Sure there’s plenty to do at San Diego Comic-Con this week, but what happens if you decide you need a break from panels and looking for back issues? Plenty more, as it happens.
From TV show-branded activations to live comedy shows, even art shows, and best of all, a lot of it is open even to people who weren’t lucky enough to win the lottery and secure a badge for SDCC 2018.
Comedy lovers will be able to join Conan O’Brien at the TeamCocoHouse pop-up comedy club beginning on Wednesday with events through Saturday. Meanwhile, Purge fans can cleanse their souls at the “Purge Emporium.” And you’ll be able to watch two episodes of the upcoming season of “The Venture Bros.”
Plus, Fans of “The Good Place” can visit heaven on earth — or is it hell? — at a re-creation of NBC comedy’s first season setting in the Gaslamp district.
Check out more details and see the list of activations and events below (updated as needed). For the full schedule of panels, see our post here.
Adult Swim Camp
5th Avenue Landing and Convention Way
Every day from 4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
- Thursday
8:00 p.m. – “Things You’ve Never Seen” Screening A night of specials and original pilots brought to fans by SNICKERS.
10:00 p.m. – Last Stream on the Left Live! A live broadcast of popular podcast
11:00 p.m. – Let’s Play Pool Panic Live! Join Adult Swim Games for a late-night of gameplay and friendly multiplayer competition.
- Friday
8:00 p.m. – AS Cosplay Competition Hosted by Henry Zebrowski We invite cosplayers to show off their inspired creations, don their best Adult Swim themed garb and strut their stuff! Awards will be passed out and bragging rights will last a lifetime.
8:30 p.m. – The Venture Bros. Fan Event Fans will watch two episodes from the new season of The Venture Bros. Creators Doc Hammer and Jackson Public on hand to reveal secrets of the new season in a special Q&A session.
10:00 p.m. – Let’s Play Pool Panic Live! Join Adult Swim Games for a late-night of gameplay and friendly multiplayer competition.
- Saturday
7:15 p.m. – Toonami Pre-Flight to with TOM and SARA – Get behind-the-scenes info from show hosts Jason DeMarco and Gill Austin, Steve Blum (voice of TOM) and Dana Swanson (voice of SARA).
8:15 p.m. – The Pillows Live In Concert – A event not to be missed! Special live concert to celebrate the new seasons of FLCL.
10:00 p.m. – Rick and Morty Fan Event – The fan favorite show is back for a special event! Admission is extremely limited so fans should register at AdultSwimPresents.com for details on how to receive event wristbands.
Alpha Book Club Happy Hour, presented by Nerdist
Sparks Gallery 530 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Thursday, July 19,7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Description: Join Maude Garrett, Hector Navarro, and Rachel Heine for a glass of wine with the ABC gang! Alpha Book Club Happy Hour is free and open to the public. Alpha members will receive exclusive Fast Pass and Priority Access wristbands.
Alpha After Dark Party with The Kraken Rum, presented by Nerdist
Fluxx 500 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Thursday, July 19, 9:00 p.m. – 1: 00 a.m.
Description: Alpha & The Kraken Rum return to San Diego Comic Con for their exclusive Alpha After Dark Party. Alpha members will enjoy a curated evening of music by DJ Franki Chan of IHEARTCOMIX, the opportunity to receive personalized Kraken-inspired portraits by famed graphic artists Tom Hodges and Tony Parker, and custom signature Kraken Rum cocktails! Invites are limited to Alpha members; non-members can sign up for Alpha at www.projectalpha.com. Fans will want to attend the party to see what The Kraken unleashes at SDCC this year!
CBS COMEDY CARS
Gaslamp district, downtown San Diego
Throughout the day from Thursday, July 19 – Sunday, July 22
Complimentary rides throughout the Gaslamp District in branded electric cars. Featured shows will include the new fall comedies THE NEIGHBORHOOD and HAPPY TOGETHER. Trailers of the series will be screened for the passengers in those cars as well. Brand ambassadors will distribute giveaways making their debut at Comic-Con, including a variety of collectable emoji squeezies for THE NEIGHBORHOOD and HAPPY TOGETHER.
