Everything you need to know about Comic-Con
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Captain Planet loves Comic-Con. Photo: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images
Downtown San Diego is transforming itself for the beloved annual geekfest that is Comic-Con.
The big picture: Expect lots of traffic, no parking, possible celebrity sightings and great people-watching if you venture downtown to check out the scene.
- Plus the chance to see Gaslamp hotels and restaurants transform themselves to fit the comic book theme.
Case in point: The Margaritaville Hotel decided to set up a Lunar Landing Bar that will look like a spaceport, while still keeping some of the hotel's beachy vibes, the hotel's general manager Miguel Lopez told Axios.
- "You usually see the same cookie cutter pop-ups, or just sort of Party City decorations with superheroes and things like that," he said. "We thought, if we were going to do this, let's go all the way and try to create something that truly feels like you are elsewhere."
When you walk in, he wants you to wonder if you're underwater, in space, or on a different planet. Or maybe all three.
What else to know: If you're headed downtown to see the decorations or do some people watching, here are some tips.
Getting there:
🚌 Free shuttles: Stops in downtown and Mission Valley and on Shelter Island and Harbor Island. They run from 5am to 1am through Saturday and 5am to 7pm Sunday. Badges are technically required, but people say drivers are relaxed about it.
🚈 Expanded trolley: A special "Magic: The Gathering" line will run every 15 minutes and stop at the Convention Center. It picks up at UC San Diego Blue Line stations between Balboa Avenue and Santa Fe Depot, and then will continue along the Green Line between Santa Fe Depot and 12th & Imperial. Here's a map.
🚧 Don't drive: Harbor Drive between First Avenue and Park Boulevard is closed to traffic. There will likely be traffic heading into downtown every day and basically no parking. You can use park & ride lots along the trolley routes.
What to see: Downtown will be filled with costumes of all kinds, and maybe some celebrities. Here are a few of the stars expected:
Thursday:
🧛 Enhypen talks vampires with "Twilight" alums Ashley Greene and Peter Facinelli
🎸 Pearl Jam's Mike McCready discusses his grunge-era graphic novel
⚔️ Adria Arjona and Dan Stevens preview A24's "Onslaught"
Friday:
🧟 Jeffrey Dean Morgan and the "Walking Dead: Dead City" cast preview season 3
🔮 Guillermo del Toro returns for a "Pan's Labyrinth" reunion panel
💚 Kyle Chandler and the "Lanterns" cast talk about their show
📖 John Cusack signs his new book "Momo"
Saturday:
🦸 Marvel's Kevin Feige leads the convention's marquee panel, teasing "Avengers: Doomsday"
🧸 Jessica Biel and John Cena talk "Matchbox: The Movie"
🖖 Rebecca Romijn and George Takei headline a "Star Trek" 60th anniversary celebration
🚔 Nathan Fillion returns for "The Rookie" season 9 chat
🃏 Kate McKinnon dives into her Audible comedy podcast "Heads Will Roll"
Caveat: If you're not seated at these stars' panels, you may not get to see them.
- But if you hang around spots like Hard Rock Hotel, Marriott Marquis or Hilton Bayfront, you might run into someone.
- Or, running along the bayfront early in the morning, according to people on Reddit.
Decorations: Downtown buildings also dress up in wraps that advertise the newest pop culture happenings. Even though the building wraps are illegal.
People watching: You can also hang out around the Convention Center or get a seat outside along Fifth Avenue for lots of good crazy costume viewing.