2017 Events

Oscar-winning animation studio LAIKA, creators of Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings, brings its pop-up exhibit to the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter from Friday, July 14th to Sunday, July 23rd.

Admission is free to the exhibit, which will feature props, puppets, monsters, and sets from LAIKA’s award-winning films as well as fan art, a photo/GIF booth with LAIKA characters, daily drawings for a pair of Nike’s LAIKA-themed shoes designed by Tinker Hatfield, social media activations, LAIKA merchandise offered for sale (including a new limited edition Coraline doll and display case), giveaways, and more. In addition to the pop-up exhibit, LAIKA’s walkaround costumed characters will appear at various locations in the Gaslamp Quarter for fan interaction and photos.

Travis Knight, President & CEO of LAIKA and director of Kubo and the Two Strings, will autograph merchandise purchased at the exhibit on Friday, July 21st at 3pm.

Hours of operation:

• Friday, July 14: 2 PM to 10PM
• Saturday, July 15: 11AM to 10 PM
• Sunday, July 16: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Monday -Tuesday, July 17-18: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Wednesday, July 19: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Thursday, July 20: 11:00 AM to 11 PM
• Friday, July 21: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
• Saturday, July 22: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
• Sunday, July 23: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM

Celebrate rescue animals the weekend before Comic-Con with the Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 2nd annial PAWmicon, taking place at Hazard Center in Mission Valley on Saturday, July 15.

The event features a costume contest for dogs and dog-and-owner pairs, meet adoptable pups dressed in costume, music, games, prize drawing supporting the Animal Center, and more. Bring your pup to this dog-friendly celebration of heroes big and small!

Learn more on the Animal Center site or their Facebook event page.

For the 4th year in a row, the Hard Rock Cafe will be giving back during San Diego Comic-Con by hosting a “True Hero” comic book drive to send to United States Marine Corps serving overseas.

Attendees and locals alike can drop off their gently used comic books at the Hard Rock Cafe San Diego (801 4th Ave) anytime from Monday, July 17 – Sunday, July 23. In addition to giving a Marine some awesome reading material, you will also receive a True Hero VIP lanyard featuring the San Diego cityscape — perfect to attach the limited edition Hard Rock Comic-Con pins (available for $14 each at the Cafe and the Hard Rock Hotel) to!

The San Diego Law Library presents the 8th annual Lindley Lecture on Law & Comics on Tuesday, July 18, from 4:30pm-5:30pm at the downtown Central Library (Neil Morgan Auditorium).

The panel will address the challenges that creators face when trying bring their creations to market. Learn from creators and attorneys who’ve been there. For more details, and to register for the FREE tickets, visit Eventbrite.

The Fleet Science Center hosts Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Jonathan Maberry (New York Times Best selling Author and creator of V-Wars), and Dr. Ronald Colman from The Scripps Research Institute, for their regular “Crossover: Where Comics and Science Meet” event on Tuesday, July 18 at 7pm. This is a 21+ event, bring your ID.

Tickets are $16 at Eventbrite and include two beers from a local brewery and one comic book.

Your favorite Cartoon Network characters will be floating above the Martin Luther King Promenade, near the Children’s Museum, from Wednesday through Sunday!

For the 2nd year, Comic-Con International and San Diego Public Library have teamed up for the Comic Conference for Educators and Librarians. This free four-day conference will take place during Comic-Con, and will explore the role comics play in promoting education and literacy for all ages.

The conference is free to attend, but space is limited and registration is required for each day. Registration ends July 17th. Comic-Con badge-holders with valid single same-day or four-day badges are welcome to attend and are not required to register.

Register at the links below, and more info can be found on the San Diego web site.

• Wednesday, July 19, 4:00pm – 6:00pm: Teaching with Comics Workshop for Educators
• Thursday, July 20, 10:0am – 6:00pm: Librarian-Focused Panels
• Friday, July 21, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm: Publisher Panels for Educators & Librarians
• Saturday, July 22, 10:00am – 6:00pm: Educator-Focused Panels
• Sunday, July 23, 11:00am – 3:00pm: College/Geek-ed Panels

Super7’s retail location in the San Diego East Village (701 8th Ave) is being transformed during Comic-Con into the Skeletor’s Lair Pop-Up Shop for the 3rd year, carrying exclusive He-Man and Masters of the Universe items.

The store will be open the following days and times:

• Wednesday: 9:00pm – Midnight
• Thursday: 11:00am – 9:00pm
• Friday: 11:00am – 9:00pm

AMC is being a DEADQUARTERS fan zone to Comic-Con, of course featuring The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead. Stop by and test your swing at the Negan Batting Cages, score a chance to meet cast members, and much more.

The DEADQUARTERS will be located in front of the Hilton Gaslamp Hotel at 4th Ave. and L St. Open hours are:

• Thursday – Saturday: 11:00am – 6:00pm
• Sunday: 11:00am – 4:00pm

We also know there will be a Fear the Walking Dead signing on Saturday, July 22, from 12pm-1pm.

