Whether you prefer to lend a helping hand to charities or you just want to enjoy the festivities, there will be plenty to do in New York City in the time leading up to the much anticipated Super Bowl matchup between the Seahawks and the Broncos.

The Seahawks will do their best to bring as many of the many loud hometown fans to New York as possible, but the crowd is sure to be a mix of fans from both teams as well as a number of other people who are loyal Super Bowl fans or won a special trip to the big game this year.

The Broncos are the early favorites and the team made a big statement with their over the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game last weekend. Although neither team even reached the Championship game last year, the Broncos do have the edge in experience since the team has been in the postseason several times in the last few years.

Regardless of which team you are rooting for in the game, there will be plenty to do in the big apple in the time before kickoff. If you're planning to be in the city at the time, check below to find some of the great events that will be taking place.

Super Bowl Boulevard

The NFL will be essentially taking over 13 blocks of New York City for the Super Bowl festivities that will be taking place -- from 34th street all the way until 47th street -- and it will be aptly named "Super Bowl Boulevard."

Reminiscent of what fans might find at Disney's Wide World of Sports' ESPN Zone in the late winter months, there will be everything from daily autograph signings by former NFL greats to a public display of the Lombardi Trophy.

Furthermore, there will be a Super Bowl virtual theater where fans, many of which will be tourists in the city just for the big game, can see the connection between the Super Bowl and the city of New York. You can watch it without having to worry about taking away hours from your day - it is just a ten minute film that runs 30 every half hour from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will span from Jan. 29 until Feb. 1.

Activities For Kids

The NFL Rush Zone tent and NFL PLAY field will provide special attractions and activities for the youngsters who will be in the area. This will be particularly special among families who wish to avoid the cold and potential snow by heading inside the tent. The Rush Zone tent will be open and available for kids and families from noon until 10 p.m. daily from Jan. 29 until Feb. 1, according to NFL.com.

Which Activities Are Free?

The Super Bowl Boulevard events are completely free except for the Toboggan event. In order to receive a ticket for the Toboggan run, which is going to be engineered by GMC, you only need to pay $5 via Ticket Master and all of the proceeds will help MillionTrees NYC, which is a charity for New York City parks.

Of course, even though the activities are free, it will cost you money if you wish to splurge on the merchandise items that will be surrounding the area in the time leading up to the big game. Just for the Super Bowl festivities, the NFL will be opening up a special, limited time only NFL Shop. This 36,000 square-foot shop will be set up at Macy's Herald Square and will open up starting on January 22. This is sure to attract a great deal of people, especially with the NFL decorations that will be on the windows facing the outside.

There has been much talk about the NFL being a very intolerant place for people who fail to fit the perfect mold of what is perceived to be the model NFL star. Although we don't always hear much about the history of current players, a number of the game's top stars will be on hand for the "NFL Characters Unite Reception and Panel" to talk about their childhood and the adversity they faced along the way. Many of the players that will be in attendance were featured in a soon to be released documentary, which will air on USA on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.

"The one-hour documentary, premiering on USA on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. ET, profiles NFL stars as they share deeply personal stories of overcoming prejudice, bullying, discrimination, with the goal of helping young people who are currently facing similar challenges," NFL.com says.

Ways To Help Volunteer

The Super Community Coat Drive will come at a perfect time considering the very chilly temperatures that have plagued the better part of the United States. The event was launched in early November in conjunction with nonprofit companies New York Cares and Jersey Cares. More than 100,000 coats have been gathered so far and the opportunity to donate more coats still stands until Feb. 7.

Also keep in mind that there will be a prepared food recovery program as well as a materials and sports equipment donation project. The extra food remaining from Super Bowl events will be gathered and donated via Wrap It Up, a national nonprofit food recovery organization. The food will be sent to soup kitchens, shelters, and other local areas in need, according to NFL.com.

The New York Jets and New York Giants as well as the New York and New Jersey Super Bowl Host Committee and Verizon will fuel the sports equipment and book donation project. Under this project, kids will be able to donate their new or barely used books, which will be distributed to schools and organizations in the area that are focused on helping children.

Another special charity event this year is one that is not as much open to the public but is still worth noting. A national nonprofit organization called Rebuilding Together will bring together 150 volunteers to help repair the leftover damage from Hurricane Sandy. A dozen homes and two "community spaces" will be among the focus of the renovations as the homes require electrical and plumbing upgrades, among other things.

Concluding Notes:

The NFL as well as the local teams, charities, and organizations have worked long and hard to set up the best Super Bowl venue for fans. Considering the fact that the game will be played in the New York City metro area, we can expect large crowds to the point where it could be very overcrowded at times. The best time of day to try to attend these events would be very early in the morning or at times when rush hour traffic is not as congested.

Which of these events do you hope to attend? Will you be among the many fans who will be in the Big Apple for one of the most anticipated Super Bowls of all time? It is the first time we have ever seen a Super Bowl in New York and this may be one of the only opportunities for fans in the northeast to say they were a part of the Super Bowl.

Let us know in the comments section whether you will be going and which events you hope to partake in!