SUPER BOWL XLII Events, Parties and Places to Be.

Visitors of all ages, however, can find a strong pulse in the beating nightclubs of Scottsdale or Arizona State University hangouts in Tempe. In this 2,000-square-mile metropolis, it is possible to see the urban and the rural in less than a day. Travelers can have their pick of chic, artsy enclaves and four-star restaurants, and cactus-dotted landscapes rich with the history of the Old West and American Indian culture.

Football: For the 17th year, an interactive theme park will be part of the event. The NFL will hold the NFL Experience  Built by the Home Depot next to the stadium Jan. 31-Feb. 2. (Only Super Bowl ticket-holders will be admitted Feb. 3.) Among the activities fans can choose from: recording a voice-over commentary of memorable NFL plays, scoring a touchdown while tethered to a bungee harness and throwing passes at a target. A nighttime party for adults, NFLX After Dark, will take place Jan. 31.

Celebrity & Football Player Parades & Autograph Sessions

A parade featuring former and current NFL players (including Arizona Cardinals’ Quarterback Matt Leinart) and local Valley celebrities (including Brad Perry of Channel 3’s acclaimed Good Morning Arizona program), high school marching bands, team mascots, and other dignitaries and VIPs will take place for three consecutive evenings, circling the streets of the Westgate City Center Entertainment Village. Two meet-and-greet opportunities will be available with the NFL players following each parade; patrons can either participate in an autograph signing with NFL VIPs, or they can choose the “SPRINT Phone-A-Friend” option, where patrons can have an NFL VIP place a call to a friend or family member, wishing them well from the home of the Big Game. Free admission. Thursday, January 31 – Saturday, February 2, 2008 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Visitors looking to make their trip a bit educational can attend the Sports Career Expo & College Fair on Jan. 31 at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, Professionals from different aspects of the sports industry will discuss various career opportunities with students.

Arts: Clusters of high-end galleries make up much of the art scene in metro Phoenix. Scottsdale's arts district will hold a special edition of its swanky, weekly art walks with the Scottsdale Super ArtWalk on Feb. 2.

Music: From "Diddy" to Dogg, a variety of musical artists host outdoor, high-priced concerts in Scottsdale. Sean "Diddy" Combs will perform Jan. 31 outside the Axis Radius club. The club will also put on concerts for the Anheuser-Busch Bud Bowl — rapper Snoop Dogg on Feb. 1 and Kid Rock on Feb. 2. Tommy Lee and Dave Navarro are slated to rock out at a block party for club e4 on Feb. 2.

Bud Bowl

The 2008 Bud Bowl Party will be held at Scottsdale's Axis/Radius on February 1 - 2, 2008. More than 2,000 tickets will be distributed for free through various local promotions.

Coors Light Craftsman Court Scottsdale Block Party

Old Town Scottsdale will belong to Coors with Boogie Nights and Otis Day and the Knights of Animal House fame performing. The Craftsman Ct. entertainment district including popular old town bars Acme, Dos Gringos and Upper Deck are transforming the street into a big block party. Two stages of entertainment. Tickets are $35 to $50 (VIP tickets are more) will include admission to the bars Acme, Dos Gringos and Upper Deck. Proceeds to benefit benefiting the United Maricopa County Firefighters Association. Type "Coors Light" to receive $10 off General Admission and $25 off VIP advanced tickets. February 1 - 2, 2008.

Caddy SACK 3-Day Tent Party

Jilly’s American Grill in North Scottsdale will install a giant festive tent complete with stage, professional lighting, engineered sound, large 20-bartender cocktail bar, beer tubs and dance floor onto their parking lot. Three thousand guests each night will hear live musical performances by well-known and popular bands along with local favorite, DJ Mezmriz. Valet parking will be available along with ample street parking. Cover charge ranges from $15 to $30 and no cover charge before 5 p.m. Partial proceeds from this annual event will once again benefit the Scottsdale Fraternal Order of Police. Entertainment lineup: Thursday, January 31st at 8 p.m. Casper and the 602 Band (reggae, rock and funk). Headlining at 11 p.m. is Quantum, a 6-piece party band (dance music). Friday, February 1st at 8 p.m., The Polyesters, a 5-piece band, (70’s disco music). At 11 p.m., Shining Star, an 8-piece band, (classic to current dance tunes). Saturday, February 2nd at 5 p.m., HOUSEQUAKE, a 4-piece R & B funk band (old school cover tunes). At 8 p.m., Furious George, a 4-piece band, (rock cover tunes). The headliner ending this 3-day event at 11 p.m. is MetalHead, a 4-piece 80’s rock cover band complete with big hair and glam band attire. Burgers, hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches as well as Jilly’s full dinner menu in the main building will be available. Thursday, January 31 through Saturday, February 2, 2008 from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Jobing.com Arena, next door to the University of Phoenix stadium, will be the site of the two-night Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert Series. Mary J. Blige and Maroon 5 take the stage Jan. 31. Mexican pop group RBD will perform Feb. 1.