Nerdvania will be at Atomic in downtown San Diego from Wednesday through Sunday of Comic-Con. Located on the 2nd floor, in the Tiki room of Atomic, the shop will have Funkos, toys, comics, and lots more. The venue is all ages until 9pm. The Nerdvania shop hours are:

• Wednesday, July 19: 12pm – 6pm
• Thursday, July 20: 12pm – Late
• Friday, July 21: 12pm – 8pm
• Saturday, July 22: 2pm – 8pm
• Sunday, July 23: 2pm – 8pm

Learn more on the Nerdvania web site.

Conan O’Brien announced his return to this year’s Comic-Con during the taping of his final SDCC show last year. Once again returning to the Spreckles Theatre, Conan’s 4 tapings will be Wednesday through Saturday, at 3pm.

Tickets will be through 1iota again, and there’s usually an email from Comic-Con that goes out with lottery information.

Back by popular demand for the second year, support local artists and join friends of the Kevin Workman Foundation at Comickaze Liberty Station to celebrate Comic-Con 2017 with a Happy Hour Fun(d) Raiser.

Comickaze is located at historic Liberty Station just 7 miles (15 minutes by Lyft) from the San Diego Convention Center. The event is free and open to all, but you may purchase a $35 ticket to support the Foundation as well as gain access to food, soda, beer/wine, and the silent auction.

• Craft beer, wine, signature cocktails, and catered street tacos while supplies last!
• Silent auction with collectible artwork from Mondo and KWF Sponsored Artists
• CosPlay photo booth
• DJ’s and glow performers
• Star Wars cosplay and saber combat demos from the San Diego Sabres

Limited quantities available for this exclusive event. More info can also be found on the Facebook event page.

Please note: This offsite does require a Comic-Con badge.

From the Comic-Con Toucan Blog:

The Futurism & Tech Pavilion is excited to show off the latest in tech and innovation at this year’s Comic-Con. Augmented Reality takes center stage with the exclusive launch of Mira Lab’s new headset, accompanied by some exciting new content. We have a wide range of Virtual Reality with incredible companies providing it: Survios’ Raw Data, VR Werx’ Paranormal Activity, Steel Wool’s Mars Odyssey, Project Cars from Bandai, Star VR’s John Wick, The Power Rangers presented by Qualcomm, Arcslinger from Big Red Button, something cool from Framestore (The Avengers and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), VR cubes courtesy of Exit VR, Augmented Reality, as well as mixed reality and 360 domes courtesy of FulldomePro (a relaxing way to enjoy fully immersive entertainment). Sega is presenting an AR Sonic experience and a special concert with the awesome Shota Nakama on Thursday evening, and dome takeover on Friday! We welcome the “A.I. Innovation Fair “with its focus on artificial intelligence, sustainable tech and advanced robotics; Hanson Robotics will be sharing Einstein and their remarkable ground-breaking robots. With more than 9,000 square feet of futurism and cutting edge innovation and immersive entertainment, the Futurism & Tech Pavilion hosted by VRCon is a must-see event at Comic-Con 2017!

• WHERE: Omni San Diego Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 4th Floor
• WHEN: Wed., 7/19: Developer & Public Preview, 6:00–9:00 PM • Thu.–Sat., 7/20-7/22: 9:30 AM–7:00 PM • Sun., 7/23: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM

Hop-Con returns with version 5.0 on Wednesday, July 19, at Stone Brewing’s Liberty Station location. This is a 21+ event.

Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets. The $75 ticket includes:

• Fifteen 3oz beer samples – FIVE of which are w00tstout!
• The opportunity to sample the full five-year verticals
• A commemorative Hop-Con 5.0 glass
• Gourmet food stations with unlimited tastings
• Unlimited plays at the #HopCade
• Churros for dessert
• Lots of geeky good times!

$40 tickets are available for non-drinkers, and for $95 you can also add on a T-shirt. Check Brown Paper Tickets for the full beer list and details!

Join us and the rest of the San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog team at McFadden’s on Wednesday, July 19, during/after Preview Night for a meetup and shindig! More at the UBlog: sdccblog.com/event/2-blog-2-furious/

The annual comedy show and live taping of Doug Benson’s podcast, “Doug Loves Movies,” returns to SDCC, at the American Comedy Co. More information about the podcast can be found at: douglovesmovies.com.

Buy Tickets at the American Comedy Co. web site.

Show: Wed 7/19, 8:00 PM
Tickets: $18
21+ Venue

Note: This screening is full but you can join the waitlist.

WELCOME TO YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE!

IT: Director Andy Muschietti, along with Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Sophia Lillis & Jeremy Ray Taylor, will introduce exclusive, never-before-seen footage of the upcoming film based on the iconic Stephen King novel. IT is in theaters September 8.

ANNABELLE: CREATION: Director David. F. Sandberg, along with Stephanie Sigman, Anthony LaPaglia, Talitha Bateman & LuLu Wilson, will then introduce a special screening. ANNABELLE: CREATION is in theaters August 11.

Both films are R Rated

The 4th annual fundraiser for Hero Initiative, hosted by Gabe and Adrienne Eltaeb, on Wednesday from 9pm – 1am at Basic.

Attendees can enjoy pizza, drinks and music. Bid on live sketches from comic artists, and enter to win items from Dark Horse, Funko and Blizzard, with all money raised going to the charity.

