Super activities in the Valley leading up to the Super Bowl

Jan 28, 2015, 4:32 PM | Updated: 4:32 pm

KTAR.com

The Super Bowl is much more than just a game, it’s an experience. And it’s all happening in the Valley.

Kick off the big game with these events around the metro Phoenix area.

NFL Experience

The 22nd Annual NFL Experience is bringing the big game to the heart of Phoenix from Jan. 24 to Feb. 1. With events from the NFL Play 60 Zone Obstacle Course to Fantasy Face Painting, fans of all ages will get to live like a football star.

Verizon Super Bowl Central

For those who can’t make it out to Glendale, no worries. Verizon is turning downtown Phoenix into Super Bowl Central from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1. With over a million visitors expected, the downtown event may be a bigger deal than the game itself.

FanFestAZ

Open Thursday to Saturday, FanFestAZ at Rawhide will feature a ton of music, food and activities. General admission tickets start at $20.

DirectTV Super Fan Festival

DirectTV is hosting its first-ever Super Fan Festival, featuring artists such as Imagine Dragons and Calvin Harris, running from Jan. 28 through 30 in Glendale. The festival is expected to be so sensational, you might just forget there is still a game to be played.

CBS Radio’s The Night Before the Super Bowl

For fans of country music, CBS Radio is hosting its own festival, The Night Before the Super Bowl, at US Airways Center in Phoenix. This gig features many of country music’s biggest names, such as Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean.

Westgate Entertainment Center Super Music Series

Looking to listen to live music while saving some money? Westgate Entertainment Center, located just feet from University of Phoenix Stadium, is hosting a week-long series of free concerts starting Jan. 28. Features artists include Eli Young Band as well as local artists.

Pro Bowl

The NFL Pro Bowl has been a football tradition since it originated in 1951. Tune in January 25 to see the best of the best go head-to-head for one final match of the season.

Waste Management Phoenix Open

For those who need a break from the football madness, the Waste Management Phoenix Open is held from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1. Golf legend Tiger Woods is scheduled to compete in the tournament for the first time since 2001.

Have Fun and Support Charity

Ditka and Jaws Cigars with the Stars

Want to smoke a cigar with some of the biggest names in the NFL while supporting charity? On Jan. 29, light a cigar up and kick back with legends Mike Ditka and Ron “Jaws” Jaworski for an evening you will never forget.

Legends for Charity

On Jan. 29, join sports legend Jim Nantz for dinner as he presents the 2015 Pat Summerall Award. Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Hearts and Helmets

Put on your best poker face and join the former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon as he hosts a celebrity poker tournament on Jan. 31. Proceeds benefit Every Kid Counts.

Taste of NFL’s Party with a Purpose

On Jan. 31, Party with a Purpose will feature a chef from each NFL city whipping up a signature dish alongside a current or former NFL player. Proceeds benefit food banks in every NFL city.

NFL Alumni: The Valor and Victors 5K

Put your running shoes on for the Valor and Victors 5K event on Jan. 31 in Scottsdale. Proceeds benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation.

Celebrity Players Ball

For football fans of legal drinking age, come join Arizona Cardinals Kerwynn Williams, Ted Ginn Jr., and Lorenzo Alexander for the 2015 VIP Pre-Super Bowl XLIX Celebrity Players Ball. The 21 and over event will offer music by famous DJs, interviews with professional athletes, and a one-of-a-kind silent auction. Proceeds benefit the National Alliance of African American Athletes and the Vision of Veterans.

Party with Celebrities

Suits and Sneakers

Join New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and NBC Sports analyst Rodney Harrison as they host the Sixth Annual Suits and Sneakers Fashion Show on Jan 28. With tickets starting at $30, the chance to hang at the W Scottsdale with famous athletes and celebrities has never been easier.

Other Star-Studded Events

The Super Bowl is bringing some of Hollywood’s biggest names right in our backyard. Halftime performers Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz are just a couple of the stars coming to Phoenix. Arists such as Drake, French Montana and Arizona’s own Jordin Sparks are hosting parties all over the Valley. Find more information here.