The day was bright and sunny as about 2,000 parents and kids got their own taste of Super Bowl fun at the 2026 NFL Play Football Family Festival at MacDonald High School in San Jose on Feb. 7. As part of the Super Bowl LX festivities, the free event provided a unique opportunity for youth players, coaches and fans to celebrate, even if they didn’t have tickets to the game itself.
Everett, a teen volunteer at the gate, was very excited.
“This is a new event, and it looks like it’s going to be fun,” he said.
For the last nine years, the NFL’s Play Football Family Festival has brought the excitement of the game to life in an interactive experience for everyone from student athletes to fans. Everything was football-focused. Kids could meet current NFL players and legends and get autographs, learn skills and drills, try on equipment and experience football close up.
The Fan Zone offered plenty of entertainment, as well as contests and prizes and opportunities to meet cheerleaders and team mascots, NFL football helmets to try on and pose for pictures, and even football-themed bouncy houses. Jugglers and acrobats rounded out the fun.
Sisters Capri and Huxley competed in the quarterback football throw contest. Although they didn’t win, they enjoyed the experience and it whetted their appetites for getting involved in girls’ flag football.
“I found out about flag football a few weeks ago, and it looks like something I would like,” said Capri.
“Girls can throw touchdowns, too,” said Huxley. “Do anything boys can do, girls can, too.”
The Russo family won the family cooperation contest, garnering tickets to the NFL Fan Experience in San Francisco.
“This is a great event,” Nicole Russo said, “With definitely something for everyone.”
The Play Football Family Festival is a free event that the NFL offers to towns near the Super Bowl host city.
“Over time, it has become a meaningful tradition that has positively impacted thousands of families across Super Bowl communities nationwide,” explained Roman Oben, NFL vice president of football development, in a January press release. “The festival gives San Jose area families the opportunity to experience the excitement of Super Bowl week while engaging directly with the game of football in a fun, inclusive environment.”
