Tag: family

Sunday walk around San Diego Comic-Con!

Enjoy another collection of cool photographs. I took these while walking around downtown San Diego on Sunday morning, the final day of Comic-Con 2025.

Yes, Comic-Con on a Sunday begins to wind down. I noticed this year that an offsite activation or two had already disappeared overnight. The remaining offsites close earlier on Sunday. Time for many out-of-towners to call it a Con and start heading home.

The cool thing is, local San Diego families love to come out on Sunday to enjoy the fun sights, cosplay and remaining offsites. It’s like a free visit to a sprawling amusement park. There’s still is a whole bunch of excitement!

Anyone at all can participate. That makes Comic-Con very special. It’s one big reason why so many in San Diego love Comic-Con.

You might notice from my photos I circled the San Diego Convention Center a couple times. As always, I’m reluctant to see another Comic-Con vanish. It goes by much too quickly. But there’s always next year to look forward to, right?

To everyone I met, you were awesome! Perhaps I’ll see you next year!

Now it’s time for a few days rest–then onward to more Cool San Diego Sights! Stay tuned!

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Lightsabers light the night in Balboa Park!

Hundreds of Star Wars fans gathered in Balboa Park this evening to light the night with uplifted and dueling lightsabers. It’s an annual tradition during San Diego Comic-Con, organized by the Underground Lightsaber Fighters of San Diego.

The family-friendly event was billed as the Light Saber World Championship, but the competition seemed entirely informal. As far as I could see, it was mostly parents and kids having a blast.

After dark, near the fountain by Park Boulevard, simulated lightsaber battles would begin. First it was kids against a gentle “master” lightsaber fighter. Then the masters faced each other. The roar of the crowd determined the winner!

Two rules were announced. Be safe. Have fun!

I could clearly see there was a ton of fun!

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Fun activities at Comic-Con’s Interactive Zone!

As it turned out, the Comic-Con Interactive Zone at Petco Park has a fair number of cool activities for 2025. When I looked down at the parking lot yesterday, I was wondering what all might appear.

Well, apart from the great food trucks and a first aid station (where you can get free water), there are several activations that will thrill kids (and adults) and those who love collectibles.

I visited the free to the public Interactive Zone in the afternoon, and there was no wait to get in. Lining up in the morning and waiting in my opinion is a waste of time. Once that initial line goes away, it’s a breeze to walk in.

So what did I see?

I had camera, phone, keys, etc. and I passed right through the metal detectors without removing them, no problem…

The various sides of this activation promote video games by ARC System Works…

People at the ARC System Works activation loved playing Hunter × Hunter: Nen × Impact. It appeared one could grab cool swag, too…

I see Marge Simpson at one picnic bench!

(I bought a pulled pork dish but found nowhere to sit, so I took it outside and sat in some shade at nearby quiet Petco Park.)

Check out this awesome Winx Club chalk art!

Pose with cabbages for a fun photo at the Magic: The Gathering x Avatar activation! I believe I saw those who participated getting a swag bag…

Kids will love this Winx Club photo op…

eBay has a large activation with different activities and winnable stuff…

eBay Live podcast concerning collectibles was drawing a lot of attention…

This photo op aimed to get people across the street to The Labu’Tique Pop-Up Shop…

Food, fun and fascination for your family!

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Peanuts pop-up shop at Comic-Con!

Peanuts has returned to San Diego for Comic-Con 2025 with a fun pop-up shop on MLK Promenade, across Harbor Drive from the San Diego Convention Center.

This Comic-Con offsite celebrates the 75th anniversary of Peanuts, the legendary, highly influential comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz back in 1950. If you love Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang, this is where you need to be!

Entering the family-friendly pop-up shop is free. On Thursday afternoon of Comic-Con, I had only to wait in line for about five minutes. I was watching for a surprise visit by Snoopy, but my timing was off. The Peanuts pop-up shop opens every morning during Comic-Con at 10 am. It closes at 6 pm, except on Sunday when it closes at 4 pm.

In addition to tons of merchandise, including a wide variety of exclusive collectibles, there is plenty of nostalgia and several photo opportunities inside the offsite. Here are a few photos I took…

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Pac-Man Cafe Pop-Up opens in San Diego!

The Pac-Man Cafe Pop-Up opened in San Diego a couple days ago, in time for this year’s Comic-Con!

The kid-friendly cafe, located in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, features Pac-Man themed food, merch, and lots of arcade games that can be played freely!

What’s on the menu? Everything from Team Ghosts Cake Pops to Waka Waka Rice Krispies to Blinky’s Blast Slushes to Pac-Man 45 Anniversary Shave Ice. Want to eat something more substantial? Why not devour Chomp and Cheese Nachos, Sweet Mazemen Maruchan Noodles, Pac-Ked Chicken Quesadillas…

I saw tons of merchandise for sale for Pac-Man fans, from skateboards to bag clips to Pac-Man nanoblocks. You can get a free fan club button, too, by joining the Pac-Man Discord!

I suspect the lines will be long during Comic-Con, so consider swinging by early. The Pac-Man Cafe Pop-Up is located at 323 Seventh Avenue. Its hours are 11 am to 8 pm. This super fun activation will remain open until August 3, 2025.

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Old-fashioned 4th of July in Old Town San Diego!

What would Independence Day be without an old-fashioned 4th of July in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park!

