Kansas City, Mo. ? Some show up in limousines. Others arrive by bus.

The dress code is relaxed so long as at least one piece of clothing is bright red or blinding yellow.

They gather – close friends and complete strangers – to eat, drink and celebrate into the night.

Every game day is a holiday at Arrowhead Stadium for Chiefs fans, who are among the most passionate and most likely to wear team colors in all of the NFL. Thanksgiving or not, they will be out early for tonight’s game against Denver.

The appeal

More than four hours before kickoff, a steady stream of traffic rolls slowly along Interstates 70 and 435. Pregame chatter screams from radios, interrupted only by the occasional honk or cheer.

Car after car is decked out in everything Chiefs. One, a dune buggy with the license plate CHF BUG, sports three team flags, red and white seats and headrests made to look like angry footballs.

The look of anger would be fitting for any other day with this snail’s pace on the freeways. But game days are different. The fans wait patiently for the vehicle in front of them to inch forward, knowing this is just part of the drill. So is forking up $20 for parking.

Truman Wright doesn’t mind the wait or the expense. Indeed, he rises at 3:30a.m. for noon kickoffs despite living in a nearby suburb. Wright’s family has owned season tickets for the past 27 years. The three seats and parking permit have been passed down through generations like a precious heirloom.

“We’re here at the same spot every week,” said Wright, who plans to give the tickets to his sons next season. “We’re here every morning at 5:30 when the gates don’t open until 8:30.

“Win or lose, we’re drinking booze,” he added, before reaching into the cab of his pickup to show off a license plate bearing those words.

The game draws fans such as Wright. The atmosphere keeps them there.

A zealous chiefs fan looks for his seat. Nearly 80,000 fans will pack Arrowhead Stadium tonight, and many will tailgate beforehand.

The feast

A gentle wind blows through the parking lot, carrying strong scents of barbecue that have come to represent this city. Smoke rises from thousands of grills, ranging from the most advanced to a few pieces of charcoal shoved under an old, rusty skillet.

The menu, whether typical fare or elite cuisine, caters to everyone.

Wright doesn’t get too attached to any one entree. It could be burgers and brats in Week 1 with friends from St. Louis and then teriyaki chicken and Greek souvlaki in Week 14 with friends from Philadelphia.

When his buddies from Canada fly in for a weekend, it’s a smorgasbord of fresh seafood – bacon-wrapped scallops, crab cakes and 60 pounds of boiled shrimp.

Kansas City resident Marvin Fight likes to keep it basic when he cooks for a group of up to 20 people, including his 14-year-old son, Marvin Jr., and his 9-year-old daughter, Brittany.

“This is breakfast, that’s lunch and that’s dinner,” said Fight, pointing to hamburgers, bratwursts and Italian sausages.

This is tailgating at its finest – football and a feast.

So it’s no wonder the NFL selected Kansas City as host for the first Thanksgiving night game and the first live regular-season broadcast on the NFL Network.

“It ought to be pretty crazy,” Chiefs kicker Lawrence Tynes said. “We’re giving some people about a 12-hour head start to get going so they’ll be in rare form.”

The fans

In a city where fans don’t need an excuse to get excited, the Arrowhead faithful have a few – a nationally televised game, a holiday and the Denver Broncos.

“I think it’s going to be crazy for the fact that it’s going to be a night game and it’s against Denver,” Knight said. “Our fans are going to be there – whether it’s hot or cold.”

They will be there to give thanks – for football, fun and their beloved Chiefs.

“We’re going to see if we can get us a big firebox and actually bring in a pig or something and cook it on the grill,” Oerman said.

Rowton had a different idea.

“No, we’re eating a donkey,” he said.