A meetup for Comic-Con related bloggers and fans of those sites, this year moving to the House of Blues.

Read more here.

There is a screening of Annabelle Creation on Wednesday, July 19, at 9pm at Horton Plaza. Follow this link to WBTickets then search for 92101 in the zip code.

The Unofficial IDW:PDX and Black Crown Preview Night Rock & Roll After Party, starting at 10PM in the upstairs loft of Jolt’n Joe’s. Cover is $10 per person.

Featuring musicians familiar to those that follow IDW:

Woodford & Brownlee – Shawn Lee, Mike Ford, Ben Brown and Dirk Wood (all of IDW Publishing)
Gentlemen Ghost – Kahlil Schweitzer, Alonzo Simon, Ben Brown and Mike Ford (all of IDW Publishing)
M&L – Top Secret mystery band
Chelsea Tractors – Jeremy Atkins (Dynamite, Lion Forge, Vault, etc.) and Dirk Wood (IDW Publishing)

Rolling into town from July 20th to the 23rd, the Rick & Morty RICKMOBILE will likely be in the Interactive Zone near Petco Park, and seen driving around downtown. You can also catch them in these offsite San Diego locations:

• Thursday, July 20, 5pm-8pm: Comickaze, 5517 Clairemont Mesa Blvd Suite A
• Sunday, July 23, 12pm-3pm: Modern Times Brewery, 3725 Greenwood St

Read more about the RICKMOBILE’s cross-country tour at: www.adultswim.com/promos/rickmobile/

Come party on the Wrecked Pop-Up Island Tour from Thursday, July 20, through Sunday, July 23. There will be an island bar, coconut ski ball, and a mechanical boar! Please note this is a 21+ event.

Register for the Comic-Con, or other stops on their tour, at Eventbrite (Thursday only available at this time, as well as the Saturday before con). Learn more at their Facebook event page. Exact location TBA, but it will be behind the Marriott Marina.

Wrecked airs Tuesdays at 10:30pm on TBS.

Want to get away from the long lines and crowds of Comic-Con to enjoy award winning, locally roasted coffee in the company of friendly felines? Come visit The Cat Cafe and enjoy their Comic-Con special! For $15, you’ll get a drink or food item, and a chance to spend 30 minutes with friendly cats from The Rescue House.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Only 15 people will be allowed into the cat playpen for each half hour session. Sessions will run Thursday through Sunday of Comic-Con, with the first entry at 8am to the last entry at 3:30pm each day.

From the Comic-Con Toucan Blog:

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Legendary invite you to experience firsthand the primordial wonders of Kong: Skull Island. The MonsterVerse comes to life as fans get to visit a Monarch Containment Zone which houses the gigantic bones of Kong’s ancestors, enter the Iwi temple to uncover the ancient secrets of Skull Island, and navigate the beast-infested jungles of the island for a close encounter with the mighty Kong himself!

The activation will be on the lawn behind the Omni Hotel, open Thursday through Sunday, 8:30 AM–7:00 PM.

In celebration of Sprout network’s launch of the new original series, Kody Kapow, they invite kids and families to use their muscles and minds on a transformative journey filled with high energy martial arts and immersive experiences in the Kody Kapow: Kapower Up Training Camp. Located inside Petco Park, the training camp will feature Kapowerful activities that allow each child to discover his or her inner superhero.

Dates/Times: July 20-23 from 9:00am-6:00pm

Amazon will again be setting up an outside activation along the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade, at the corner of 1^st and J Street. This year, Amazon brings a Tick Takeover offsite during Comic-Con which will welcome “Citizens” into rooms from the series and also include a twenty-foot tall, controllable Tick head.

Citizens will be asked to help the show’s two main protagonists, Arthur and The Tick, take down a group of evil-doers and prove that they too can be heroes. This multi-room experience will take place in four locations essential to the series storyline – Goat’s Deli, Arthur’s Apartment, The Warehouse, and The City Police Station.

There will also be an Amazon Prime Member Lounge, where Citizens will have the chance to relax and experience Amazon Prime benefits as they stream the pilot episode of the The Tick.

Also during Comic-Con, keep an eye out for the Team Tick street team. Need help with that selfie? Have a painful blister? Have no fear… Team Tick is here! In true Tick form, Team Tick will be taking to the streets of San Diego helping the helpless and defending the defenseless. Citizens seeking assistance from the street team need only flag down a member of Team Tick, adorned with blue antenna, to get help for their distress.

The Tick Takeover will be open to the public on the following days and times:

• Thursday, July 21: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
• Friday, July 22: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
• Saturday, July 23: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
• Sunday, July 24: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

From Thursday through Sunday, 9am to 10pm, Maryjane’s at the Hard Rock Hotel will be taken over by Skydance Interactive for all-day gaming demos, showcasing Archangel and PWND.

The VICELAND Party Bus returns to San Diego Comic-Con with an entire Party Lot at 530 Island Ave. The lot will be open Thursday, July 20, through Saturday, July 22, from 9AM-6PM daily. They’ll also be celebrating the launch of their new show starring James Van Der Beek, What Would Diplo Do?, so you can expect giveaways and special guests.

