The Party Zone

Super Bowl XXVII will be played in Pasadena next Sunday, but the party is Downtown.

Hoping to show the world that Los Angeles is still a nice place to visit, hotels, restaurants and other Downtown businesses will throw a huge block party from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday to celebrate the Super Bowl. Billed as “Touchdown Downtown: The World’s Largest Pep Rally,” the free event will include musical entertainment, food, street performers, games and balloons.

Bands and performers offering a culturally diverse mix of music will perform at three stages set up at the California Plaza’s Water Court on Grand Avenue, the Westin Bonaventure Hotel’s pool deck on Figueroa Street, and the Hyatt Regency/Broadway Plaza at 7th and Hope streets.

More than 30 restaurants will sell samples of their cuisine for $1 to $2 at booths throughout the party zone. Street vendors will offer NFL memorabilia, souvenir photos and cappuccino. Party-goers will also have the chance to win trips and prizes.

Discounted $3 parking will be available in the area, and the city DASH buses will provide free transportation between performance areas.

The event is the first sponsored by the Downtown Marketing Council, a new nonprofit group of hotel, restaurant, retail, arts and corporate professionals dedicated to promoting the Downtown area.