The countdown to Super Bowl Sunday is on and while the big game will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the party is spreading across the Bay. Oakland is stepping into the national spotlight with two major and free events, including the only official NFL Super Bowl watch party in North ern California. The City of Oakland and the Bay Area Host Committee are bringing two free events to the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts. Starting at 11 a.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, a Super Bowl Fan Zone will be held outside featuring live music, special appearances, interactive experiences and a strong spotlight on Oakland and East Bay vendors. Bay Area Host Committee CEO Zaileen Janmohamed said including Oakland was a must. “The food, the culture, the music, the vibe and it was really important to us at the Bay Area Host Committee that people got to see that and celebrate it,” Janmohamed said. And when it is time for kickoff, inside the Henry. J. Kaiser Center will be the only official NFL Super Bowl watch party in Northern California. “This isn’t just about watching the game, its about reclaiming space for Oaklanders, its about bringing energy back to the Lake Merrit area,” said Charlene Wang, an Oakland city councilmember representing District 2. Super Bowl Jan 11 When is Super Bowl 60? What to know for the 2026 big game in Santa Clara VTA Jan 9 VTA expects record 25,000 riders for Super Bowl LX Super Bowl Jan 7 Mountain View aims to attract business to city during Super Bowl week Super Bowl events are expected to bring in $350 million or more to the Bay Area and Oakland is positioning itself to capture its share from hotels and restaurants to small businesses. “We will have people here that are buying food, who are purchasing swag and who are going to be part of the whole operation here,” Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said. “So we will have a variety of booths where these people and small businesses will be able to benefit from it.” The Super Bowl celebration starts Friday, Feb. 6, at Laney College with the Divine 9 flag football game honoring Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Donor support is helping ensure all Super Bowl events are free. Visit Oakland is encouraging visitors to stay overnight to further support the local economy. There is a capacity limit for Super Bowl Sunday events, so everyone planning to attend should register for both the outdoor and indoor event at visitoakland.com. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less