Follow along on the VICELAND bus web site.

The annual Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive returns to Comic-Con, and will again be located in the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel in the Coronado Ballroom.

Walk-ins are welcome, and no convention badge is needed. To make an appointment in advance, use our handy links below:

• Thursday: 9am – 6pm
• Friday: 9am – 6pm
• Saturday: 9am – 6pm
• Sunday: 10am – 3:00pm

You can also read more about the blood drive’s history on the Comic-Con site.

Nintendo returns to the Marriott Marquis Hotel & Marina for their annual Gaming Lounge, open throughout Comic-Con. This year the San Diego ballroom of the Marriott will be transformed into a colorful Nintendo paradise – perfect for taking amazing photos and playing some great games starring some of Nintendo’s most recognizable characters! Since Splatoon 2 launches during San Diego Comic-Con this year (July 21), fans will be able to take part in some extra-fresh Splatoon 2 activities. Fans who want to show off their competitive side will have multiple opportunities to compete in an ongoing multi-game competition, the Play Nintendo Challenge, for the chance to receive cool giveaways and a chance to win a prize, while supplies last.

Check out the Nintendo news site for a complete list of available games.

The Blade Runner 2049 Experience is coming to the Gaslamp Quarter, open to the public from Thursday through Sunday of Comic-Con. You will be able to register on-site for a same-day entry appointment.

The activation will replicate the movie’s setting, complete with the unique sights, sounds and atmosphere of Los Angeles, circa 2049. The experience begins as guests enter through a gallery of art from Blade Runner 2049. An Oculus VR experience will immerse visitors in the world of the film. Vehicles and costumes will be on display, and there will also be giveaways and other surprises.

In addition, for the first time, fans will get an exclusive peek of the limited-edition Johnnie Walker Black Label The Director’s Cut bottle, inspired by the original, elusive prop from the first film. Details on this limited-edition whiskey blend will be announced in the coming months. Guests 21 and over will also have the chance to enjoy a Johnnie Walker whisky tasting experience.

The Experience is in the parking lot at 450 2nd Ave. and will be open the following days and times

• Thursday and Friday: 10:00AM – 7:00PM
• Saturday: 9:00AM – 7:00PM
• Sunday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM

Over the last decade, 3A has commemorated benchmark achievements with the incredibly diverse Venture art showcases across the globe. With every Venture, fans are invited to a massive gathering of 3A’s art, toys, sculptures, and unique blend of DIY culture along with a selection of like-minded artists.

The summer of 2017 brings with it the first ever Venture in the United States, to be held during Comic-Con at Sparks Gallery. The venue will be open to the public the following days:

• Thursday, July 20: 10am – 6pm
• Friday, July 21: 10am – 6pm
• Saturday, July 22: 10am – 6pm
• Sunday, July 23: 10am-4pm

More info can be found on the World of 3A site, and on their Facebook event page.

Be on the lookout for a team of Weyland-Yutani guards transporting Alien eggs outside of the convention center on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Those who take a photo with the transport and tweet using the hashtag #AlienSweepstakes will be entered to win an authentic Alien: Covenant replica Facehugger. For complete rules visit: Alienuniverse.com/Sweeps

In honor of the LEGO Ninjago movie coming out in September, every day at 10AM, Thursday through Sunday, fans looking for a good stretch before standing in their next line can head to the lawn at the Omni Hotel to participate in “NINJOGA,” a tai chi/yoga-like workout for the ninja in everyone.

Good news! The Pinball Lounge does not require a badge for entry!

From the Toucan Blog, Comic-Con with Stern Pinball debut the Pinball Lounge at Comic-Con. Featuring a set of Star Wars–themed pinball machines, the Pinball Lounge will be open from Thursday, July 20 through Sunday, July 23 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Pacific Ballroom 14-16, in the convention facility adjacent to the North Tower.

Free Play Hours
If you’re a casual player, stop by the Pinball Lounge between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, or between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Sunday for Free Play. It’s a great place to hang out, relax, and regroup while getting to play classic arcade games with friends.

Tournament Play
For the more seasoned pinball players, there will be tournaments. Everyone is welcome to enter the competition, but only the top four contenders will qualify to compete in the final round.

If you would like to take part in the tournament, please visit the Pinball Lounge between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, or on Sunday between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM to compete in the qualifying rounds. The final round of these tournaments between the top four contenders will take place immediately after the qualifying rounds, and each of these finalists will walk away with a prize!

Come by and show off your best pinball moves!

Where: Marriott Marquis Marina, 333 W. Harbor Dr., Pacific Ballroom 14-16, Lower Level
When: (Free Play): Thur., Fri., & Sat.: 10:00 AM–7:00 PM • Sunday: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM (Tournament Play): Thur., Fri., & Sat.: 7:00–9:00 PM • Sunday: 2:00–4:00 PM

Photo: Crave

The Free Rides are back! Flag down one of the Adult Swim vehicles and enjoy a relaxing free ride!

From the Adult Swim site: They say, “Set a fish free and he’ll give you a ride anywhere in the sea.” We’re taking that to heart this year with our FishCenter themed free ride mobiles. Find this fishy fascination for some much-needed leg rest.

