SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Whether your spot is right next to the stadium, or just a solid set up in your garage, ABC57 knows football fans go all out when it comes to tailgating!

Now, we're bringing you some of the best tailgates in all of Michiana.

The sounds, sights, and of course smells, of a Notre Dame home game.

No Irish Saturday is complete without a hot dog or four, and some good old-fashioned tailgating.

"Since I could walk, I've been out here tailgating," said Mike Pinkowski, tailgate co-host.

That's Mike Pinkowski, one of the organizers of this gameday hangout on Twyckenham.

It's a Pinkowski family reunion out here, as Mike's siblings, parents, and more are all out here every home game, just as they have been for nearly half a century.

"What makes it unique is the tradition, so a lot like Notre Dame carries a lot of tradition, so does this tailgate, we've been out here for 25 years, we've been tailgating together for 45 years, and nothing has changed. Friends and family is basically our motto for the tailgate, and really, it's transcended generations," said Pinkowski.

It truly is a full-on family affair, as people of all ages flowed in and out of the tailgate all day, even those whose drink of choice will be apple juice from a sippy cup.

Unsurprisingly, Pinkowski thinks his tailgate is one of the best, but he's got some pretty solid evidence to back up that claim, thanks to a national tailgate competition he found himself in.

"It was only larger schools like Tennessee, Notre Dame, Ohio State, had these large tailgate competitions. They came in, did a video, and basically, people would vote on those. We didn't win, we came in second, but it was still really fun, we enjoyed that," said Pinkowski.

Just like the traditions the Irish showcase, Mike and his party pals have a special one of their own.

"We actually have a tray that says friends and family on it, and there's pictures that are on that of people that are still with us, people that have passed, and we do a shot before the game every week," said Pinkowski.

The other half of the Mike and Mike duo is Michael Cass, who, alongside the Pinkowski crew, has been coming out here for decades.

"The ones that are with us all started back 38 years ago and it's just special because we keep living their traditions and coming out here, it's important to us. My friends have become my family as well. We started this when I had one child, now I have 3, 35 is the youngest age, we've just been doing it forever," said Cass.