San Diego Comic-Con 2024 is almost here so it is time to start planning! Here is every activation that you should plan to visit at SDCC 2024.
There is a lot happening at SDCC 2024 – so much so that it can be easy to miss things. The last thing you want to do is get home and realize you missed out on some really cool things. So here are the activations and events that you should check out at San Diego Comic Con this year.
Those About To Die Panel & Activation
PANEL — THURSDAY, JULY 25
BEHIND-THE-ACTION OF PEACOCK’S GLADIATOR EPIC THOSE ABOUT TO DIE
WHEN: 3:00 – 4:00 PM PT
WHERE: Ballroom 20
Dive into the Roman Empire’s explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties as featured in Those About To Die with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Peacock series alongside executive producer/director Roland Emmerich and stars Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Moe Hashim, Jojo Macari, and Dimitri Leonidas.
FAN ACTIVATION — THURSDAY, JULY 25 – SUNDAY, JULY 28:
THOSE ABOUT TO DIE: THE CHARIOT RACE
The activation will be open for the full duration of San Diego Comic-Con, Thursday, July 25 – 28.
Immerse yourself in the glory of Ancient Rome at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 with Peacock’s “Those About To Die: The Chariot Race.” Step inside the betting tavern, join one of the coveted factions and experience the adrenaline thrill of the chariot race itself. Inspired by the new Original series, Peacock’s in-world activation will bring the ancient “Circus Maximus” to life right in the Gaslamp District. Upon entry, guests will be divided into the 5 factions from the show and given the chance to whip a pair of reins to power their team’s chariot to victory.
WHERE: 170 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
WHEN: Thursday, July 25 – Sunday, July 28
HOURS:
Thursday: 12PM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 10AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 10AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
To reserve your place and bypass lines, please register here. Tickets are available at no cost. Guests who have not pre-registered can join the standby line with limited entrance availability.
Horror-Thriller Series Teacup First Look
THURSDAY, JULY 25
FIRST LOOK AT PEACOCK’S HORROR-THRILLER SERIES TEACUP
WHEN: 1:45 – 2:45 PM PT
WHERE: Ballroom 20
Join executive producers James Wan and Ian McCulloch and stars Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman, and Chaske Spencer for an exclusive sneak peek at Peacock and Atomic Monster’s upcoming original horror series Teacup – a terrifying tale following a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive.
Paramount+’s The Lodge
Paramount+ is bringing The Lodge back to San Diego Comic-Con for a second year with more titles, iconic franchise celebrations, and immersive activations than ever before! Located at the Gaslamp’s Happy Does (340 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101), this interactive fan experience will be available to the public starting July 24 from 6–10pm, July 25-27 from 12–10pm daily, and July 28 from 10am–7pm.
Paramount+’s The Lodge has reached tens of thousands of fans this year during its second cross-country tour. At the seventh stop in 2024, The Lodge will offer the ultimate fan experience featuring themed activations and swag to take home for fans of all ages from popular titles and franchises like STAR TREK, TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, IF, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and many more.
*Note: The Lodge is not an official SDCC activation, therefore no badge is required for entry.
Create a Custom T-Shirt on a STAR TREK Starship: Stepping onto a STAR TREK starship, fans can customize their very own “Starfleet swag.” Utilizing a replicator, visitors will be able to place an order via touch-screen tablet and customize their t-shirts with options from a curated list of STAR TREK franchise-inspired insignia. This experience is available exclusively at The Lodge, and gives fans the chance to take home completely unique customized merch.
Olfactory Atelier Inspired by GHOSTS: In the CBS Original GHOSTS, scents are one of the strongest connections ghosts have to the living world. The Lodge will feature Woodstone Manor’s Olfactory Atelier, where guests are invited to step into the enchanting ambiance of ‘The Livings’-own living room workshop (filled with easter eggs from the show). Essence Chemists will entice them to explore a collection of specialized perfumes—each perfume displays a unique homage to the ghosts in the series. Fans will leave with a scent of their choosing, allowing them to carry a piece of the Manor’s mystique with them throughout the living world at SDCC and beyond.