The largest entertainment fan site in the world is heading back to Comic-Con for a weekend full of parties and fun. Fans are invited to stop by FANDOM FEST at the Petco Interactive Zone all week long, where FANDOM has teamed up with Pepsi to provide a special fantasy food truck dishing out pop culture-inspired foods with drink pairings, a lounge area for fans to congregate, and a stage that will feature live FANDOM programs, fan-participatory trivia games, cosplay shows, and talent interviews. No badge is required!

FANDOM ACTIVATION (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
Petco Interactive Zone
Thursday – Sunday, July 20-23 (10am-6pm Thurs-Sat; 10am-3pmSun)

FANDOM PARTY (INVITATION ONLY)

CBS is creating a fully immersive Discovery experience at the Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts Gallery (363 Fifth Avenue); Comic-Con badges are not mandatory for entry. The exhibit will feature the debut of – and a photo opportunity with – the U.S.S. Discovery captain’s chair and will showcase additional props, costumes, sketches and more from Discovery. One thousand fans each day will receive complimentary limited-edition Discovery posters, and the location will also house an official Star Trek Shop with items exclusive to Comic-Con.

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY PEDICABS
Thursday, July 20 to Sunday, July 23

Fans can get free “intergalactic” rides throughout the Gaslamp District in pedicabs inspired by the design of the U.S.S. Discovery’s captain’s chair. The pedicabs will feature the series’ chair’s distinctive stitched black seats as well as video monitors built into its arm rests which, in this case, will screen trailers for the highly anticipated new show. As an added touch, each vehicle will display an illuminated U.S.S. Discovery delta shield on the back.

#TREKDISCOVERY CHALLENGE
Friday, July 21 & Saturday, July 22

Fans can take part in the #TrekDiscovery Challenge when they encounter an array of authentically costumed Trekambassadors, representing crews from five of the Star Trektelevision series (The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise). Fans who post photos of themselves with each of the five series’ crews – and also in the Discovery captain’s chair at the Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts Gallery – and who tag all six photos with the #TrekDiscovery challenge hashtag on Twitter or Instagram, will be eligible to win a Roku streaming stick and a subscription to CBS All Access. Prizes will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans can find clues regarding the location of the #TrekDiscovery crews by following @StarTrek on Twitter and Instagram.

From the Comic-Con Toucan Blog:
Step into the world of Netflix at the Hilton Gaslamp for a one-of-a-kind experience with a sneak peak of upcoming original films and series, exclusive giveaways, and more! Visit the Upside Down with Stranger Things, get immersed into the world of the new film Bright, and dive into the streets of New York City with the Defenders.

The Netflix Experience will be in the side patio of the Hilton Gaslamp Hotel. Open hours are:

• Thursday – Saturday: 11am – 8pm
• Sunday: 11am-3pm

WB brings an IT-inspired virtual reality installation that will have them skipping school for the foreseeable future. The bus and FLOAT: A Cinematic VR Experience will be located at the Petco Park Interactive Zone (near the pedestrian bridge to the Hilton Bayfront).

Legendary Digital Networks, headlined by Nerdist, Geek & Sundry, and their new membership service Alpha, return with Conival, this year moving to the Marina Terrace at the Marriott Marquis & Marina. This year’s Conival will start deep below the sea, before launching fans into the vast, unbounded continuum of space.

Conival is open to the public, allowing ALL attendees the opportunity to participate in fun-filled activities headlined by the return of fan-favorites including Nerdist laser tag (sponsored by Hulu’s original comedy series, Future Man, from executive producer Seth Rogen), Geek & Sundry’s tabletop lounge, a Wonder Woman cosplay march, a chance to win Sideshow’s life-sized Han Solo in Carbonite replica, swag and book giveaways by Tor and Inkshares, and much more.

The activation will be open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11am to 5pm.

Movie Pilot’s Super News will be taking over Berkeley Pizza, located right in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. The Super News Pizza Live Lounge HQ will bring fans in San Diego and around the world live coverage of the convention courtesy of their Facebook Live Super News team. Live shows will feature interviews with top talent, special FX makeup transformations, and video gameplay. Fans visiting San Diego can watch it all go down and be part of a live audience Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21.

More details TBA, keep an eye on the Super News Facebook site.

FX returns to the Hilton Bayfront Park during Comic-Con with activations and installations of fan-favorite shows. Included this year is an American Horror Story zoetrope carousel, a walkthrough experience for Legion, a Shop Shot for Atlanta, and shade covering in the shape of the FX logo.

The exhibition will be located on the lawn between Hall H and the Hilton Bayfront and open the following times:

• Thursday: 12:00–6:00 PM
• Friday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM; Evening Programming: 8:00–10:00 PM
• Saturday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
• Sunday: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

Winter is heading to Comic-Con. HBO returns to the L Street Fine Art Gallery, across from the Omni Hotel, for the Winter Is Here experience. More details to follow on this year’s activation.

