Sunday is considered a holiday for many sports fans, and to help make their day more enjoyable bars all over DeKalb are holding special events centering around the biggest football game of the year.

Super Bowl XXXVI starts at 5 p.m., but the bars will be open all day for the avid football fan who gets up at 7 a.m. to watch the pre-game shows.

For the Chicago Bear lovers out there, Fatty’s Bar and Grill, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway, will show the 1985 Super Bowl at noon Sunday, and patrons can enter a raffle to win two inflatable recliners, Fatty’s bar manager Lou Sponsel said.

“We are expecting to get a lot of people in for that,” Sponsel said. “We would get over 100 people for regular season Bears games, so there should be a lot for the Super Bowl.”

Fatty’s also will give out “The Best Seat in the House.” The winners get to sit in recliners in front of the big screen, Sponsel said.

Starbusters Bar and Grill, 930 Pappas Drive, opens at noon Sunday.

The bar will be equipped with 21 televisions and two big-screens for the game, said Chris Tsiftilis, Starbusters manager and co-owner.

“Anywhere you sit in the house, you will have a TV in front of your face,” Tsiftilis said.

For those of you who enjoy eating a hot dog during the game, there will be a hot dog-eating contest held at halftime. Whoever eats the most will win a $50 cash prize.

But if you want to get in, you might want to get there early.

“Even during the playoffs, there was a packed house,” Tsiftilis said. “We are expecting the same for the Super Bowl.”

If that doesn’t suit your fancy, then Andy’s Lounge, 317 E. Lincoln Highway, is having a Super Bowl party.

Andy’s, complete with 16 televisions, will be open all day and will have a free buffet available at halftime. There also will be $1 and $1.50 drink specials all day, said Charmaine Kroll, Andy’s Lounge bar manager.

Andy’s also will open at noon Sunday.

Dave Lasaitis, bar manager at Annex The Lord Stanley’s, 142 E. Lincoln Highway, said the bar will have a private party during the game, but they will open to the public immediately following the conclusion of the game.