How To Take Part In Comic-Con San Diego When You Don’t Have A Badge

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger

Comic-Con in San Diego attracts more than 150,00 Trekkies, Star War characters, Sci-Fi and comic book heroes a year and the convention sells out several months in advance. But it’s such a big deal it’s a desirable event to attend.

Here’s tips on how to enjoy Comi-Con in San Diego – annually the third weekend of July – if you don’t have a ticket to the convention.

• Head to Fifth Ave. The street is blocked off and the characters hang out primarily from the Gaslamp sign to Island. They love to pose for pics and videos so don’t be bashful tho do ask their permission.

• Be on the lookout for free pop-ups and activations. There’s always one of these set up in the little plaza between the Gaslamp Quarter sign and the trolley stop. Be alert to others in small areas of buildings along Fifth Ave.

• Don’t restrict yourself to Fifth Ave. Explore the pedestrian path (Martin Luther King Jr. walkway) parallel to the trolley tracks. Go being the Convention Center along the Embarcadero to the Marriott where you’ll see even more Comic-Con activities and activations.

• Check out the white dome at the edge of the bay behind the Convention Center. That’s the Randy Jacobs Shell amphitheater, and while no concerts take place during Comic-Con there are studio and corporate events. The sidewalk stays open and is free during all events at the Shell.

• Go into the bars. A lot of Comic-Con’ers hang out in the Gaslamp bars and several of those bars have their staff dress in costumes. One even has a special Comic-Con cocktail! Here’s a rundown of what some Gaslamp bars have going on during Comic-Con.

• The Green Line trolley stops at the Convention Center. There is a Convention Center stop but take it one more stop to the Gaslamp Quarter; that will put you across from the Convention Center at Fifth Ave.