All the attendee badges for this year’s event are sold out, but there are still plenty of things you can do to soak in all of the fun at Comic-Con!
Star Wars Character Inside Comic Con
Cosplay in the Streets
Cosplay is huge at all Comic-Con conventions! Expect to see the top cosplay trends for 2025, everything from classic superheroes to popular gaming icons. I’ll personally be looking for Batman and Spiderman but some of my favorites from year’s past have also been the Transformers.
Other cosplay favorites will be from the world of anime like Lelouch from Code Geass, Thorfinn from the Vinland Saga, and of course Monkey D. Luffy, also known as ‘Straw Hat’, from the One Piece series.
Abbot Elementary Ava Fest at Comic Con
Pop-up Sets & Free Experiences
Ticket and non-ticket holders will want to check out the FREE pop-ups that will be around the convention center. Last year, FX’s “The Bear” restaurant pop-up stole the show! Our founder Todd thinks these pop-up sets might just be the highlight of the entire weekend, and that if you have a badge or not!
The Lodge
For 2025, Paramount+ is bringing The Lodge to Happy Does at 340 5th Ave in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Here, you can have a totally immersive experience from NCIS: Tony & Ziva, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Landman Patch Cafe, The Dexter: Resurrection Vault, and my favorite, “Mission: Impossible”. The “Mission: Impossible” pop-up lets you recreate the scene where Ethan Hunt is lowered into a high-security vault. Tell me that’s not cool!
You’ll find these pop-ups open from 9:00am until 7:00pm Thursday, July 24th until Sunday, July 27th. While these are free, a reservation through their official site is strongly encouraged. If you can’t get a reservation, there will be stand-by lines.
Godzilla
Just announced, you’ll also find a Godzilla pop-up at the Super7 store in the Gaslamp Quarter at 701 Eight Ave., San Diego, CA 92101.
The storefront is planning on recreating the train attack scene complete with destroyed set pieces, actual movie props and exclusive merchandise. As a really cool bonus, Shin Godzilla director Shinji Higuchi will be on site for a guest appearance and signing for the first 50 people to arrive at 11am on Friday, July 25th!
You can stop by on Wednesday evening from 7:00pm until close, Friday - Saturday from 10:00am until 8:00pm and Sunday from 10:00am until 7:00pm.
Kids Zone
Kids can take a break with some fun interactive activities, books, toys, photo ops, and relaxing bean bags in special zones around the San Diego Convention Center. This can also be a great time out for the adults! You can also find a people watching spot and just enjoy the energy and cosplay!
While I personally think most of the activities are very family-friendly, know that many local businesses have giveaways and post about pop-up kid zones on social media.
Boardwalk in Front of Seaport Village on the Embarcadero
Bonus Tip if You Don’t Have a Badge
A little tip from the Go Visit San Diego team…bring plenty of water because San Diego July heat and masked heroes don’t make the best combination!
If you need to find some shade and a snack, take the short walk along the San Diego Bay boardwalk to Seaport Village. It’s just north of the San Diego Convention Center and can surely offer refreshing drinks, snacks, a cool breeze and some local shopping while you’re at it!