Super Bowl: Events in Atlanta related to the big game

Future, seen here at Music Midtown in 2017, will make several appearances around Atlanta in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. Photo: Melissa Ruggieri/AJC

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri/AJC

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri/AJC

Future, seen here at Music Midtown in 2017, will make several appearances around Atlanta in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. Photo: Melissa Ruggieri/AJC

Atlanta will host its third Super Bowl on Feb. 3, bringing more than 150,000 out-of-town guests to the city.

And that’s just the tip of the human iceberg.

Overall, Super Bowl 53 officials expect more than a million people to pass through the city from now through game day.

For nearly 10 days, football fans and revelers can enjoy live music from gospel to country and R&B, hear and meet NFL legends, pose with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and view all 52 Super Bowl rings.

Visitors to events are encouraged to ride MARTA. For more about schedules and fares, go to itsmarta.com.

Here are some of the events happening around the Super Bowl:

Now through Jan. 31

Zoo Atlanta Super Bowl LIII Recycling Rally

Zoo Atlanta has teamed up with the National Football League, Verizon and the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee to help protect animal habitats and preserve the natural environment. Bring your e-waste, such as laptop computers, remote controls and printers, to the Super Bowl LIII Recycling Rally. The waste gathered will be recycled responsibly and kept out of local landfills. The first 250 families bringing in items will receive a gift bag, and all who drop off items will receive a discount on zoo admission. Drive up to the outside of the zoo, and volunteers will collect your items. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 19. Free. Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-624-9453, zooatlanta.org.

Super Bowl Opening Night Fueled by Gatorade

This event is the national kickoff for Super Bowl LIII festivities on Jan. 28. Super Bowl players and coaches address the nation for the first time from State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Super Bowl Opening Night is the first interaction that Super Bowl players and coaches from both teams have with media before the Super Bowl, and it’s the only time the two teams will be in one location before the game.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m. Fans can be a part of Super Bowl LIII by celebrating with cheerleaders and team mascots, collecting free autographs from NFL players and legends. Check in with the Super Bowl LIII — Fan Mobile Pass app for the chance to win prizes, including two tickets to Super Bowl LIII. Tickets start at $29. State Farm Arena, 1 State Farm Drive in Atlanta. atlsuperbowl53.com/openingnight/.

Super Bowl Live 

Super Bowl Live presented by Verizon is a free-to-the-public fan village, highlighting the city’s cultural and music scene, featuring concerts produced by Grammy winner Jermaine Dupri.

There will also be fireworks and other activities. Performers include Goodie Mob, DJ Holiday and Friends, DJ Smurf and the Atlanta Bass All Stars.

Super Bowl Live will be open Jan. 26-28 and Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Free. Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. NW, Atlanta. atlsuperbowl53.com.

>> RELATED: AJC complete coverage of Super Bowl 53

Super Bowl Experience Driven by Hyundai

Super Bowl Experience Driven by Hyundai is the NFL’s interactive theme park celebrating Super Bowl 53 from Jan. 26 through Feb. 2 in the Georgia World Congress Center Building B.

The Super Bowl Experience offers immersive exhibits and interactive games. Visitors can collect free NFL player and legend autographs, get an up-close look at the collection of all 52 Super Bowl rings and train like an NFL player at Combine Corner with the 3 Cone Drill, 40-Yard Dash and the Broad Jump. After testing your skills on the field, see what happens off the field with behind-the-scenes access to NFL Network player and celebrity interviews at the Bridgestone Fan Gallery located in Building A of the Georgia World Congress Center.

Prices and times may vary based on the date. For the first time, the NFL has introduced variable ticket pricing for Super Bowl Experience. With the purchase of one $20 adult ticket, up to three complimentary tickets for kids 12 and under will be offered at the Super Bowl Experience Box Office only Jan. 28-30. ticketmaster.com.

Super Bowl Legends Party featuring Flutie Brothers Band

Former NFL quarterback turned drummer Doug Flutie takes the stage with his all-star band, including his brother Darren Flutie (guitar); Michael Gauvin Smith (guitar and vocals); Ted Armstrong (keyboards); Spencer Hargis (bass/vocals); and Sean Jenness (lead vocals). The event is a fundraiser for Team Type 1 Foundation. 8 p.m. Jan. 31. $275-$5,000. Suite Food Lounge, 375 Luckie St. NW, Atlanta. 1-877-232-6223, ext. 503, eventbrite.com.

Comic and radio/TV host Rickey Smiley will co-host the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, which will be held Jan. 31. CONTRIBUTED BY JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL

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20th Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration

Comic and radio/TV personality Rickey Smiley will co-host the 20th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration with a musical lineup that includes Kirk Franklin, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and the Winans.

The NFL-sanctioned event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. $49-$125. The show will air on BET at 8 p.m. Feb. 2. 404-733-4900 or 404-733-5000, superbowlgospel.com.

Friday, Feb. 1

World of Coca-Cola Big Game celebration

The World of Coca-Cola will kick off Super Bowl weekend with a "Champions Chat" featuring "Mean" Joe Greene and Carl Banks, moderated by Desmond Howard. The three NFL champs will share stories of their days on the field as well as comment on this year's game and answer questions from the audience. 2:15-3 p.m. Feb. 1. $13-$17. World of Coca-Cola, 121 Baker St. NW, Atlanta. 404-676-5151, worldofcoca-cola.com. Continue celebrating the Super Bowl all weekend long by viewing the limited-time exhibit of footballs, jerseys, ads and other items from the Coca-Cola archives, including the legendary "Mean" Joe Greene Coca-Cola commercial that debuted 40 years ago. In the Taste It Beverage Lounge, visitors can sample Coca-Cola Game Day Magic and Coca-Cola Zero Game Day Magic for a limited-time on Coca-Cola Freestyle. And on Feb. 1 and 2, guests can snap a football-themed photo and receive a free print. The Coca-Cola store will also feature a Coca-Cola aluminum bottle commemorating the 2019 Big Game.

