Best things to do at San Diego Comic-Con without a badge
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Were you hoping to attend San Diego Comic-Con but couldn’t secure a badge? No problem! There are plenty of things to do outside of SDCC. Here’s a breakdown of pop-up activations that you won’t want to miss.
King of the Hill- Hank Hill’s Backyard
Get ready for the return of King of the Kill with a big ole cookout inside Hank Hill’s Backyard!
Fans can join in on the fun by participating in a game of Alamo Pong or Rhinestein’s Cowboy Boot Toss. You can also hang out with large-scale 2D cutouts of King of the Hill Characters. At the Mega Lo Mart, you’ll be able to create a custom trucker hat with special patches from the show.
After you’re done having fun, pull up a seat with the Hill family and refuel with some Texas-inspired BBQ bites, washing it down with a crisp, cold can of Alamo-branded water.
You can find Hank Hill’s Backyard behind the San Diego Convention Center from Thursday, July 24, through Sunday, July 27.
Abbott Elementary Block Party
School is out for summer, and Abbott Elementary is celebrating with a block party! Fans of the show can ride the sky-high Ferris wheel, cool off with authentic Philly water ice, or snag some exclusive premiums from the school’s Lost and Found.
This year’s activation includes exclusive, limited-edition pins (while supplies last), bucket hats, and boom box bags (available at Lost and Found). There will also be community caricatures!
This activation will be open on Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Paramount+’s The Lodge
Paramount+’s Lodge returns with even more interactive experiences! This popular activation is an immersive experience that combines several fandoms and properties.
This year’s activation fans will boldly go inside Star Trek: Strange New Worlds with the holodeck. They can also uncover the dark twists of Dexter: Resurrection, head into the Texas oil country with Landman and the Patch Cafe, or Go Off the grid with NCIS: Tony & Ziva, where you can enter the world of espionage, romance, and high-stakes tension at a Parisian café with a twist.
Here’s a complete breakdown of this activation:
The DEXTER: RESURRECTION Vault: The Vault has reopened…and it remembers everything. Hidden behind the sleek facade of a wine cellar lies a mysterious Vault, an unsettling shrine to the darkest corners of human nature. Inside, guests will discover a chilling collection of relics, case files, and twisted keepsakes from some of history’s most notorious killers, all curated with cold precision in true Dexter fashion.
Experience STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and STARFLEET ACADEMY: To celebrate the spirit of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS season three, fans are invited to step inside an oversized Starfleet holodeck, a fully immersive sci-fi playground featuring a series of interactive vignettes, each inspired by specific episodes from the upcoming season. Guests can sip cosmic cocktails in the romantic ‘Intergalactic Love Lounge,’ or dive into a campus-inspired environment of the STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY space that features exclusive themed swag. Designed for free exploration, social sharing, and full-throttle fandom, this holodeck journey lets guests experience the series like never before.
The LANDMAN Patch Café: Step into an authentic slice of Midland, Texas and kick back in a faithful recreation of the series’ favorite watering hole. Guests can order up signature drinks at the bar in a M*Tex souvenir mug.
Go off the grid with NCIS: TONY & ZIVA. Enter a world of espionage, romance, and high-stakes tension with this Parisian café with a twist. Inspired by Tony and Ziva’s journey, this space features a cozy exterior that hints at the quiet life they crave, while inside transports guests to a different world. Step inside a stripped-down safehouse, complete with easter eggs such as surveillance equipment, photos, and passports.
Paramount Pictures invites fans to celebrate the legacy of the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise with an immersive experience that drops guests straight into the high-stakes world of Ethan Hunt. Die-hard fans and first-time agents alike will experience a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity in a recreation of the iconic scene from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996) where Ethan is lowered into a high-security vault. Guests can strike the legendary suspended pose for a personalized image to take home of their unforgettable IMF mission.
‘Pop’ by Pluto TV’s Popcorn Bar. For the first time ever, Pluto TV, the global leader in FAST and the complimentary free streaming service to Paramount+, will also be featured in The Lodge. This summer, Pluto TV is exploding with hundreds of fan-favorite blockbusters and cult-classics films – all for free. To celebrate the service's “Summer of Cinema” campaign, the Pluto TV activation will be bursting with free popcorn, slushies, and a one-of-a-kind photo op.
Score a Touchdown at the CBS Sports Clubhouse, a stadium-inspired space repping all things THE NFL ON CBS. Fans can take a seat in the arena-style bleachers or check out a vibrant arc of all 32 jerseys, celebrating every team in the league. Down on the turf, guests can test their arm in a target practice challenge. The UEFA Champions League-themed sports bar is also the perfect spot to kick back and relax.
This activation is open at:
Wednesday, July 23: 6 PM - 10 PM
Thursday, July 24: 9 AM - 7 PM
Friday, July 25: 9 AM - 7 PM
Saturday, July 26: 9 AM - 7 PM
Sunday, July 27: 9 AM - 7 PM
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Percy Jackson Experience
Immerse yourself in the world of Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Sea of Monsters with an interactive experience at Fifth Ave and L St. Walk through the mist and find out who claimed them.
This activation will be open:
Thurday, July 23: 11 am - 8 pm
Friday, July 24: 10 am - 8 pm
Saturday, July 25: 9 am - 8 pm
Sunday, July 26: 9 am - 5 pm