Solve a Case for CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION Behavioral Analysis Unit: For all the CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION lovers, The Lodge will have an in-world office inspired by the series’ Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), filled with a chaotic spread of evidence, paperwork, unpredictable clues, and more. Guests can dive into their own investigative work to help BAU agents connect-the-dots to the ongoing case.
IF’s Cozy Ferris Wheel Photo Op: The Lodge is bringing the whimsical world of IF to SDCC. With the inviting Luna Park marquee complete with carnival lights galore, guests can line up to “ride” the ferris wheel. While in the queue, fans can play a game of hopscotch before they get onstage with a magical button that brings the Memory Lane Retirement Community Register to life and auto-pairs the guest with their very own IF companion for the photo op.
TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES–Themed Pizza Parlor: The Lodge will bring the love story between pizza and TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES to life with the tastiest slice in town: Turtle Power Pizza. The pizza parlor will be decked out with illustrated stylings to welcome guests into the world of the new series. SDCC-goers will be able to fuel up for their next adventure with a slice of ‘za accompanied by beverages inspired by the colors of the four Turtles, perfect for heroes in a half-shell of any age.
Jellyspotting in Bikini Bottom: Nickelodeon and Paramount+ are celebrating the 25th anniversary of SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and guests are invited to join the fun and immerse themselves into a day-in-the-life at Bikini Bottom’s Jellyfish Fields. Partake in “jellyspotting” throughout the day and catch jellyfish using “Ol’ Reliable,” SpongeBob’s most trusted jellyfish net. Upon entry, special jellyspotting gear will be handed out so fans can see the world through a joyous sponge-colored lens.
INK MASTER Tattoo Parlor: Expanding from last year’s INK MASTER-themed space, The Lodge will include a tattoo parlor set where high-brow modern meets edgy. The activation will allow guests to step inside the series, with an opportunity to get a temporary airbrush tattoo done of their choice from the stencils inspired by Paramount+’s featured shows & films.
BRED2BUCK Saloon from TULSA KING: TULSA KING will take over the Happy Does indoor bar with a themed ‘BRED2BUCK Saloon.’ Taking elements from the series with props, graphics, neon lights, as well as exciting Season 2 references for fans, guests will be able to enjoy in-world drinks that’ll knock their boots off. The saloon will also feature games that take guests into the world of CBS Sports including the hook and ring toss and UEFA Champions League themed soccer ball kicking challenge.
The Lodge Ski Pass sponsored by Walmart+ : On the back of each Lodge Ski Pass this year, guests will receive an exclusive offer for a 3-month Walmart+ subscription as well as other surprise rewards while visiting The Lodge.
Crunchyroll LiSA Concert
On Friday, July 26, the Crunchyroll Concert Series will take over The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park with global J-pop sensation LiSA. The concert is free to all San Diego Comic-Con badge holders.
On Friday night, ahead of the North American theatrical debut of global J-pop sensation LiSA’s concert film LiVE is SMiLE ALWAYS -LANDER- on August 17, the iconic voice behind countless hit anime themes will perform in the U.S. for the first time in nearly 10 years. LiSA returns to the U.S. as Spotify’s 2020 Most Played Japanese Artist Overseas and currently has 4.1 million monthly listeners on the platform—accolades driven by her global appeal. Experimental musician and performance artist Alice Longyu Gao will open the evening with a set inspired by her deep connection to NANA, a classic anime about romance and music.
The Crunchyroll Concert Series is free to all San Diego Comic-Con badge holders. Doors will open at 5:00 PM. Attendees are invited to line up at The Rady Shell at 4:00 PM on Friday. Please be on the lookout for Crunchyroll team members and signage which will direct you to the general admission line.
