Comic-Con is just five days away everyone! As we discussed in our NOC San Diego Comic-Con Guide, we will be on the ground covering as much of the fun nerdtopia festivities as possible! However, SDCC is not just about panels. There’s so much to do around the convention center, including some events you don’t need a badge for. So allow us to sort through the entire collection of offsites happening during SDCC 2025, and bring you our Top Picks!
1) PEACEMAKER’S PEACEFEST 2025
WHAT: HBO Max and DC Studios are celebrating the upcoming release of Peacemaker Season 2 with an experience inspired by the show’s “hair metal” aesthetics, and will invite lovers of peace to partake in live musical performances, interactive character-themed booths and games, exclusive giveaways, and larger-than-life photo opportunities.
WHERE: Nova SD – 454 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
WHEN:
Thursday, July 24: 11:00am – 8:30 p.m.
Friday, July 25: 11:00am – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 26: 1:00 pm – 2:00 p.m.
WHY: If you’ve been to Comic-Con in the past, you probably are aware that HBO goes all-out for their activations. The Game of Thrones and House of the Dragons experiences were amazing, Westworld attempted to simulate the experience of going into the park, and last year’s activation for The Penguin was one of the most fun and immersive role-play experiences of the year! From what it sounds like, Peacemaker will allow you to celebrate the glam-rock stylings of Christopher Smith and the 11th Street Kids in a way that sounds insanely fun.
2) KING OF THE HILL: HANK HILL’S BACKYARD
WHAT: Get ready for the return of the King… of the Hill! To celebrate the legacy reboot of King of the Hill, Hulu is bringing Hank Hill’s backyard to life for a big ole cookout, complete with BBQ bites served up throughout the day, classic lawn games, themed photo ops and a cold can of Alamo (water) to beat the heat.
WHERE: Next to the Convention Center on the Bayfront’s Parking Lot (Fifth Ave Landing – Lot A1) – 600 Convention Way, San Diego, CA 92101
WHEN:
Thursday, July 24: 11:30 am – 7:00 pm.
Friday, July 25: 9:30 am – 7:00 pm.
Saturday, July 26: 9:30 am – 7:00 pm.
.Sunday, July 27: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm.
WHY: If you’ve never seen the show, you may not realize that King of the Hill was ahead of its time. It addressed a lot of the issues we see in White America today, satirizing small-town Texas living in hilarious ways with strong characters that grew and learned lessons about tolerance, racism, and actual family values. So it was comforting to find out that it would be returning at a time when America needs to remember why this show existed. To celebrate its return with some delicious propane-grilled BBQ and a bit of fun? That sounds like a blast!
3) FANDOM’S 8TH ANNUAL PARTY
WHAT: An epic night of celebration and experiences the intersection of pop culture, gaming, fantasy, music, and community, with a live concert by The All-American Rejects.
WHERE: FLOAT – Hard Rock Hotel San Diego – 207 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
WHEN: Thursday, July 24: 7pm-11pm
WHY: We have had the pleasure of attending the Fandom Party for the past two years. Last year, the headliner was Jason Derulo, and even got into a bit of KPop in 2023 with NCT DoJaeJung. Fandom always does everything it can to put on a great show to celebrate nerd culture, and this year will be no exception. They’re offering glimpses into Universal’s Epic Universe theme park, giving people a chance to try out Bandai Namco’s Code Vein II, and so much more! We’ll be bringing you coverage from the event, so stay tuned!
4) CRUNCHYROLL ANIME FANFEST
WHAT: A two-day live music festival featuring performances from iconic artists, including SPYAIR, yama, Denzel Curry, INIKO, and more! And you won’t need a badge to attend.