AMC Dead Quarters —
Martin Luther King Promenade, in front of the Hilton Gaslamp Hotel (4th Avenue and L Street, across from the convention center)
Thurs-Sat, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m; Sunday 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m
The zombie-centric fan zone returns to Comic-Con for fans of “The Walking Dead” and “Fear The Walking Dead.”
FX Network’s FXHibition
Lawn of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel
Thursday July 19th, 12pm – 6pm; Friday July 20th, 10am – 6pm; Saturday July 21st, 10am – 6pm; Sunday July 22nd, 10am – 2pm
Activities inspired by FX shows “Legion,” “American Horror Story,” “Mayans M.C.” and “Archer utilize Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and is open to the public. Fans may register in advance at FXSDCC.com and use NFC on-site to record each moment of their experience, which will be captured in a virtual online gallery.
- AMERICAN HORROR STORY Eccentricities Gallery: Featuring a collection of art and oddities inspired by AHS lore, the experience is aided by Augmented Reality (AR) technology, which reveals the secrets behind the objects and clues to the series’ upcoming eighth installment.
- Archer Sound Boxes: Fans will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get inside the heads of their favorite Archer characters with this whimsical installation by capturing a photo of themselves inside suspended sound boxes adorned with character art. Each sound box features classic sound bites from the show.
- FX 3D Me: Any fan can become an FX hero: Just by stepping into a state-of-the-art 360-degree scanner that captures your picture from all angles, you’ll be transported into a digital art piece from your favorite show. Participating fans will also have an opportunity to get a physical 3D figurine model of themselves.
- The LEGION Chamber: The recent Los Angeles-based pop-up art instillation makes its Comic-Con debut, allowing cosplayers the thrilling opportunity to immerse themselves in an audiovisual experience commissioned by the internationally-acclaimed Marco Brambilla Studio. Once inside, participants will find themselves disconnected from the outside world -literally- and fully entrenched in the hypnotic digital realm of David Haller.
- Mayans M.C. Deconstructed Bike Zone: The ultimate photo-op for biker fans. The deconstructed motorcycle is a bold display to introduce Mayans M.C., the highly-anticipated series from Kurt Sutter, creator of Sons of Anarchy. It will also feature a gallery of other acclaimed artists’ takes on the new series, including El Mac, David Flores and Oscar Magallanes.
- Sunny the 13th Sunscreen and Water Stations: FX will bring Camp Paddy’s Irish Pub to FXhibition in celebration of the upcoming 13th season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The space will feature playful camp-themed elements including a photo op, sunscreen and water stations.
THE GOOD PLACE” EXPERIENCE
Gaslamp Square (between the Convention Center and Hard Rock Hotel)
Thursday, July 19 – Sunday, July 22, during convention hours
Comic-Con attendees will immerse themselves in the entertaining and philosophical world of “The Good Place,” where everyone is welcomed into the show’s inspired neighborhood tailored specifically for San Diego Comic-Con. Constructed to remind fans of the show’s hilarious and unforgettable moments, guests will become part of the scene. In addition to the main interactive experience, fans will enjoy a host of exclusive giveaways, a branded digital takeaway, and several custom opportunities to capture photos and videos with some of the most iconic elements from the series. “The Good Place” activation is produced by Oaken Anchor exclusively for NBC. Guests can pre-register online starting Wednesday, July 11 at www.thegoodplacesdcc.com. Each attendee will receive a customized profile and wristband utilizing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology
IMDboat
From IMDB: The IMDboat, which is accessible by invitation only, will again serve as a floating video studio and a must-stop
destination for talent and industry VIPs. The boat will be docked at Fifth Avenue Landing, immediately behind the San
