The TV-Themed 2025 Comic-Con Activations You Need to See

It's San Diego Comic-Con time. With numerous new and returning TV series set to debut this summer and fall, there's plenty to celebrate for fans at 2025 Comic-Con this weekend. Among the highlights, Paramount is bringing back Paramount+'s The Lodge for a third year in a row to showcase series like Dexter: Resurrection and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, as well as its FAST streaming platform, Pluto TV. Meanwhile, Disney has various activations planned, and Peacock wants fans to participate in a post-apocalyptic—and clown-infested—bumper car experience. Here are some of the TV-themed activations you need to see for 2025, many of which will run through July 27: The Lodge (Paramount+) Paramount+ is bringing The Lodge, created in collaboration with 15|40 Productions, back for a third year in a row. Similar to previous iterations of the activation, the streaming platform created immersive experiences inspired by some of its popular series and franchises. Fans can expect a Dexter: Resurrection vault where they can look through a collection of relics, case files, and mementos from the series. There will also be a Starfleet holodeck celebrating the third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, where visitors can drink cosmic cocktails in the Intergalactic Love Lounge or stop by a campus-inspired environment to grab some themed swag. If cosmic cocktails aren't enough, attendees can stop by the Landman Patch Cafe to get some signature drinks in a M*Tex souvenir mug. Meanwhile, there is also an NCIS: Tony & Ziva-inspired Parisian cafe full of easter eggs, photo ops, and passports. For sports fans, there will be a CBS Sports Clubhouse, a stadium-inspired space representing The NFL on CBS. Visitors can take a seat in the arena-style bleachers, explore all 32 jerseys from each team in the league, practice throwing in a target practice challenge, or stop by the UEFA Champions League-themed sports bar. And for those craving some snacks, there will be a Pluto TV popcorn bar with free popcorn, slushies, and more photo ops. Hank Hill's Backyard (Hulu) To promote one of its long-running adult animation series, Hulu and Creative Riff recreated a part of King of the Hill's Arlen, Texas setting with a Hank Hill's Backyard activation in the Bayfront Parking Lot next to the convention center. Hank's guests will be able to play Alamo Pong to win a prize and claim the "Alamo Pong" championship, play a game of boot toss at the Rhinestein’s Cowboy storefront, customize a trucker hat with themed patches at the Mega Lo Mart, drink a can of Alamo water and other beverages at the Water Tower, or get light bites at the Backyard Cookout where visitors can also participate in classic games like cornhole. Alien: Earth's The Wreckage (FX) Ahead of Alien: Earth's premiere next month, FX is hosting The Wreckage activation, in partnership with Creative Riff, on Hilton's Bayfront Lawn from Thursday to Sunday. There, guests can explore the USCSS Maginot to find mysterious debris and learn about alien specimens from the upcoming series based on the popular film franchise. While attendees can check out The Wreckage anytime during the day, the more adventurous can participate in a creepy mission at The Wreckage: Code Red at night. A Very Abbott Block Party (ABC) https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMfwjEmRJlO/?igsh=ZmNrbTlpaDRjZ2Z1 Fans of the Emmy Award-winning series can stop by ABC's A Very Abbott Block Party, once again created in partnership with Creative Riff, from Thursday through Sunday, celebrating all things Abbott Elementary. Those who stop by the neighborhood bash will be able to get a taste of authentic Philly water ice, ride a Ferris wheel, and grab some items and exclusive merch from the school's lost and found, which includes bucket hats and boom box bags. Percy Jackson Experience (Disney) Percy Jackson and the Olympians, based on the popular children's fantasy book series, is coming to Comic-Con with a Percy Jackson Experience. The Disney activation, which was co-developed by 15|40 Productions, is inspired by the franchise's "Sea of Monsters" book, which is explored in the second season. The experience includes a themed diner and snacks like "blue food" from the show, a look at the real Gray Sisters' taxi taken directly from the production of the second season, a chance to participate in an interactive quiz, and plenty of limited-edition merch and giveaways. Disney also has a partnership with Uber for the show, so look out for the Percy Jackson-branded SUVs around the convention center. Peacemaker and It: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max) To promote the second season of DC Studios' Peacemaker, HBO Max is debuting "Peacefest," an immersive '80s glam rock bar experience at the Nova San Diego nightclub from Thursday through Saturday. Interested patrons can enter the experience through the Quantum Unfolding Chamber. The activation features all things related to Peacemaker, including exclusive fan access to the Peacecycle from the second season and a limited opportunity for select fans to meet Peacemaker’s sidekick, Eagly, in partnership with the American Eagle Foundation. Fans will be able to enjoy live music performances, grab drinks, and play games at Harcourt’s KO Corner Bar, or buy some exclusive merch from Vigilante’s Hero S*** Merch Shop, created