Summary
A celebration of all things pop culture and entertainment,San Diego Comic-Conhas been held annually since 1970. Since its first year, the expo has grown astronomically. Not only has SDCC expanded its reach in terms of content — it’s no longer focused on just comics, but movies, TV, and games — but it has also become one of the premiere ways for studios, networks, filmmakers, and artists to connect with fans. As a result,there are a ton of exciting activations, themed dining experiences, fan-run meetups, and other activitiesthat occur in and around the convention center.
The 2024 iteration of San Diego Comic-Con is no exception. Bigger and better than ever, the four-day event is jam-packed with parties, exclusive screenings, and live performances. Although the convention center panels and main-stage announcements often create the most buzz online, folks who are attending in person may want to expand their horizons. After all, thosepanels aren’t necessarily the most memorable aspects of the event. While it’s great to get the scoop on your favorite fandom first, it’s also a wonderful feeling to connect with fellow fans and pop culture lovers at SDCC.
SDCC 2024: 10 Biggest Panels On Thursday, July 25
Thursday at SDCC 2024 includes panels for major projects like Percy Jackson and Transformers One, as well as catering to some more niche interests.
Activations
San Diego Comic-Con’s Biggest Activations
Paramount+’s The Lodge:The Paramount+ hub features activations for Star Trek, IF, Ghosts, Ink Master, Criminal Minds: Evolution, and more. Located at the Happy Does Bar at 340 Fifth Avenue, the hours are as follows:
Shaun of the Dead Immersive Pop-Up Experience:Visitors will step into the 520 Fifth Ave space (open Thursday-Saturday from 12pm–6pm and Sunday 12pm–4pm) to be transported into theShaun of the Deaduniverse.
Those About to Die Chariot Racing:Unleash your inner gladiator at Peacock’s immersive experience located just outside of Baja Rick’s (formerly Tin Fish), at 170 Sixth Avenue. Although reservations are sold out, a stand-by line is available. The hours for Circus Maximus are as follows:
SDCC 2024: 10 Biggest Panels On Friday, July 26
The panels at SDCC 2024 on Friday will cover the upcoming seasons of Rings of Power and The Walking Dead, plus Women in Comics and BookTok Tropes.
Hulu’s Animayhem:Located at the convention center, this animation-themed factory features activations fromFuturama,Bob’s Burgers,Family Guy,Solar Opposites,The Simpsonsand more. Animayhem unfolds during the following hours:
#FXSDCC:The network’s fan-favorite offsite at Hilton Bayfront Lawn (1 Park Blvd) will feature activations fromAmerican Horror Story,What We Do in the Shadows,It’s Always Sunny, and more. The hours are as follows:
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – The Forbidden Zone:A deep dive into the film’s legacy, this exhibition is located at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center and is open daily, Thursday—Saturday, from 10am–7pm daily, and 10am–2pm on Sunday.
Abbott Elementary A.V.A Fest:This “A Very Abbott Festival” activation occurs at 5th Avenue Landing and is described as an “unhinged carnival activation.” The hours for theAbbott Elementary-themed area are as follows:
SpongeBob SquarePants Fountain of Positivity:Check out this cooling station on the lawn behind the Omni Hotel from 9:30am–7pm daily.
Google Play x Marvel Contest of Champions Wheel of Champions:All Silver+ members heading to San Diego Comic-Con can assemble at Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade to claim their Hero Pass and assemble for VIP access to Google Play’s Wheel of Champions ride (alter ego: a Ferris wheel) during the following hours:
Exploding Kittens at Petco Interactive Zone:A giant, 21-foot-tall, flame-bearing cat statue will welcome visitors to this Exploding Kittens-themed activation, which is open during the following hours:
SpongeBob SquarePants Hard Rock Hotel San Diego Takeover:Paramount+ and Nickelodeon are creating an incredible ode to the one and only Spongebob. Unlike the Krusty Krab, this one is open all day throughout SDCC.
SDCC 2024: 10 Biggest Panels On Saturday, July 27
San Diego Comic Con is promising some exciting panels featuring upcoming projects Saturday, July 27th, from superhero movies to animated comedies.
Themed Restaurants
SDCC 2024’s Themed Food & Drinks
Star Trek Energize Lounge:Hosted by apparel brand Hero Within at 332 J Street, theStar Trek-themed lounge offers coffee and other refreshments. Thursday, July 25–Saturday, July 27 from 8am–10pm daily, or Sunday, July 28 from 8am–12pm.
Kitties and Coffee For Comic-Con at The Cat Cafe:Unwind with the adoptable kitties of The Cat Café! On Wednesday, July 24–Sunday, July 28, for $27, you can book a 50-minute slot to enjoy a snack or beverage alongside some cute cats.
Gotham Ice Truck:HBO and DC have teamed up to hostThe Penguin-themed ice truck. Slush Puppies and other cold treats are available at the truck from Thursday, July 25 through Saturday, July 27, in downtown San Diego (exact location to follow).
Hello Kitty Cafe Truck:Serving upHello Kitty-themed sweet treats, this truck is available at the Petco Interactive Zone on Thursday, July 24–Saturday, July 27 from 10am–6pm daily, Sunday, July 28 from 10am–4pm.
BoxLunch Treats Truck:From Thursday, July 25–Sunday, July 28, at the corner of First St. & J (from 10am–7pm Thursday to Saturday and 11am–4pm on Sunday), BoxLuch will be offering up both edible treats and free swag.
Voodoo Ranger Shipwrecked Bar Pirate Ship:Located at the convention center, this pirate-themed beer bar is open during the following times:
Superhero Tea:Hosted in the Westgate Hotel’s Grand Lobby, tea time occurs daily (Wednesday–Sunday) from 1pm–5pm. Reservations are $59 for adults plus tax, or $35 for children 2–12. Children under the age of two are free.
Super7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Party:Stop by for some Mikey’s Pizza on Friday, July 26, from 7pm to close at 550 14th St #116.
Comic Con-Themed Bar Crawl:The Levinson Group is hosting its annual Comic-Con Bar Crawl in downtown San Diego on both Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27, starting at 7:30pm nightly. Early birds pay $10 for the night, while day-of buyers pay $20.
The Penguin Iceberg Lounge:Located at the Bloom Nightclub, Gotham’s famed “The Iceberg Lounge” will be open on Friday and Saturday evenings, allowingBatmanfans to enjoy complimentary drinks and enter The Penguin’s inner-circle.
Digital LA Comic Cocktails:Tickets to this cocktail-forward event at a secret location on Saturday, July 27, from 9pm–11pm, range from $10–20.
Barks & Brews Fest Comic-Con Edition:Starting at 12:30pm at Waterfront Park, dog-lovers can hang with their canine pals while tasting brews. Tickets range from $18–38.
Super Heroes vs Villains – Comic Con Brunch Edition:Check out this themed brunch on Saturday, July 27 from 11am–4pm at Cielo Rooftop Lounge.
10 MCU Movie Announcements & Reveals I Want To See At SDCC 2024
With Marvel Studios reportedly set to appear at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, there are a few movie announcements and new details that I hope we’ll get.
Check out the full SDCC 2024schedule of events.
San Diego Comic-Con
San Diego Comic-Con is a yearly pop culture event celebrating movies, TV Shows, video games, and more. Each year, thousands of people flock to San Diego to attend the event, which hosts various celebrities and guests. SDCC was first held in 1970 under the banner Golden State Comic Book Convention.