Off The Field Players’ Wives Fashion Show Super Bowl Weekend 2019

Watch some of your favorite NFL players escort their wives and significant others during this runway presentation that features items from retail stores at the Shops Buckhead Atlanta. The 18th Annual Off the Field Players' Wives Fashion Show is open to the public. Tickets purchased benefit local charities, which include Girls Who Code, a national organization whose mission is "to close the gender gap in technology," and the Eric R. Beverly Family Foundation, which provides support to lower-income breast cancer patients by removing financial barriers and paving the way for successful treatment. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 1. $200-$300. The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, 3035 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. OffTheFieldPWA.org/FashionShow.

‘Super-Bowl-A-Thon’ Rolling For (Autism) and Epilepsy with Roddy White and more

Atlanta's own legendary Roddy White along with DeShaun Foster, Mike Boley, Keary Colbert and more professional athletes join corporations, organizations, students, families, individuals and more for a VIP bowl-a-thon to benefit TACA (autism) and epilepsy. 3-6 p.m. Feb. 1. $50-$5,000. Bowlmor Lanes, 2175 Savoy Drive, Atlanta. eventbrite.com.

1st & Goal Comedy Bowl at the College Football Hall of Fame

An All-Pro comedy show features some of the biggest names in stand-up comedy, who will perform live for fans, sports legends, celebrities and influencers in town during the Super Bowl weekend. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Rashad Jennings Foundation, which strives to inspire youths by making education fun, providing mentorship for individual success, and promoting health and fitness worldwide. 8 p.m. Feb. 1. Ticket prices have yet to be released. College Football Hall of Fame, 250 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta. Register for early access to tickets at eventbrite.com.

Saturday, Feb. 2

Athletes in Action Super Bowl Breakfast

The breakfast has taken place in the Super Bowl host city every year since 1988, drawing sellout crowds to hear from some of the sport's biggest names. The Bart Starr Award, presented at the Feb. 2 breakfast, honors Starr's lifelong commitment to serving as a positive role model. The winner of the Bart Starr Award is determined by NFL player balloting at the end of the regular season. Speakers this year include Akbar Gbajabiamila, former NFLer, sports analyst and co-host of "American Ninja Warrior"; Tony Dungy, sports analyst with "Thursday Night Football" and "Football Night in America"; Anthony Munoz, former Cincinnati Bengal and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; and Dan Reeves, two-time Super Bowl champion coach. 8-10 a.m. Feb. 2. $200-$2,500 for a table of 10. Marriott Marquis-Atrium Ballroom, 265 Peachtree Center Ave. NE, Atlanta. atlsuperbowl53.com.

Urban Soul Cafe Super Bowl Gospel Brunch

Hosted by Darlene McCoy and Kevin Lemons, this event features performances by Canton Jones, Jor'Dan Armstrong, 1KPHEW, JoJo Martin, Jasmine Williams, Lil Nookie, Enrique Holmes, Isaiah Templeton, Travis Malloy and Charles King. 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 2. $15-$25. Apache Cafe, 64 Third St. NW, Atlanta. eventbrite.com.

Taste of the NFL’s Party With a Purpose

What’s better than food, football and more food?

Fans can take a bite out of Atlanta during the Taste of the NFL at the Cobb Galleria Centre on Feb. 2.

Party with a Purpose’s annual strolling wine and food event features a chef from each NFL city serving their signature dish alongside a current or alumni NFL player. The result? More than 35 food stations where guests can sample fine cuisine, meet and mingle with renowned chefs and NFL greats, and participate in a silent auction with unique sports memorabilia and other exciting items.

All proceeds from ticket sales and money raised from Party With a Purpose and the Kick Hunger Challenge will benefit food banks in the 32 NFL cities.

7 p.m. Feb. 2. $700 for single tickets, VIP tables for $10,000. Cobb Galleria Centre, 2 Galleria Parkway SE, Atlanta. tasteofthenfl.com.

2019 Maxim Super Bowl Experience

Maxim Magazine, a leading brand in lifestyle and entertainment, presents its annual Super Bowl party, which combines sports, music, fashion and art. The event has been a fixture of Super Bowl weekend for a decade. This year, it promises to bring special musical performances by Diplo, Future and Jamie Foxx as well as appearances by a range of sports and entertainment celebrities. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Feb. 2. $750-$1,250. The Fairmont, 1429 Fairmont Ave. NW, Atlanta. Maximsb2019.com.

NFL Legends of the Hall — The Official Former NFL Players’ Super Bowl Party

Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson, Andre Reed and Robert Brazile (a new inductee), along with other current and former NFL players, will host this celebrity Super Bowl Party featuring legendary R&B singer Howard Hewett and Atlanta songstress Sheryl Renee. 8 p.m. Feb. 2. $75-$175. Morrow Convention Center, 1180 Southlake Circle, Suite 100, Morrow. eventbrite.com.

For an updated list of things to do, go to atlsuperbowl53.com.