Diego Convention Center, and opens to invited guests on Thursday, July 19. On board, industry guests will enjoy a
private workspace and lounge, refreshments, a photo booth, trivia games and gifts provided by Atom Tickets, LEGO
Systems, Inc. and Essentia Water. From the public boardwalk, fans on the street can view the massive LED screen
located on the back of the IMDboat and watch live as Kevin Smith interviews leading celebrities. IMDb events and coverage on and around the IMDboat at Comic-Con include:
- From Thursday through Saturday (July 19-21), IMDb will produce original video coverage on the open-air top
deck, including Kevin Smith's interviews with the casts of The Predator, “Doctor Who,” “Marvel’s Cloak &
Dagger,” “The Walking Dead,” “The Flash” and more. Entertainment fans can also tune-in to the IMDb Facebook
page for live daily recaps with Kevin Smith, Kerri Doherty and Tim Kash from “The IMDb Show”, along with IMDb
Twitch correspondent Ian de Borja. - The third-annual IMDboat Party, sponsored by Atom Tickets, will take place on Friday (July 20) from 7:30PM to
10:30PM. Special guests include: Kevin Smith; notable celebrities; industry influencers; IMDb, Amazon, Amazon
Studios, Atom Tickets and SModCo executives; and more. This is an invitation-only event. - On Saturday (July 21), beginning at 3:30PM PDT, Kevin Smith will host IMDb LIVE At San Diego Comic-Con, a 90-
minute live-streaming show broadcast on IMDb, Twitch (twitch.tv/imdb) and Twitter. The show will feature
Kevin Smith's wrap-up analysis of the convention and conversations with special celebrity guests. As part of the
live show, viewers will also learn about the LEGO Experience at San Diego Comic-Con from Master Builder Chris
Steininger and see the official trailer of Taco Bell’s new Web of Fries II.
“MAGNUM P.I.” TAKEOVER
Downtown San Diego near the convention center
Thursday, July 19
CBS will cruise the streets of in a branded Ferrari 488 to promote the return of MAGNUM P.I. Brand ambassadors will distribute red sunglasses and Hawaiian leis.
“Project Blue Book” Headquarters
Petco Parking Lot
Thursday, July 19 – Saturday, July 21: 10am-7pm and Sunday, July 22: 10am-5pm
Here’s how History describes this activation: “Project Blue Book Headquarters” is a fully immersive exploration of true Project Blue Book cases, where government officials invite skeptics and believers to examine UFO-related phenomena from the era. Guests are also encouraged to share their own encounters where a professional sketch artist will help bring their personal stories of the unknown to life.
“PURGE CITY” Emporium
215 Tony Gwynn Drive
Thursday, July 19 – Saturday, July 21 from 11 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, July 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Transporting fans into the world of THE PURGE, “Purge City” is a tongue-in-cheek, one-stop shop for the perfect Purge Night, where friendly “Purge City” staff help visitors browse the aisles for items from emergency candles to masks to energy drinks–to help citizens stay safe and awake for the 12 hours of annual lawlessness.
“STAR TREK: DISCOVERY” Mirror Universe Gallery Takeover
Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts Gallery, 363 Fifth Avenue, San Diego
Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
For this fully immersive STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Mirror Universe experience, Comic-Con badges are not required for entry. The exhibit will feature a photo opportunity with Emperor Georgiou’s throne and will showcase props and costumes from the series’ Terran Empire. The gallery will also house an official “Star Trek” shop with Comic-Con exclusives.
“STAR TREK: DISCOVERY” PEDICABS
Gaslamp District, downtown San Diego
Thursday, July 19 through Sunday, July 22
Free “intergalactic” rides throughout San Diego’s Gaslamp District in pedicabs inspired by the design of the U.S.S. Discovery’s captain’s chair. The pedicabs will feature the chair’s distinctive stitched black seats as well as video monitors built into its armrests, which in this case will screen trailers for the highly anticipated second season of the show. As an added touch, each vehicle will display an illuminated U.S.S. Discovery delta shield on the back.
