SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The DIRECTV Holiday Bowl is back. Syracuse and Washington State will be facing off in San Diego's premier college football event on Friday at Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (8 p.m. Eastern). It will be the first time the bowl game is held in Mission Valley — where it had been for more than 40 years — since before the pandemic. The two most recent games were played in Petco Park downtown. Ahead of the game, Holiday Bowl organizers are hosting a number of events across San Diego to get sports fans pumped, starting with the Snapdragon Bowl Bash in downtown Thursday. The celebrations will continue Friday morning with the annual parade and 5K along Harbor Drive. More on the special events happening around the Holiday Bowl can be found here. Holiday Bowl football players visit SeaWorld San Diego For college football fans headed to the game, here is everything you need to know: When should I arrive at the stadium? Sports fans will be able to head to Snapdragon Stadium well before the Holiday Bowl officially kicks off. Starting at 2 p.m., fans will be able to participate in the Holiday Bowl's free pre-game Tailgate Party, featuring family-friendly activities and a Beer Garden for those ages 21 and up. Fans are also encouraged to come early to watch special Holiday Bowl Pregame Show half-an-hour before kickoff. Immediately after the game ends, fans will get one last treat with the presentation of the annual 101.5 KGB Sky Show. Where can I park? Snapdragon Stadium has a number of parking lots for sports fans headed to the game by car, although only a handful of spaces are available for drive-up. Stadium officials encourage drivers to purchase a pass in advance through Ticketmaster. Once secured, stadium officials say it is important to check which parking lot corresponds with the pre-paid pass, as each has their own entrance route. A map of the different lots and where their entrances are can be found on the Snapdragon Stadium website. Getting to the stadium via transit Want to ditch the car and avoid the hassle of stadium parking? San Diego officials encourage sports fans to think about taking public transit. Game attendees can easily take the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Trolley to and from Snapdragon Stadium: The Green Line will provide direct service to the stadium throughout the day Friday, stopping at Stadium Station every 15 minutes. Those living outside the Green Line corridor can transfer from the UC San Diego Blue Line to the line at Old Town Station, while those in East County can switch from the Orange Line at Grossmont Station. Sports fans who may still need to drive can use one of MTS' free park-and-ride lots along the Trolley route, instead of paying for a parking pass at the stadium. What can I bring into the stadium? Snapdragon Stadium has a clear bag only policy: Only transparent plastic or vinyl bags can be brought inside unless it is smaller than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. Each of the clear bags must be smaller than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. For those who bring bags that cannot be brought inside, bag check lockers are available for rent to store all items until after the game. Medical bags or those for young children will be let into the stadium. Sealed water bottles and empty refillable bottles smaller than 32 ounces can be brought inside the stadium. All other food and drink is not permitted, although exceptions can be made for those with medical requirements or special needs. Fans are welcome to bring banners, posters and signs supporting their preferred team, barring that they are larger than two by three feet in size and do not contain any lewd messaging. More about what is and is not permitted inside the stadium can be found on Snapdragon's website. College playoffs looks for good matchups after snoozy first round of blowouts Can I use cash at the stadium? No, Snapdragon Stadium is entirely cash-free. This means all of their concessions stands only accept credit or debit cards, including mobile pay. Guests who bring cash can use one of the stadium's "reverse ATMs," which uploads the funds onto a pre-paid debit card, to use that money at any of the dining or retail locations. Want to watch the Holiday Bowl from home? Tune in to the game on FOX 5 at 4:30 p.m.