NEWPORT, Ky. — For the first time in decades, the Cincinnati Bengals are playing in Super Bowl. It's something many northern Kentuckians are celebrating.

“Admittedly I’m a huge Bengals fan and I have been my whole life," said Sally Fisk, marketing director with Newport on the Levee.

She said typically, the Levee becomes a hub and celebration spot each year for folks to watch the Super Bowl. This year, however, is different.

She said they're ramping things up supporting the Bengals – a team that plays just across the Ohio River, beloved by many in the area.

“It’s going to be a fun day packed with activities, face painting, balloon art for the kids, food and beverage pop up vendors for adults and for the family. But then we’ll have people watch the game at our local bars and restaurants," she said.

Local businesses at the levee will see the droves of people in the area. People can also find other businesses selling Bengals gear and treats.

Fisk said they've seen some bigger crowds over the last few weeks as the Bengals took home the W to many games that landed them the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. So they're prepping to handle even larger crowds.

“It’s exciting but we do want to make sure that we take those safety precautions. We do have people who will be on site to assist with anything people need but we want people to know that it’s an open public welcome space where they can enjoy those activities," Fisk said.

She said people should even do what makes them comfortable in the midst of the ongoing COVID pandemic. She said the goal is to just make this a special time for fans.

“We’ve been excited to support the local football team here and it’s always exciting to be a Bengals fan but this year that much more so- we’ve been pivoting to make sure this is memorable for the guests," she said.

This celebration starts at 4:30 Sunday afternoon. Super Bowl LVI kicks off at 6:30 p.m.