Every July, San Diego Comic-Con turns downtown into something halfway between a theme park and a movie set — and here's the part most families don't realize: you don't need a badge for the best of it. The studios and brands build free, public experiences all over the Gaslamp Quarter and the waterfront, and after four years of covering Comic-Con's outside activations, we can tell you which ones are made for kids, which ones are worth a wait, and how to do the whole thing without a meltdown (yours or theirs).

Comic-Con runs July 23–26 this year, with Preview Night on July 22 — but the offsites below are open to everyone. Here's your family game plan.

Details are announced (and changed) right up until Con week — we're updating this guide as new activations drop, so save it and check back.

The One to Build Your Day Around

Nickelodeon "Fun Flows Here" 🧽

The New Children's Museum Park, 200 W. Island Ave · July 23–26 · Free, walk-up

This is the family headliner of Comic-Con 2026. Nickelodeon is taking over the park across from The New Children's Museum with a full outdoor activation built specifically for kids: an interactive stage show hosted by Kids Imagine Nation with performances inspired by PAW Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Thundermans, and Star Trek: Scouts; photo installations featuring SpongeBob, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the Kids' Choice Awards; make-your-own-slime and bubble play stations; live character-drawing demos, DJ sets, and daily giveaways. The centerpiece is a nearly 20-foot Slime Surge — and yes, select visitors get slimed, Nickelodeon's highest honor.

Don't miss the free outdoor movie night on July 25 (7–9pm): The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, under the stars, in the park.

One important note: The New Children's Museum itself is closed July 21–26 and reopens Monday, July 27 — the activation is in the park, not the museum.

More Free Offsites Worth the Walk

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Experience ⚡

Gaslamp Triangle · July 23–26 · Free Enter through Poseidon's trident and choose one of three demigod paths — Percy, Annabeth, or Thalia — in an immersive experience tied to the show's upcoming third season. Great for elementary and middle-grade readers who know the books.

Hulu Animayhem 🎬

Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade · July 23–26 (Thu–Sat 10:30am–7pm, Sun 11am–4pm) · Free Interactive worlds, an Easter egg hunt, and themed food and drinks inspired by Futurama and King of the Hill. Skews a little older, but the walkthrough environments are fun at any age.

Paramount+ The Lodge 🏕️

Gaslamp District · July 22–26 · Free Immersive experiences inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — plus South Park and UFC areas that skew adult, so it's a mixed-ages stop rather than a pure kids' one.

Petco Park Interactive Zone 🍜

100 Park Blvd (next to the stadium) · July 22–26 · Free entry A whole cluster of activations in one place: the Maruchan MaruMart (a ramen-themed pop-up with Demon Slayer), the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, KAYOU Walls of Fandom, and the Labu'Tique Farmers Market, plus live music, giveaways, and photo ops. Efficient one-stop if your crew's stamina is limited — though it's also one of the busiest spots of the week.

Magic: The Gathering × Marvel Super Heroes Fan Experience 🦸

Petco Park · July 23–26 · Free Wizards of the Coast's celebration of the Marvel crossover set — welcoming to curious newcomers, and a good fit for older kids and teens into cards or superheroes.

Peanuts × Super7 Adopt-A-Puppy Pop-Up 💚

Wine & Culinary Center · July 23–26 · Free Snoopy-themed and gentle — a sweet, low-stimulation stop for the youngest kids in your group.

Godzilla at GameStop Mission Valley 🦖

1640 Camino Del Rio N · Wednesday, July 22, 11am–3pm · Free Meet Godzilla himself, snap photos, and grab a free promotional button. This one's a sleeper pick: it happens the day before the Con opens and it's in Mission Valley, not downtown — so no Gaslamp crowds, no parking nightmare. A perfect warm-up for kaiju kids.

Star Trek: 60 Years Archives Experience 🖖

The Sinclair, 643 G St · July 24–26 · Free Six decades of Star Trek with a Holodeck VR experience, claw machines with prizes, official archive pieces, and themed photo moments. Best for older kids and teens.

Ticketed & Treat Stops

Clash of Clans: Clash for the Stache 🛡️

789 W. Harbor Dr · July 15 – September 7 · Ticketed; price varies by date and age, and goes up during Con week An escape-room-style challenge experience. Because it runs all summer, this is the one to save for a non-Con week if your kids want it — smaller crowds, same experience.

Candy Land Café 🍭

Bayside Kitchen + Bar · July 9 – October 4 · Ticketed, $24.50/person A fully themed Candy Land dining experience. Reservations recommended; also runs well past Con week.

Donut Bar × Volkswagen × PopUp Bagels 🍩

Pendry San Diego · July 23–26 · Free to visit, food for purchase Comic-Con themed donuts and bagels at one of the Gaslamp's most photogenic corners.

Super Troopers 3 Pop-Up 🥞

Hasta Mañana Cantina, 310 Fifth Ave · July 24–26, 9am–5pm · Free, first come first served Complimentary pancakes with Crown Maple syrup each morning, a putting green, and a decked-out movie truck, celebrating the film's August 7 release. Fair warning: the movie itself is a comedy for the grown-ups — but free pancakes are for everyone, and a hot free breakfast in the Gaslamp during Con week is worth knowing about.

The Parent Survival Guide

We've done this four times. Here's what the announcements never tell you:

The lines are real. The big activations can run one to four hours at peak, and most of the waiting is in full sun with little shade. Thursday morning and right-at-open are dramatically better than Saturday afternoon. If you can only pick one window, pick Thursday, July 23 before noon.

Check reservation status before you promise anything. "Free" doesn't always mean walk-up — some experiences require online reservations that vanish within minutes of opening, while others are first-come, first-served. Follow each activation's official social account the week before; that's where location details and reservation links drop.

Skip the parking search. Downtown parking during Con week is scarce and expensive. Take the trolley — the Gaslamp Quarter and Convention Center stations put you in the middle of everything — or get dropped as close as traffic allows and plan to walk.

Pack like it's a theme park day. Water for everyone, sunscreen, hats, and a portable fan if you have one. Stroller-wise: the crowds get dense along Fifth Avenue and the waterfront by midday, so a carrier is easier for the littlest ones.

Build in an exit. The happiest Con-week families we see do two or three stops and quit while they're ahead. Everything on this list except the Con-week-only activations will feel calmer than the convention center area — and the Clash of Clans and Candy Land experiences will still be there in August.

We'll be on the ground covering Comic-Con's family side all week — follow along on Instagram for live looks at the activations before you commit to a line. This guide is updated as new offsites are announced. All details subject to change; confirm dates and reservation requirements with each activation before you go.

‍