Watch parties offer football fans an opportunity to get off the couch and join scores of others at family-friendly locales from food halls to movie theaters. Here’s a handful of options:
BAHC Live! Oakland Fan Zone & Super Bowl Watch Party, Oakland
This free, official Bay Area Super Bowl Watch Party, presented by the Bay Area Host Committee, will take place at the newly reopened Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts near Lake Merritt in Oakland. An outdoor Fan Zone festival features live music and special guest appearances as well as food and beverages available for purchase from East Bay vendors. The game will be broadcast live on a large-scale screen inside. Both events are free with registration, but early registration is necessary to get a seat inside the Kaiser Center.
Details: Starts at 11 a.m. Feb. 8, Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, 10 10th St., Oakland. Free; register at eventbrite.com
RELATED: Bay Area sports bars for viewing Super Bowl LX
San Pedro SuperFest game-day party, San Jose
The free, three-day San Pedro Superfest event will culminate in a Super Bowl party that Sunday. It’s an indoor-outdoor festival, with the game on more than 80 screens at San Pedro Square restaurants and bars, and lots of activities outside. Fans can come early for live entertainment, local vendors selling food and drinks, tech showcases and a kids’ fun zone as well as a 100-yard artificial turf with footballs and inflatable receivers so you can test your skills on the gridiron.
Details: Noon-8 p.m. Feb. 8, San Pedro Square, San Pedro and Santa Clara streets, San Jose. Free; sanjose.org/events/big-game-watch-party
Vine Cinema & Alehouse, Livermore
The classic movie theater is hosting a “Big Game Watch Party” on a 30-foot screen, enough square footage to monitor the action in detail. Admission is free, though a concession purchase with entry is highly appreciated. It’s an opportunity to pay tribute to a local institution that’s now celebrating its 70th anniversary.
Details: Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at 1722 First St., Livermore. Free but concession purchase is encouraged; vinecinema.com
State Street Market watch party, Los Altos
Fans can watch the game inside this airy food hall that offers loads of seating, one humongous screen and several smaller ones. The big appeal? You can buy meals and snacks from several diverse booths, including Konjoe Burger, Orenchi Sushi and Ramen, The Good Salad, Miko’s Calitalia, Little Sky Bakery and the Penny Ice Creamery. The market’s Murdoch Bar will be serving beer and cocktails. First-come, first-served seating.
Details: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Feb. 8, 170 State St., Los Altos. Free; www.statestreetmarket.com
New Parkway Theater party, Oakland
One of Oakland’s charming little movie theaters, the New Parkway, will be throwing down with a Super Bowl party. It starts at 3 p.m. in one of the theater rooms, yet-to-be-determined but sure to be within striking distance of the in-house cafe with not just popcorn, but also pizza, burgers and 12 rotating taps of beer and cider. “We’ll have all the blood, sweat and cheers with no shortage of great food and drink,” the theater’s staff writes.
Details: Starts at 3 p.m. and lasts roughly 210 minutes at 474 24 St., Oakland. $16 general admission; thenewparkway.com/upcomingevents
Pruneyard Cinemas watch party, Campbell
At this popular dine-in theater at the Pruneyard, you can watch the game on a huge movie screen with laser projection and “hard-hitting sound.” The afternoon will feature game-day food specials, craft cocktails and been on tap — all delivered straight to your seat so you don’t miss any of the action. Reserved seats may fill up quickly; if so, keep checking back for any cancellations.
Details: Starts at 3 p.m., 1875 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell. Reserve a seat for $2; www.pruneyardcinemas.com
RELATED: 3 Super Bowl recipes from esteemed Northern California chefs
Big Game Sunday at Bay Street Emeryville
The city’s shopping plaza will play the game on a 16-by-8-foot LED screen on the plaza out in the air, where screams of frustration and joy will travel to shock nearby shorebirds. There will be inflatables and prizes as well as food from restaurants like Shake Shack, Arthur Mac’s Little Snack and Mexican kitchen Flores. Seating is limited on the outdoor plaza (you’re free to bring your own lawn chair), but if you can’t catch it on the jumbo TV, there’s another one upstairs on a fire pit-lined dining terrace.
Details: Pregame tailgate starts at 2 p.m., 5616 Bay St., Emeryville. The event is free, but parking is not — you can also take the free Emery-Go-Round shuttle from MacArthur BART station; baystreetemeryville.com/events/big-game-watch-party
Leave a Reply