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.

Tell a fan

You definitely don't need a badge to join in the Comic-Con action.

The big picture: From pop-ups to games and rides to celebrity appearances, there's a lot happening outside the Convention Center.

🎮 Petco Park Interactive Zone: Check out The Labu'Tique Shop, Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, or the Kayou Walls of Fandom, a walk-through that brings Kayou cards to life.

🛸 Adult Swim on the Green: Bayfront Park transforms into a giant free fan experience with carnival-style games, rides, themed installations, exclusive giveaways and nightly entertainment inspired by "Rick and Morty."

🦸 Magic: The Gathering Marvel Experience: Learn to play, try the new Marvel-themed cards, play mini golf and grab free swag at the Petco Park Interactive Zone.

🕷️ Spider-Man x Bero Pop-Up: Meet Spider-Man, take photos and sample Tom Holland's nonalcoholic beer Friday and Saturday at the Pendry Hotel.

🎨 Comic-Con Art Show: Browse hundreds of original works from comic and fantasy artists at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

👗 Her Universe Fashion Show: One of Comic-Con's most popular annual events featuring geek couture inspired by DC Comics. Free, but wristbands are typically distributed first thing that morning.

🌊 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Disney's family-friendly Fifth Avenue and L Street event lets fans enter Poseidon's trident and choose a path inspired by Percy, Annabeth or Thalia.

Tips:

• Arrive early for the free pop-ups. Some fans line up hours ahead.
• Many experiences require free online reservations or virtual queues, so check organizers' social media the morning of your visit.

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.

More events

🪸 A male Weedy Seadragon at Birch Aquarium is carrying a second clutch of eggs just two weeks after hatching his first set. This is the first time the aquarium has seen the same male receive a second clutch of eggs in a single breeding season. (Birch Aquarium)

🏫 The school district sent a list of more than 100 safety fixes it wants around schools, including speed bumps, crosswalks, lighting and stop signs. The district says current conditions aren't safe enough for kids walking and biking to school. (Union-Tribune)

💡 Consumer advocacy groups filed formal protests against SDG&E this week over the utility's proposal to raise rates in 2028. The groups are hiring experts to dig into the utility's thousands of pages of application materials to see if the hikes are justified. (KPBS)

🏗️ The city is suing an engineer over alleged design problems tied to the decades-long quest to extend Hazard Center Drive under State Route 163. (Times of San Diego)

🎷 Back in the day, Douglas Hotel was known as the "Harlem of the West" and hosted stars like Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and the Mills Brothers. Now members of the Skyline-Paradise Hills Planning Group want to give the hotel a historic designation. (Times of San Diego)

Downtown will be filled with costumes of all kinds for Comic-Con, and you might even spy 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.