Singer Patti LaBelle will headline the ninth annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration on Feb. 1 at Symphony Hall in Phoenix.

Visitors can also enjoy a free concert and fireworks Feb. 2 at "Super Bowl Saturday Night" at Tempe Town Lake in Tempe, a town typically milling with ASU students.

Food: Foodies with $500 to spare can get a ticket for this year's Taste of the NFL on Feb. 2, which raises money to fight hunger.   More than 35 chefs representing cities with NFL teams will cook up special dishes. The food-and-wine fest will also have musical entertainment and an auction.

Glendale has also moved up its annual Glendale Chocolate Affaire. Chocoholics can nibble on confections made by local chocolatiers in downtown Glendale on Feb. 1-2. A 300-pound chocolate football will also be raffled off.

Nightlife: Already a clubgoer's paradise, Scottsdale will be taken over by private VIP parties in the days leading up to the big game.

Maxim magazine will contribute to the extravaganza with a Feb. 1 party at the Stone Rose Lounge at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

Other hot tickets will be Playboy's Super Saturday Night Party at Rawhide Pavilion and the Penthouse Desire Super Party at Venue of Scottsdale — also with Snoop Dogg appearing — on Feb. 2.

Carmen Electra and John Travolta, who both led parties at last year's Super Bowl, will again put on their party faces for the Leather & Laces Party on Feb. 1 and the Saturday Night Spectacular on Feb. 2, respectively. Both will be at the Scottsdale Galleria.

944 Super Village

944 Magazine is sponsoring 5 days and 5 nights of parties and festivals. During the day the Scottsdale Waterfront at Stetson Canal will be a family-friendly destination offering food, musical entertainment, sports and celebrity meet-and- greets and autograph sessions during the day, and live music, charity fundraisers, art displays, fashion shows, world-class DJs and fireworks at night. January 30 through February 3, 2008. The 944 Magazine Super Village live music, including Wyclef Jean on Feb. 1 and Velvet Revolver on Feb. 2.

Other sports: Football won't be the only sport sweeping the Sonoran desert Super Bowl week. The FBR Open, touted as one of the most popular PGA Tour events, will take place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at TPC Scottsdale. Admission prices start at $25. Barring any weather or playoff delay, the tournament winner is to be crowned by 4 p.m., 20 minutes before Super Bowl kickoff.

AVP Crocs Super Court - Pro Beach Volleyball

A portion of Westgate City Center’s parking area will be transformed into the Valley’s largest beach party, as AVP Pro Beach Volleyball returns for an exhibition to pre-market and create buzz for the upcoming season. Featuring some of the sport’s most popular players, including Michelle More and Suzanne Stonebarger, aka “Team Gorgeous,” a single exhibition court will be set up on the west parking lot where fans can watch exhibition matches with AVP pros and other celebrities, or try their own hand at beach volleyball skills like serving, digging, and spiking. Free admission. Thursday, January 31 – Sunday, February 3, 2008 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Sunday from 11 a.m to 10 p.m.) The desert: Out-of-towners looking for a slice of the Southwest landscape can check out the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. More than 130 rare and endangered plant species thrive at the 50-acre exhibit. Near the garden is the Phoenix Zoo, home to more than 1,200 animals. There are also ample hiking opportunities at South Mountain Park and Preserve in south Phoenix. Hard-core hikers can try the summit trails on Camelback Mountain, situated between Phoenix and Scottsdale.

A tour of Taliesin West,  Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural marvel nestled at the foot of the McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale, also serves as a serene diversion from Super Bowl mayhem,. Those wanting to venture farther out can make the two-hour drive north from Phoenix to Sedona and gaze upon spectacular red rock formations.

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