WHERE: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park- 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego, CA 92101
WHEN:
Friday, July 25: 1pm
Saturday, July 26: 1pm
WHY: There’s nothing that brings so many folks together the way anime does. Comic-Con is about celebrating that fandom within your community, and coming together to form communities with other fans. Crunchyroll is giving fans the chance to celebrate the cultural roots of anime with a free two-day concert featuring the biggest names in Anime soundtracks. Guests include SPYAIR (the Japanese rock band behind the Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle theme), James Landino (composer and DJ for the Tower of God OST), Puerto Rican singer and producer Pink Pablo, and ALI (the group behind “Lost in Paradise” for Jujutsu Kaisen).
5) BLERD & BOUJEE PARTY
WHAT: Come along and vibe to the incredible beats of A-MAN the DJ, as you join other POC fans for a night of well-earned fun and fam!
WHERE: The Pointe — Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Blvd, San Diego
WHEN:
Friday, July 25: 8pm-12am
WHY: Comic-Con is about more than studio promotions and swag. It’s about community. The industry is never easy for People of Color, and so many POC creators and fans have a story to tell about what nerd culture means to them, why they love it, and the struggles they’ve had working in it. So it’s important that once a year, we all come together to celebrate the things that unite us, not just as POCs, but as fans who love the same thing. The Blerd & Boujee party is a highlight for those honored and privileged to be part of the POC nerd community.
6) TWISTED METAL BUMPER BATTLE
WHAT: It’s Bumper Cars with Twisted Metal Vehicles. C’MON! Plus photo ops, a showcase of vehicles from the series, and surprise moments straight out of the show.
WHERE: THE LOT @ 1st & J (450 2nd Ave)
WHEN:
Thursday, July 25: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Friday, July 25: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturdhay, July 25: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
WHY: Have you even played Twisted Metal and reveled in the ability to create absolute chaos and carnage in giant insane Mad Max-style vehicles? Now you get to do it in real life! The activation sounds sick, and I haven’t been in a bumper car since I was a kid. I just have to remember to look out for Sweet Tooth!
7) FX ALIEN: EARTH “THE WRECKAGE”
WHAT: Based on FX’s Alien: Earth series, attendees can be transported into an immersive, in-world experience that drops fans into the mysterious remains of a xenomorph-ridden doomed spacecraft. By day, attendees can explore the wreckage site and get a closer look at never-before-seen alien specimens. By nightfall, the experience shifts into “The Wreckage: Code Red,” which sounds like a much more horror-tinged experience.
WHERE: Hilton Bayfront Lawn -1 Park Blvd, San Diego, 92101, United States
WHEN:
Thursday, July 24
The Wreckage: 11am – 4pm
The Wreckage: Code Red: 4:30pm – 8pm
Friday, July 25
The Wreckage: 10am – 4pm
The Wreckage: Code Red: 4:30pm – 10pm
Saturday, July 26
The Wreckage: 10am – 4pm
The Wreckage: Code Red: 4:30pm – 10pm
Sunday, July 27
The Wreckage: 11am – 3pm
WHY: This is a really interesting one. Alien: Earth promises to be another utterly terrifying entry in the Alien franchise. This event offers dual experiences, with the nighttime half giving a Halloween Horror Nights vibe. I’m personally very intrigued to see what’s cooking up in the evening experience!
8) LUMPIA COMIC-CON HEADQUARTERS
WHAT: Our pals over at Lumpia are hosting an all-out community event featuring three nights of exclusive pop-ups, artist events, and community mixers!
WHERE: Gaslamp Lumpia Factory – 423 F Street in the Gaslamp
WHEN:
Thursday, July 25: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Friday, July 25: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday, July 25: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
WHY: First off, no one parties with food like the Filipino Community (Incorrect, but can’t blame a Filipino writer for saying it! :P). What’s more fun than good food, good music, and some fun meet and greets with amazing Filipino artists and writers from Lumpia! This is going to be a stellar event in support of some of the best Filipino restaurants and shops San Diego has to offer!
We can’t wait to showcase as many of these offsite events as possible for you our readers. If you’re heading down to San Diego yourself, we hope you stay safe, have a blast, and get a chance to check all of these amazing offsite activities!