If similar previous years, the Game of Thrones experience will be open on a first-come-first-serve basis (prioritizing San Diego Comic-Con badge holders) during the following hours:

• Thursday, July 2oth: 11:00am – 5:00pm
• Friday, July 21st: 11:00am – 5:00pm
• Saturday, July 22nd: 10:00am – 5:00pm
• Sunday, July 23rd: 9am – 1:00pm

Mr. Robot fans attending San Diego Comic-Con next Thursday will be the first to experience it.

USA Network is bringing the world of Mr. Robot to life as fans will have the opportunity to visit a real-life version of E Corp’s Bank of E and receive an E Corp card loaded with E Coin cryptocurrency. Fans will then be able to open the E Corp card online at e-coin.com and use the card throughout the event for food, drinks and other surprises.

Mr. Robot fans will also be able to visit the show’s infamous Red Wheelbarrow BBQ, which will be located next door to the Bank of E, and present their E Corp card for a BBQ meal. And those looking for a deeper experience will be presented with clues, hints and other surprises that push them further into Elliot’s world.

The Bank of E will be open for business Thursday, July 20 through Saturday, July 22 from 11am – 7pm and Sunday, July 23 from 11am – 4pm. Fans can head to 327 4th Avenue (between J Street and Island Avenue) to join in on the Mr. Robot experience.

Your E Corp card can be used for freebies at the following locations:

• Rustic Meatballs
• The New Yorker Pizzeria
• Food Shop
• Gaslamp Pizza
• Chocolat Cremerie
• Burger Lounge
• My Yogurt/Dough Pretzel
• Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop
• Pizza on 5th
• Hot Dog Bar
• Cute Cakes
• Simon Says Coffee
• Big Thyme Sandwich
• Premier Hot Dog
• Cat Café
• Berkeley Pizza
• Brooklyn Bagel
• Blind Burro
• Crunch Time Popcorn and Kim’s Creamery
• Ciro’s Pizzeria
• Lolita’s at the Park

Fans of Netflix’s Voltron: Legendary Defender can head to the Petco Park Interactive Zone to hit up the official Hunk food truck, serving every paladin’s (least) favorite snack: Green Food Goo! Don’t worry, though; it’s actually real tasty.

The truck will be open:

• Thursday – Saturday: 11:00am – 6:00pm
• Sunday: 11:00am – 5:00pm

Snoopy returns to Bubbles Boutique on 5th Ave. with a store takeover and a pop-up shop! The display will be open Thursday through Sunday, 11am – 6pm.

Dozens of the world’s most acclaimed apparel designers have created one-of-a-kind designs for Snoopy and his fashionista sister Belle for the “Snoopy & Belle In Fashion” traveling exhibit. The San Diego stop will feature a capsule collection of 26 dolls selected from the overall exhibit of more than 65 designs.

Visitors to the exhibit, which is open and free to the public, are sure to be wowed by this rare collection of mini-couture outfits featured on 10” vinyl Snoopy and Belle dolls.

You can see some of the designs at www.snoopyandbelleinfashion.com.

Comics store, Comikaze, offers space in their 1st annual Artists Alley to any artist unable to get space at Comic Con 2017 and any Publisher who would like to have a pop-up space to meet their adoring but non-badge wielding fans. Comikaze is a 15-20 minute ride from downtown San Diego, located in beautiful Liberty Station.

Tables will be open 11-6 daily Thursday 7/20 – Sunday, 7/23.

Check their Facebook event page for updated roster of artists, publishers, and other details.

From the Comic-Con Toucan Blog:

The Holy Grail is the most sought-after treasure in history, requiring the constant protection of the legendary Knights Templar. At Knightfall: Guardians of the Gear, Comic-Con badge-holders are invited to store their personal treasures under the same protection: the watchful eyes of the templar knights. Stop by to store your swag and steal a glimpse of the elusive Holy Grail.

Guardians of the Gear will be located behind the Omni Hotel (near Petco Park), and available at the following hours:

• Thursday – Saturday: 11:00am – 7:00pm
• Sunday: 11:00am – 5:00pm

year the official Comic-Con Art Show moves to the Manchester Grand Hyatt and will be open to the public, with no badge required to attend or purchase art. The show will be in Grand Ballroom C and D on the lobby level of the hotel. Open hours are:

• Thursday–Saturday: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
• Sunday: 12:00–7:00 PM

Thursday Mixer: There will also be a opening reception with small bites on Thursday evening from 7PM – 9PM.

Whether you’re looking for drawings, paintings, jewelry, sculpture, or even something more unusual, you’ll find an eclectic and beautiful selection of items in Comic-Con’s Art Show.

The Art Show contains original works for sale by both amateurs and professionals. It also displays the nominated books and comics for this year’s Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards and houses a special exhibit devoted to members of the Will Eisner Hall of Fame.

