This year’s Super Bowl 50 marks the return of the wildly popular sporting event to the Bay Area, ending a drought that has lasted since 1985.

As a result, a wide variety of events have been planned from San Jose to San Francisco to celebrate the NFL’s 50th big game.

Fans will have a lot to keep themselves occupied in the long, painfully football-deprived week leading up to the ultimate cumulation of the NFL season.

Starting last weekend and continuing through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7, numerous events promise a uniquely Bay Area experience to anybody willing to brave the large crowds and hefty fees.

Out of all the major events that will be sprouting around the Bay Area, the one that is turning the most heads is Super Bowl City.

Super Bowl City is a football-themed attraction that will be located in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center.

Not only will it be dedicated to celebrating the return of the coveted football championship game to the Bay Area, but it will showcase the best of what the Bay Area has to offer culturally and artistically to anyone unfamiliar to the region.

In addition to this, a wide variety of showcases will be presented in this miniature “city,” including the latest and greatest technology from Silicon Valley.

The Fan Energy Zone will feature a 40-foot tall dome dedicated to games that interact with the fans who play them, as well as celebrity appearances, autograph signings, and live DJs.

The City Stage, also located in Super Bowl City, will showcase many free live musical, cultural and performing arts entertainers, including famous pop artist Alicia Keys. Overall, the City promises to capture the spirit of the Bay Area as a whole.

“I’m pretty excited for all of this, since we haven’t had a Super Bowl here in forever,” said Cal teacher Katrina Kretsch, who will be volunteering at Super Bowl City. “Free concerts are always fun, and there may be some famous people who go.”

All of these attractions will be family friendly, and will feature an array of nonspecific NFL-themed activities in the same place as the showcases.

The festivities will be capped off with the relighting of the Bay Lights on the iconic Bay Bridge featuring long strips of lights that run along the cables on the western span.

“We want to make sure whether you’re eight or 80, there’s something fun for you to do,” Keith Bruce, CEO of the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl host committee, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Another major event happening just down the street from  Super Bowl City will be the NFL Experience, an interactive theme park in which the goal is to celebrate the history of the Super Bowl itself and to give fans a taste of the electrifying atmosphere found in the stadium on game day.

Highlights of the NFL Experience at the Moscone Center include interactive games oriented around passing and kicking drills for fans and autograph sessions with famous NFL players from the past and present.

Super Bowl rings from past championships will be on display, as well as the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy itself, the ultimate prize of every Super Bowl winner.

The NFL Experience will also feature zones for younger fans to have fun participating in a smattering of football drills, games, and activities. Unlike the public Super Bowl City, the NFL Experience costs $35 for adults and $25 for children.

And of course some fans are fired up about attending a local Super Bowl.

“I’m really excited, since going to the Super Bowl is a once in a lifetime experience,” said senior Dylan Costamagna, who is attending the game with his family. “It’s gonna be awesome seeing all the crazy stuff that happens during the game.”