The host committee officially opened the Super Bowl village with a ribbon cutting Friday afternoon, and the fun continued into the night as rocker Bret Michaels took the stage for a free concert.
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"I'm a sports fanatic," Michaels said. "I'm watching everything going on and watching the amount of people putting in hard work here today. You know, how many people are here building up everything, the NFL experience, all that stuff. I mean, this has been great."
The free activities go far beyond the free concerts. There is also a football field for kids, NFL-themed Indy Cars, street performers and ice carvers.
"It's not too cold for the people and not too warm for the ice," said ice carver Derek Maxfield. "Everybody is having a good time."
"It kind of reminds you of a cross between Vegas and New Orleans," said Diane Elmore of Indianapolis. "It's just a fun atmosphere."
If you're looking to warm up there are heaters, and plenty of activities including full-size hamster wheels that allow you to challenge a friend to a race and an immersive gaming experience inside the Kinect NFL Play 60 FanDome.
Though this weekend has been touted as a way for Indianapolis residents to get a chance to experience the fun without the crowds, it's also drawing plenty of regional visitors.
"We have tickets for the NFL experience tomorrow," said John Lafrance, who traveled to town with his family from Cincinatti. "(We're) spending the night to check out the sights."