Experience Westworld with “Journey Into Night,” a curated roadshow activation from HBO. Location still to be announced, but the experience will be open the following hours:

• Thursday, July 2oth: 11:00am – 8:30pm
• Friday, July 21st: 1:00pm – 8:30pm
• Saturday, July 22nd: 12:30pm – 9:30pm
• Sunday, July 23rd: 11am – 2:30pm

NBC will once again be talking over the Tin Fish and the courtyard by the trolley stop across from the convention center, featuring Midnight, Texas. Fans can take a supernatural journey into the dark, thrilling town of Midnight, and enjoy a 4D experience guaranteed to ignite all your senses. Open hours are:

• Thursday, July 21 & Friday, July 22: 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
• Saturday, July 23 & Sunday, July 24: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM

[Adult Swim] returns to Comic-Con with Adult Swim On The Green, located behind the convention center on Convention Way near the 5th Avenue Pier. Come spend a leisurely afternoon on the back of a ferocious beast gallivanting through It’s A Fish Hole, or get a six-minute mind massage from the upgraded Meatwad Dome 4D Experience – now with motion seats. All new games, friends, prizes, fun, streams (of the live variety), motorized animals, a tarot card reader, dart throwing, a claw machine and shade. Play for glory and be rewarded accordingly! It’s going to be like a choose-your-own-adventure game in real life.

Adult Swim On The Green will be open Thursday through Sunday from 1pm – 6pm. All events are free for those 18+. You can sign up for details and receive express entry. More info can be found at Adult Swim Presents.

Special events (first come first served) include:

• NIGHTTIME ON THE GREEN
  Nighttime is the right time to stare into our future. Come out and watch our latest episodes and pilots.
• TOONAMI PRE-FLIGHT – THUR, JULY 20, 8 – 10PM
  Toonami Pre-Flight is bringing TOM and SARA to you live from Comic-Con! Get behind-the-scenes info from your hosts Jason Demarco, Gill Austin, Steve Blum (voice of TOM) and Dana Swanson (voice of SARA).
• ADULT SWIM PRESENTS: THINGS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN – FRI, JULY 21, 8 – 10PM
  Do you want to see things you’ve never seen before? Of course you do. It’s going to be completely mind blowing. We promise. Blankets and surprises provided.

Destination: Funimation takes over Whiskey Girl on Thursday, July 20 from 2pm -11pm, with special guests, photo booth, airbrush tattoos, signings, giveaways and more. Use the hashtag #FUNSDCC17 on Twitter and Instagram for additional chances to win anime swag through the day.

The event is free: You may RSVP at Eventbrite, although entry will be on a first come, first served basis. See the schedule below, with more details on their Eventbrite page closer to the event:

2pm: Doors Open
3pm-4pm: Mega64 Meet & Greet
4pm-5pm: My Hero Academia Signing with Christopher R. Sabat & Justin Briner (First come, first serve. Line starts at 2:45pm)
5pm-6pm: Matt Frank – Shin Godzilla Signing (First come, first serve. Limited posters available)
7pm-11pm: Happy Hour Party! 21+ only. Drink specials, industry guests, photobooth, freebies and more. FunimationNow subscribers get priority access.

Returning for it’s 2nd year, SyFy Live From Comic-Con, this year with host Zachary Levi! The specials will film at the Marriott Marquis and air Thursday, July 20, through Saturday, July 22. More info, when available, will be at: www.syfy.com/syfypresentslivefromcomiccon

You’ll also be able to catch SyFy around town at these following dates and times:

Trivia Trolleys
Thursday, 7/20—Saturday 12PM–8PM
Sunday, 7/23: 11am–3PM

Cospital Carts
Thursday, 7/20—Saturday, 7/22: 10am-6PM
Sunday, 7/23: 10am-4PM

Cosplay Karaoke
Thursday, 7/20—Saturday, 7/22: 12PM-8PM
Sunday, 7/23: 11am-3PM

Geek Love Chapel
Thursday, 7/20: 3:30PM-5:30PM
Friday, 7/21—Saturday, 7/22: 3PM-6PM
Sunday, 7/23: 11am-2PM

SYFY Drumline
Thursday, 7/20—Saturday, 7/22: 1PM-6PM

Live From Comic Con
Thursday—Sunday, 11PM EST on SYFY

Fan Parties
Thursday, 7/20: 9PM-2AM
Saturday, 7/22: 9PM-2AM

Kingsman: The Golden Circle will be taking over Bar 207 at the Hard Rock Hotel, hosting happy hour and Poppy’s burgers from 4-7pm daily, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

This event is currently at capacity. Follow @shadowofwargame on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on when additional tickets may be released.

Join Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and  Monolith Productions for their first-ever Middle-earth: Shadow of War Community Meetup at Stone Brewing Tap Room, next to Petco park, on Thursday, July 20 from 5-7pm. Come grab some free food and drinks with your fellow Shadow of War fans. The first 100 guests will receive a limited edition gift.

RSVP for free at Eventbrite. The event is ages 18+.

The Thumbprint Gallery hosts a show at the Art Hookah Lounge on Thursday, Jul 20, from 5-8pm. “Heroes, Villains, Monsters, and Robots” will be a smörgåsbord of character fan art by local artists.

More info on their Facebook event page.

Please note: This event is open to SDCC badge holders.

Dent hosts special guests at Mission Brewery on Thursday, July 20, from 6pm – 8pm: Jet-powered exosuit inventor Richard “Iron Man” Browning along with actress and stuntwoman (Iron Man 3, Catwoman, Xena, Kill Bill) Zoë Bell.

Register for free tickets on Eventbrite. This event is 21+ as alcohol will be available for purchase. Entry will be on a first come, first served basis.

