The World Cup Fan Zone in Reading kicks off Friday, featuring an outdoor block party downtown and indoor broadcasts of games.

The weekend’s festivities get underway Friday at 11 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Following the ceremony, the Fan Zone will open for a series of free, family-friendly events featuring broadcasts of World Cup matches on 40-foot screens inside Reading Arena (Santander Arena) and a block party in the 500, 600 and 700 blocks of Penn Street. Fans can enjoy a variety of local food vendors, restaurants, specialty retailers and community businesses.

With an extreme heat advisory in effect this weekend, officials are encouraging fans to take advantage of the air-conditioned arena while enjoying live match coverage and programming.

Admission to the Fan Zone is free, and advance registration is encouraged.

For additional event information and registration, visit ExperienceBerks.com/WorldCupFanZone

The event runs Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and features:

Friday

• Australia vs. Egypt, 2 p.m.

• Argentina vs. Cabo Verde, 6 p.m.

• Music by Go Go Gadget

Saturday

• Canada vs. Morocco, 1 p.m.

• Paraguay vs. France, 5 p.m.

• Music by Main Squeeze

• 3v3 Anywhere inflatable street soccer activation and youth activities

The Fan Zone will also be held July 18 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

July 18

• Bronze Final,  5 p.m.

• 3v3 Anywhere inflatable street soccer activation

July 19

• World Cup Final, 3 p.m.

• Music by Sugar Ray and Ax & The Hatchetmen

Officials also announced the following road closures and parking restrictions during the events:

Road closures

• Penn Street between Fifth and Eighth streets

• Cherry Street between Sixth and Eighth streets

• Sixth Street between Cherry and Court streets

• Seventh Street between Cherry and Penn streets

Parking will not be allowed on Eighth Street between Cherry and Court streets, but traffic will remain open.

Street closures will begin in phases after 5 a.m. on July 3 and July 18, with full closures in place by 9 a.m. The closures will remain in effect through each event weekend before reopening about 11 p.m. on July 4 and July 19.

Free public parking will be available at the following locations on July 3 at 8 a.m. through July 4 at 10 p.m., and July 18 at 8 a.m. through July 19 at 10 p.m.:

• DoubleTree Hotel Garage , 750 Court St.

• South Penn Garage, 635 Franklin St.

• Reed & Court Garage