San Diego's largest annual convention got underway Thursday morning with an official opening ceremony for the 54th Comic-Con with Mayor Todd Gloria and other city and community leaders.
More than 100-thousand people will be attending the four-day event at the San Diego Convention Center with thousands more spending time eating, shopping and people-watching in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Despite fewer big Hollywood stars and fewer panels, due to the actors and writers strikes, Comic-Con officials say the event will be packed all four days. The Executive Director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association says hotels and restaurants were already seeing the usual reservations filling up. San Diego tourism officials say Comic-Con will help the local economy continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
Many buildings downtown have been plastered with wraps and posters of popular TV shows and new movies.
San Diego Comic-Con is July 20 through July 23.
RELATED: Your guide to San Diego Comic-Con 2023
(Photo Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images for IMDb