Game of Thrones: The Musical!, an unauthorized parody show, will have 8 performances during SDCC, at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center. Tickets are $30 and available at their website: www.gotthemusical.com

From the creators of Lost: The Musical and the critically acclaimed Once Upon a Time: The Rock Opera, Game of Thrones: The Musical! features 12 original songs which will have audiences on their feet with toes tapping and hands clapping… provided they still have both of their hands.

Showtimes are as follows:

• Thursday, July 20: 6pm and 9pm
• Friday, July 21: 6pm, 9pm, and 11:59pm
• Saturday, July 22: 6pm and 9pm
• Sunday, July 23: 1pm

5% of ticket sales support the Wayne Foundation. You can also find GOT the Musical on Facebook.

The folks behind the Supernatural “Carry on my Wayward Cocktails” bring a meetup celebration for their website, Organization for Transformative Works (OTW).  Join OTW personnel, supporters, AO3 users, and more for conversation, drinks and complimentary appetizers.

The event is free, but space is limited, so you may RSVP via Brown Paper Tickets.

w00tstock returns for it’s 9th year at Comic-Con! With hosts Paul & Storm and Adam Savage, plus awesome special guests, the musical/variety extravaganza will be back at the Balboa Theatre the Thursday night of Comic-Con.

Tickets are $40 + fees and available at Ticketmaster.

Modern Times Beer Co and BIGA restaurant present the unlikely intersection of Geekdom, Beer, and Intellect with their Inaugural Star Wars Spelling Bee. The devastatingly delicious beers of Modern Times Beer Co meets the thoroughly tantalizing cuisine of BIGA for a tremendously thoughtful 3-course meal showcasing the stunning bounty of San Diego county.

There will also be a keg of Modern Times Monthly Release, more amazing than the dual suns of Tatooine.

Tickets are $35 when you buy them online at Brown Paper Tickets, or will be $45 at the door.

Email Mandy@bigasandiego.com if you would like to sign up to be a contestant for the Spelling Bee. Only the first 15 people to contact us will be entered.

You can win entry to the Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Party via the FM949 web site. The event will be hosted by 949’s Hamby on Thursday, July 20th, from 7pm to 9pm, at Sycuan Casino’s GameDay Sports Bar with Sharknado stars Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, and special guests.

The Sycuan casino is about 40 minutes away from downtown San Diego.

IDW Publishing presents an evening with comic legend Walter Simonson for a dinner event during Comic-Con. Limited to just 25 attendees, the event will take place in a private room at a restaurant a short distance from the convention center on Thursday, July 20th, at 7pm. Tickets are $500 per person and available at Eventbrite.

Each guest will receive the following:

• A copy of Simonson’s Thor the Return of Beta Ray Bill artist’s edition variant edition (limited to 125 copies)
• A sketch of your choice by Simonson
• A copy of The Ragnarok Book Two, retailer incentive hardcover, complete with bound-in sketch by Simonson (limited to 100 copies)
• The opportunity to have both books inscribed to you by Walter. The books are embossed with a unique seal created for this event only
• A wonderful dinner!

Turning Tydes Theater presents Into the Walker Woods, a mashup performance of Stephen Sondheim’s prolific musical, Into the Woods and TV’s #1 Show, The Walking Dead!

Performances are each day, Thursday through Sunday, 7pm to 8pm. Tickets are now available for the single performance or the double feature with “The Phantom of the Empire.”

For more information, check out the Turning Tydes Comic-Con page.

Scott Aukerman’s Comedy Bang! Bang! will be coming to the Music Box for a live show on Thursday, July 20, at 7PM.

Tickets are $35 for standing general admission and $49 for seated GA, and on sale now through the Music Box.

This show is 18+.

(This event originally appeared open to all, but it was recently announced that this would be for Alpha members only.)

Kicking off Comic-Con on Thursday night, Nerdist and Geek & Sundry talent and super fans can join The Kraken Rum and Alpha at their “League of Darkness” Party, held at FLUXX. Attendees will be invited to “Wrestle the Kraken,” enjoy signature cocktails, and be fully immersed in the deep sea of Kraken mystique.

Fans can secure a special invite to “League of Darkness” by keeping an eye on the @jointeamalpha Twitter feed for entry details.

The NerdHQ dance parties will continue! The Nerd Machine is teaming up with SYFY during Comic-Con to continue the amazing Fan Dance Parties at The New Children’s Museum. Syfy is throwing two nights of first-come-first-served basis. Hosted at The New Children’s Museum on Thursday, July 20, and Saturday, July 22. The themed parties will feature photo booths, hourly surprises, live performances and more.

NerdHQ host Zac Levi will this year be hosting SYFY Live From Comic-Con, a three-night live television event that allows fans across the country to experience the best Comic-Con has to offer, dissect breaking ‘Con news, and hear from their favorite stars and creators. Airing Thursday, July 20 through Saturday, July 22.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Stargate SG-1, Legion M hosts a sure to be epic event for fans of the Stargate franchise. The event will feature a Stargate cosplay contest, classic Stargate trivia challenge, exclusive video, and giveaways for fans!​

The party RSVP was via Eventbrite, which is now sold out, but there will likely be a stand-by line.