No badge? No problem! Comic-Con isn’t just for lucky geeks. Many events related to San Diego’s premiere convention are free, led by Conan O’Brien’s show at the Spreckels.

Anita "McCreepy" of Santa Barbara in the Gaslamp Quarter at 2014 Comic-Con.
Anita “McCreepy” of Santa Barbara in the Gaslamp Quarter at 2014 Comic-Con. Chris Stone photo

But you’ll need luck there as well.

A limited number of standby tickets will be made available daily through Saturday — for empty seats just before show time. Most will be single seats at the 121 Broadway theater. 



For standby tickets, go to the Spreckels Box Office at 8 a.m. the morning of the taping you’d like to attend and join the main line of reservation holders.

The line will form around the corner from the box office at 969 First Ave. At 8 a.m., numbered wristbands go to anyone in the main ticket line without a reservation. People will be given a location and time to return by to see if seats are available to the show.

Also see:

Also free:

Panel discussion at Logan Heights Library on “Women of Color in Comics: Race, Gender & The Comic Book Medium” is 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Sunday, moderated by Lockett Down Productions Publications owner Regine Sawyer. Free giveaways to audience members as well as superhero comics for kids.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, The Nerdist Conival will be at to Petco Park along with Geek & Sundry and Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, featuring podcast interviews, games and prizes.

The Nerdist (digital division of Legendary Pictures) will team with 2K and Gearbox Software for Battleborn Laser Tag, where attendees can shoot inside a custom maze.

On the Geek & Sundry side, you can find partying and panels, a fire-breathing dragon photo op and more. There will also be a TableTop gaming nook and swag including inflatable swords, a Geek & Sundry pin with their sigil, temporary tattoos, a poster and more.

The Nerdist crew of podcasters will stage mini-interviews with celebs ranging from Felicia Day, Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk to Radcliffe, Shymalan and Orphan Black.

The Art of Comic-Con exhibit continues at the gallery of the San Diego Central Library at Joan and Irwin Jacobs Common. Weekend gallery hours have been extended to noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer.

The Xbox Lounge in the Seaport Ballroom (second level of the Grand Manchester Hyatt) will be filled with more than 90 gaming station featuring unreleased titles. It goes from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Nintendo Gaming Lounge will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Marriott Marquis Hotel & Marina. This year, the lounge will offer traditional activities as well as adult and kids tournaments including Splatoon, Pokémon ORAS, Super Smash Bros for Wii U, and more. For more information and to sign up for tournaments, visit: http://comic-con.nintendo.com

The second annual Her Universe “Geek Couture” Fashion Show is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Grand Hyatt Hotel Harbor Ballroom. The audience and judges will vote for the the top two, who will go on to develop a collection for sale at Hot Topic.

The “Assassin’s Creed” Experience is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday on the MLK Promenade, next to the Hilton Gaslamp Hotel. The life-size obstacle course is built from the upcoming video game “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.”

FX Fearless Arena is noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Lawn. The event features a “Fargo” giant inflatable snow globe and a medieval duel inspired by “The Bastard Executioner” plus the new “American Horror Story.”

ComedyCentralCon will be from from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Dr. #120, directly across from the Convention Center. Featured are a 9-Hole Mini Golf course, the Comedy Central GIF photo booth, and Comedy Central actors on both days.

"Supergirl" will be previewed at North Island Naval Air Station.
“Supergirl” will be previewed at North Island Naval Air Station.

Adult Swim on the Green is 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. behind the Convention Center. The Carnival Midway and The Meatwad Full Dome Experience feature daily live-streaming events, nightly screenings and more.

NBC’s “Heroes Reborn” and “Blindspot” will be promoted on Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Square.

“Game of Thrones” Experience the Realm will be across the Omni Hotel. Gamers can go to the Marriott Marquis & Marina for the Nintendo Video Game Lounge.

Conan Bingo is sold out for Thursday, but the “game and party rolled into one” is set for 7 p.m. Friday and 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Location hasn’t been released.

Horror Gathering is at 5 p.m. Saturday at Children’s Park. This is not a Zombie Walk (which has been canceled this year). It’s a meet-and-greet with other horror fans dressed up in their best costume.

MTV Fan Fest and MTVu Fandom Awards are 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday at Petco Park. Hosted by Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf”) and Bella Thorne (“Scream”), the event offers bands, free food, drinks and giveaways.

Navy families and retirees will get a special advance screening Sunday of the “Supergirl” TV series. Doors open at noon for the 45-minute show at the Lowry Theater at North Island Naval Air Station. Cast and producers also are set to attend, with photos from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. Details are here.

Walker Stalker Fan Fest is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Meet Tyreese, Lizzie, Mika, Noah.

LEGO Dimensions is 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday in the Legends Ballrooms of the Hard Rock Hotel. Play the game and collect a limited edition LEGO Dimensions print, while supplies last, featuring Portal and Doctor Who. There will also be a LEGO Scooby and Gandalf to pose with.

The Walking Dead Escape is 6 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Meet characters from “The Walking Dead.”

Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Donors are asked to register. People who donate blood are entered into daily drawings for prizes provided by Comic-Con exhibitors.

Nerd HQ is daily through Sunday at New Children’s Museum, 200 W. Island Ave., with fan interactions, video game demos and panels.

True Hero Comic Book Drive Hard Rock Cafe, 801 Fourth Ave., 
is hosting a comic book drive to send to Marines who are serving overseas. Drop off comic books at the cafe San Diego through July 12.The first 400 people to donate and receive a limited edition True Hero VIP Lanyard, featuring a special “Ghost of Crows” image designed by local artist Tim Cantor.

Tickets required for these events:


San Diego Symphony concerts for music lovers with Comic-Con tastes.

8 p.m. Thursday: Pokemon: Symphonic Evolutions, Embarcadero Marina Park South

7:30 p.m. Saturday: The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, Copley Symphony Hall.

8 p.m. Saturday: Star Trek into Darkness, Embarcadero Marina Park South. Tickets are available.