If the return of football-shaped cakes and goalpost-inspired beer displays in the grocery store is any indication, Super Bowl season's almost here. If you're not a football fan, you probably dread the run on tortilla chips, frozen appetizers, and parking spots in your apartment complex that happens every second Sunday in February. Don't let football fans have all the fun! Instead, join in on that celebratory action with these entertaining Super Bowl alternatives.
Non-Traditional Super Bowl Sunday Activities Worth Tackling
Super Bowl Sunday can be a drag if you're not enthralled by the sport or enjoy crowded living rooms. Take back your Super Bowl Sunday and give these alternative activities a try.
Host a Big (Board) Game Day Party
If you're a wiz at the table, try your hand at a Big (Board) Game Day Part. Everyone can laugh and have fun playing Scrabble, Yahtzee, or Monopoly. Invite all of your football-indifferent friends over for an afternoon filled with a heaping dose of game-day-inspired competition.
Put Together a Puppy Bowl Party
Are you a bigger fan of Fido than football? Every year, adorable, adoptable rescue puppies take to the gridiron and try to win the "Lombarky" trophy. Share the canine celebrations by hosting a Puppy Bowl party and asking your guests to bring their pups.
Have some small stuffed toy footballs scattered around and encourage your pups on as they run around playing while you snack on mini hotdogs. The Puppy Bowl lasts most of the day, but the main event is from 2-5 pm EST. So, if you have friends who are dog lovers and football fans, they'll still be able to catch the Super Bowl before switching back to the Puppy Bowl.
Host a Souper Bowl Party
Make a big pot of chili and other thick, comforting soups, and have a Souper Bowl party. For this party, you can have the Super Bowl on. But hang out with others who are less interested in the game and more interested in eating soup and tackling hunger by giving donations to Souper Bowl of Caring.
Hang at the Snack Table
Try enjoying the Super Bowl party, even if you're not into football, by mixing and mingling. Most partygoers will be cheering and yelling at a TV screen. Still, there's a good chance other people at the party aren't huge football fans, either. So, post up at the snack table because that's where you're most likely to find them. Talk and laugh with them, and before you know it, the game will be over, and everyone will be ready to party!
Cross Something Off Your To-Do List
You could put on a pair of noise-canceling headphones and focus on getting those little tasks done you've been meaning to for years. From deleting and reorganizing your camera roll to cleaning your spice cabinet, there's always something worth crossing off your to-do list.
Related: 18 Crowd-Pleasing Super Bowl Potluck Foods That'll Get All the Cheers
Binge-Watch a Series or Franchise
Just because you're not watching the Super Bowl doesn't mean you can't tune into another captivating program. It's the perfect day to start those long dramas like Succession, Mad Men, and Severance you've been meaning to.
Go Shopping and to Dinner With Friends
Meet your friends for an afternoon of shopping and dinner at one of the best restaurants in town. With so many eyes glued to the big screen on Super Bowl Sunday, you have the best chance of snagging a table at that upscale new restaurant that's always so crowded, and lines at the shops are guaranteed to be super short.
Spend Your Evening at a Matinee
New movies are usually pretty crowded on their first weekend. But Super Bowl Sunday festivities tend to lessen the crowds. You might even find that you're the only person sitting in the theater and can have the best seat in the house!
Plan a Romantic Day With Your Partner
If you're part of a couple that doesn't care for all the Super Bowl Sunday hoopla, you can spend a long romantic day together. You could have an indoor day cuddled up watching movies or reruns on TV. Or, plan an outdoor day, going for a walk or playing in the snow. Superbowl Sunday's also excellent for couples to visit an aquarium or museum, take a day trip, or hold hands (or more) in an empty movie theater.
Create & Participate in a Friendly Competition
Harness the Super Bowl's competitive spirit by making a competition at home. You could invite friends over to see who could read the most pages in an allotted amount of time, who could work up a crochet or knitting pattern the quickest, etc. Who says that professional athletes get to have all the fun of trying to beat the clock?
Your Super Bowl Deserves to Feel Super, Too
From the halftime performance to the unpredictable — and sometimes superstar — ads, there are many reasons to love the Super Bowl, football fan or not. But if you crave a celebration that doesn't involve the football fever pitch, these activities have you covered!