SYFY Fan Parties
The New Children’s Museum, 200 W Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Beginning at 9:00 p.m.
SYFY’s epic fan parties will return to the Children’s Museum for two nights on Friday and Saturday at 9PM. “You don’t have to be a celeb to get on our guest list,” said Shapiro. “If you’re a fan, we want you to come party with us – on a first-come-first-served basis, of course!”
SYFY MYSTERY BOXES
The New Children’s Museum, 200 W Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Before 12:00 Noon
SYFY will partner with hip, high-profile collaborators to create limited edition merchandise, each featuring an original, custom genre-themed design by a famed artist. Limited quantities will be released each Thursday through Saturday mornings at 10AM at the Children’s Museum.
TEAMCOCOHOUSE
327 Fourth Ave in Downtown San Diego
Wednesday, July 18 – Saturday July 21
A daily lineup of comics handpicked by Conan, podcasts, panels, screenings, giveaways and special appearances by friends of Team Coco, as well as O’Brien himself.
- Wednesday, July 18:
5:00 PM: “Playing Games Podcast with Jimmy Pardo,” a funny and fast-paced pop culture trivia game show hosted by comedian and veteran game show host Jimmy Pardo.
7:00 PM: A rare chance to see India’s biggest comedy star, Vir Das, perform a full hour show.
9:00 PM: Team Coco’s hit LA live show, “Team Coco presents Up & Up with Moses Storm.”
11:00 PM: Nore Davis (“You Guys Are Dope”) will be hosting “Run The Jokes” a showcase of some of Team Coco’s favorite comedians.
- Thursday, July 19:
3:00 PM: Comedians will poke fun at some of the biggest icons in Science Fiction during “Sci-Fi Comedy Death Match” with Matthew Broussard.
5:00 PM: The Legendary “Kondabolu Brothers” of Queens will record an episode of their popular podcast.
7:00 PM: One of the most exciting comedians working today, 327 Fourth Ave (“I Feel Pretty”) will perform a full hour.
9:00 PM: 327 Fourth Ave will perform stand-up.
11:00 PM: Olan Rogers and Coty Galloway invite you to “Eat-A-Slice with Final Space.”
- Friday, July 20:
3:00 PM: Hayes Davenport and Sean Clements host “The Hollywood Handbook” podcast
5:00 PM: “Run The Jokes”
7:00 PM: Olan Rogers will host a Final Space Table Read with special guests Tika Sumpter, Tom Kenny, Coty Galloway and others
9:00 PM: Comedians will perform some of their most personal material on Taylor Tomlinson’s “Working It Out”
11:00 PM: Big Jay Oakerson (HBO’s Crashing) is bringing his sellout show, “Big Jay Oakerson’s What’s Your F#@King Deal?” where comedians roast the audience, from New York’s famed Comedy Cellar to San Diego
- Saturday, July 21:
3:00 PM: “Sci-Fi Comedy Death Match” with Matthew Broussard
5:00 PM: Comedian, author, and actor Moshe Kasher will record a live episode of his podcast, “Hound Tall Discussion”
7:00 PM: “Run The Jokes”
9:00 PM: “Working It Out”
11:00 PM: “Big Jay Oakerson’s What’s Your F#@King Deal?”
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Experience
Located at the corner of 1st Street and Martin Luther King Promenade – directly across from the San Diego Convention Center
Thursday, July 19 – Sunday, July 22 during convention hours
At Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan experience, SDCC attendees will step into the world of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and be thrust into a thrilling field assignment that turns them into unexpected heroes. Visitors will complete the Jack Ryan Training Field by infiltrating, fighting and evading the enemy to gain full field clearance. They will then use that training to help Jack Ryan himself in Dark Ops, a groundbreaking escape experience that bring to life the pilot episode Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. Upon completing the Jack Ryan Training Field and Dark Ops, attendees receive a shareable video with personal highlights and photos that they can access after the event at www.jackryanexperience.com-sdcc.