your team’s logo or mascot to the invitations, and use a special event name for your party (ex. Fabulous Final Four, Elegant Elite Eight, etc.), and incorporate that theme into your invites.

Cozy viewing areas and custom signage serve as welcoming, festive décor touches.

“If you’re not too pressed for time, you can also add some fun themed stations like a gourmet popcorn station, DIY cocktail bar or themed photo booth,” Olson says.

Once the stage has been set, it’s time to bring in the nibbles. Laura Norton, owner of Fig & Ivy Charcuterie, which launched in 2021, shares her thoughts on creating the best graze tables or charcuterie set ups. “Creating a charcuterie board or cups is all about balance,” she says. “Think about themes, colors, textures, seasonal items. Make your boards full and colorful—we eat with our eyes first!”

Creating the right blend of items takes some forethought. “Choose a variety of cheeses with different milk types,” Norton says. “Add charcuterie meats, and fill in with seasonally available fruits, nuts, crackers, jams/honey, etc. … Don’t be afraid to try something new.”

Fig & Ivy Charcuterie presents a winning combination of brie, Cotswold and Gouda cheeses, fruit, gherkin pickles, Italian dried salami, pretzel sticks, smoked almonds and chocolate-dipped biscuit sticks. (Trust us. These are delicious.)

Once the decision has been made what to serve, it’s time to take the blank serving canvas and turn it into a delicious masterpiece. “Don’t be afraid to overlap foods, and make sure to fill in all the holes in your board/cup,” Norton says. “Let creativity be your guide—this is your art.”

Sarah Navarro and Katrina Olson

While creative and inspired boards and cups are wonderful additions, food safety tops the list. Be cautious about cheeses and meats that are left out at room temperature for more than two hours. And monitor other food items, including dips and sauces.

What’s a party without dessert? The Thirsty Whale Bakery’s co-owner Luke McGregor suggests that the dessert serve double duty. “Offer a cake or dessert centerpiece. A beautifully decorated cake serves as a stunning focal point,” he says. Other display ideas include using tiered cake stands or dessert trays to attractively display bakery goods. “Adding colorful flowers or seasonal decorations can make your dessert table a party highlight,” he says—or add in your team colors or mascot to add some fandom flare.

When deciding on cake options, for example, McGregor suggests choosing a flavor that appeals to most guests, like vanilla, chocolate or a seasonal option. Set up a DIY station with small plain cupcakes or mini cakes, frosting, sprinkles and toppings. “Let guests create their own personalized treats for a fun, interactive dessert experience,” he says.

Graciously include at least one gluten-free, dairy-free or keto-friendly cake or dessert option, so all guests feel welcome to indulge. “This ensures everyone can enjoy a sweet treat regardless of dietary restrictions,” McGregor says.

While the primary role of dessert at a function is to serve as the final pièce de résistance, it can also star as a main decor element, adding visual interest to a serving station. And this three-tier cake is top tier when it comes to flavor. So! Good!

While the primary role of dessert at a function is to serve as the final pièce de résistance, it can also star as a main décor element, adding visual interest to a serving station. And this three-tier cake is top tier when it comes to flavor. So! Good!