in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, DC Shop, and licensed partners McFarlane Toys, Sideshow, and Upper Deck. Peacefest will also feature interactive character-themed booths like Adebayo’s Hero Test Photo Booth and Economos’ Ops Mortal Kombat gaming station. Meanwhile, It: Welcome to Derry will be deploying Pennywise-inspired pedicabs around San Diego on Friday to offer free rides to attendees, while brand ambassadors will hand out sweets throughout the San Diego Convention Center, Gaslamp Quarter, and Harbor districts. On Saturday, fans will be able to attend a screening on a first-come, first-served basis to watch exclusive footage from the premiere episode of the upcoming series, with showrunners Andy and Barbara Muschietti in attendance. Bumper Battle (Peacock) To promote the Twisted Metal series starring Anthony Mackie, and based on the popular video game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Peacock recreated bumper cars with a twist. As an homage to its tournament—a focal point in the second season—attendees will be able to choose their car, which features the show's vehicles reimagined as bumper cars, and take part in their own version of the Calypso-hosted derby from Thursday to Saturday in the Lot at 1st Avenue and J Street. Along with the bumper car experience, fans can expect photo opportunities, a showcase of the actual tournament cars featured in the series, and other surprises. Outlander and Spartacus (Starz) Expanding on its “We’re All Adults Here” marketing campaign, Starz is bringing to life the worlds of Outlander, Outlander: Blood of my Blood, and Spartacus: House of Ashur at Comic-Con this year by placing branded banners and art at Hard Rock Hotel to showcase the three series. Starz also featured a surprise performance from Raya Yarbrough, who sang a live performance of The Skye Boat Song for Outlander‘s theme in the first six seasons complete with a sing-a-long for fans, which was followed by a concert of bagpipers who played Scotland the Brave before one of the panels. Meanwhile, Starz is a presenting sponsor of Entertainment Weekly’s Saturday night party, which includes both classy and cheeky branded slogans like “Because your nights deserve some action” and “Family fun has its time and place. This isn’t it.” Guests will also be able to pose at the Starz photo booth and branded-cabana. Keep an eye out for Spartacus: House of Ashur-branded pedicabs reimagined as Roman chariot along with blood-splattered drivers around the streets of San Diego near the convention center. Doctor Who UNIT Black Archive (BBC) To celebrate its long-running series, the BBC launched an immersive pop-up where fans can gain access to UNIT's top-secret Black Archive, a classified facility featuring some of the most dangerous alien artifacts and secret knowledge, to check out props and artifacts from the last 60 years of the show. Meanwhile, an extension of the experience will be available for fans globally, as well as a new merch collection from the relaunched BBC Shop. Pirate Purrrty on the Green (Adult Swim) It wouldn't be Comic-Con without Adult Swim's Pirate Purrrty on the Green!, created in partnership with GDX Studios, which the network has brought to San Diego for several years now. Some of the shows Adult Swim is highlighting this year include Robot Chicken with a 20-year celebration party on Thursday, Rick and Morty and Smiling Friends on Friday, and screenings for some of its new and upcoming series on Saturday, along with a laser dance party every night. The first 750 attendees that arrive at the party will receive exclusive merch. Peanuts Pop-Up Shop (Peanuts Worldwide) Peanuts Worldwide is celebrating the brand's 75th anniversary at a pop-up shop at 200 W. Harbor Drive. Visitors will be able to enjoy a Peanuts time-travel experience as they check out some of the earliest comic strips and vintage-style merchandise. Guests can also enjoy photo ops with an oversized rotary Snoopy phone and sno-cone machine, surprise visits from Snoopy throughout the day, a sweepstakes run by Radio Flyer to win a new 75th anniversary wagon, and various displays featuring vintage products across home categories. There will also be a Peanuts booth in the convention center designed as an old-style newspaper stand, leaning into the nostalgia of the brand with vintage artwork and items, as well as a panel moderated by TV Guide's columnist Damian Holbrook featuring actor and Peanuts superfan Alec Baldwin, and many others that have been involved in the Peanuts universe through the years. Clown in a Cornfield (AMC) While AMC Networks has a lot of plans for San Diego Comic-Con this year, to embrace the immersive aspect of the convention, the company will debut a massive activation centered on Shudder and its Clown in a Cornfield title. The experience includes an actual cornfield taking over the Gaslamp Quarter Hotel terrace during the entire four days of the convention. Fans will also get the opportunity to attend a special Clown in a Cornfield screening on Friday at the Marriott Marquis ahead of the title streaming on Shudder next month.

Marketing Innovation

The TV-Themed 2025 Comic-Con Activations You Need to See

From Peacock's post-apocalyptic wasteland to Hulu's backyard bash, here are some of the best San Diego Comic-Con activations

The Lodge (Paramount+)

Saleah Blancaflor

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