One Piece Experience
Toei Animation and Crunchyroll are teaming up at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con to bring fans a mix of immersive One Piece activations that features the showcase event, the One Piece 25th Anniversary: Symphonic Voyage. Produced specially for San Diego Comic Con 2024, the One Piece 25th Anniversary: Symphonic Voyage is a live outdoor concert experience celebrating Toei Animation’s worldwide hit series One Piece as part of the franchise’s global 25th anniversary celebration.
This once-in-a-lifetime One Piece experience will be performed by the San Diego Symphony at the iconic The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and is free with open limited seating, on a first-come, first-served basis, to all San Diego Comic-Con badge holders.
Setting sail at on Saturday, July 27 at 7:00 pm, the One Piece 25th Anniversary: Symphonic Voyage with the 40+ piece San Diego Symphony will transport concertgoers on a 90-minute long immersive voyage combining emotional soundscapes and aerial pyrotechnics based on some of the most memorable moments from One Piece, the epic series created by Eiichiro Oda and produced by Toei Animation – now anime’s longest running global phenomenon.
From 5:00 PM until an hour after the concert, attendees are invited to enjoy an assortment of activations that will deepen their love for One Piece with some of their most favorite Straw Hats! Take on the Gum-Gum Punch Challenge with Luffy, snap a photo with Nami, and tickle the ivories with Brook and his piano!
Doors open at 5:00 PM, but all San Diego Comic-Con badge holders are welcome to line up at The Rady Shell starting at 4:00 PM on Saturday. Please be on the lookout for Toei Animation and Crunchyroll team members as well as signage at the Rady Shell for directions to the general admission line.
Plus, all weekend long from July 25 – 28 inside the San Diego Convention Center, X marks the spot for would-be-pirates at both the Toei Animation (#3635) and Crunchyroll (#4135) booths. Fans can check out exclusive in-booth One Piece programming and merchandise including a DIM MAK X ONE PIECE pop-up shop (#3635) and podcast stage (#4135). Step aboard the deck of a pirate ship and adventure across seascapes from the series—from Alabasta to Egghead Island and beyond!
One Piece 25th Anniversary: Symphonic Voyage
Saturday, July 27, 2024
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
4:00 PM Line Starts
5:00 PM Doors Open
7:00 PM Concert Starts
8:30 PM Concert Ends
9:30 PM Venue Closes
Insight Editions with Kevin Smith, Kevin Eastman, and More!
Insight Editions has prepared a wide array of fun, unique plans for their presence at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con! Visitors to Booth #2129 will be greeted by signings, giveaways, special promotions, and more!
Each day is a different schedule of fun happenings, including signings with guests Kevin Smith (Kevin Smith’s Secret Stash: The Definitive Visual History), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman and Andrew Farago, author of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History, Casey Gilly (Universal Monsters Tarot, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot), pop-up and paper art guru Matthew Reinhart, Bill Morrison (The Beatles Yellow Submarine), and ST Bende (The Wizard of Oz: The Official Cookbook).
In addition to signings, every day of the show brings a new raffle opportunity. Visitors can simply scan their badge to be entered to win a ton of different prizes, including bundles of Insight’s highly collectible Limited Edition titles like The Art of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Labyrinth: Bestiary, The Beatles Yellow Submarine, and many more!
Insight is also very excited to present two fascinating and fun panels! Come to room 32AB on Thursday at 12PM for a sequel to last year’s standing room-only hit Everyday Magic: Pop Culture Tarot & Live Readings. Learn about the ins and outs of translating pop culture’s most beloved characters and worlds into beautiful tarot decks. Along with live one-card readings, panel attendees will also receive an exclusive giclée tarot print! On Sunday at 10:30AM in Room 23ABC, Matthew Reinhart and Insight Editions staff will take attendees behind the scenes of creating imaginative and complex pop-ups and papercrafts with some of the most recognizable characters and worlds in pop culture! In addition to unlocking the secrets of paper sorcery, attendees will receive a beautiful pop-up greeting card.
NEXT: Those About To Die Cast Discusses The Roman Empire
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.