The big celebration of our nation’s birth (249 years ago) would attract hundreds of visitors, including many families. A little after 11 o’clock in the morning, the American flag was raised by Scouts on the central plaza’s flagpole and the event kicked off!

There would be live old-fashioned American music on the stage, Victorian era lawn games like sack racing and tug-o’-war, and booths where kids could make 19th century scrap books or create telegraph Morse code bracelets or pioneer dolls.

A watermelon eating contest would take place later, as well as the annual quilt raffle!

I arrived before the event would begin, checked out the Boosters of Old Town table, walked around the California State Park for a bit, observed the flag raising, then hung around for a while watching the fun!

The Boosters of Old Town San Diego had lots of great stuff for purchase at their red, white and blue table!

And a free smile!

At Threads of the Past, I learned about the quilts that are made here and raffled to raise funds every year. They are modeled after historic Sanitary Commission quilts from the Civil War.

If you ever see the following label on an old quilt, buy it immediately! They are extremely rare.

Now I’m just walking around…

Heading over to check out the blacksmith shop…

Many Old Town blacksmiths were busy on the Fourth of July!

This friendly gentlemen allows kids to pound away on clay, shaping it as if it were red hot iron.

Almost 11 o’clock. The assembled Scout color guard is ready in the doorway of the Casa de Estudillo.

Here we go…

Now to raise the flag of the United States of America on Independence Day…

A welcome speech was followed by nostalgic old-time music performed by Billy Lee and The Swamp Critters, plus lots of family fun, crafts and games!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Photos of Flag Day Parade in La Mesa!

The 26th Annual Flag Day Parade was held late this morning through downtown La Mesa. Hundreds of residents came out for the patriotic Flag Day spectacle.

Flags lined La Mesa Boulevard. Families gathered along the sidewalks in anticipation. At ten o’clock, the big parade, a beloved La Mesa tradition, began!

There were marching bands, equestrian groups, politicians, scouts, local schools, churches, clubs and organizations, waving queens, costumed cosplayers, cool cars . . . even tractors! It appeared to me the entire community had come together.

The Flag Day Parade this year celebrated service organizations who work to improve lives in the city. Grand Marshalls were the La Mesa Kiwanis Club, the La Mesa Lions Club, La Mesa Optimist International, and the La Mesa Rotary Club.

Most of my photographs were taken a bit away from the crowd, which mostly gathered in the center of La Mesa’s historic downtown. At the end of the parade, I followed the big flag held by volunteers, and I took my final photo with hundreds of flag-waving spectators all around.

Ready? The big parade is starting…

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Island of Misfit Toys appears on Silver Strand!

The Island of Misfit Toys has magically appeared at Silver Strand State Beach!

The sandy “island,” where beach toys await boys and girls, is open to all comers near the State Beach’s lifeguard building!

The delightful toy chest you see in my photos was built about a month ago by Silver Strand State Beach maintenance personnel. It was painted beautifully with local and related natural scenes by talented artist Victoria.

The open chest is is full of lost toys that have been found on the beach, like shovels and pails used to build sandcastles. Families visiting the beach can borrow the toys which might otherwise have been discarded.

A wonderful idea!

By the way, everyone I spoke with at Silver Strand State Beach today was super friendly! You all are awesome!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Fun times at multicultural Day at the Park!

Many San Diego families were out having fun today at a special event in Barrio Logan. Day at the Park was being presented by the Port of San Diego at César Chávez Park!

The community festival attracted an ever growing crowd as the day progressed. The public could freely enjoy multicultural entertainment at the main stage, plus free bags of kettle corn and other food! The warm San Diego sun was shining and everyone was smiling.

During Day at the Park, the Port of San Diego also sought feedback about possible improvements to César Chávez Park. If you have any ideas, go to their online survey by clicking here!

I enjoyed my hot dog and kettle corn while watching some of the colorful entertainment. Enjoy my photos!

Many vendors and community organizations were present during the event.

The Living Coast Discovery Center had a chuckwalla that people could touch! I learned these lizards can inflate their body in their burrow to prevent predators from pulling them out!

There it is! I suggested a chuckwalla, with its odd name, must be mix between a woodchuck and walrus.

The Port of San Diego was gathering info about potential improvements to this bayside park in Barrio Logan.

These ladies smiled for a photo before the event officially began. They gave out the free food tickets. Yes, I arrived early.

Kids love the Rad Hatter! I see them at many San Diego events. Make your own crazy hat!

Here’s the free kettle corn. Super yummy! Thank you.

First up on the stage was Soaring Eagles, with Native American dance…

Meanwhile, look how the crowd has grown! Lots of food trucks, in addition to the freebies.

Next up the stage was R:TYME Band, playing happy classics perfect for dancing. One kid was even breakdancing!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Day at the Park to be held on San Diego Bay!

This coming Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 11 am to 3 pm, the Port of San Diego is hosting a free event at César Chávez Park (in Barrio Logan next to San Diego Bay). A Day at the Park will feature multicultural entertainment, fun kids activities and food trucks!

I see performers include Soaring Eagles Native American Indian Cultural Dance Group, Polynesian Dancers, Mariachi Victoria de San Diego, and Ballet Folklorico Ti Pa.

Sounds like a great lineup! I put it on my calendar!

In addition, the Port of San Diego will be gathering public input at the event concerning improvements to the southeastern, waterfront area of the park.

If you want to learn about this event hosted by the Port of San Diego, check out their website by clicking here!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!