What’s just as important as planning your day inside San Diego Comic-Con is planning your schedule outside of the convention. Increasingly, organizers put on so many awesome events in the businesses and venues surrounding the Convention Center each year, that it’s hard to see it all, let alone narrow down to a must-do list each night.

It’s only early May, yet there are already several offsite events on the schedule competing for attendees’ time. Which ones should you go to? Well, as always, we’re here to help.

The San Diego Symphony has scheduled three must-do events during SDCC as part of its 2014 Summer Pops Comic-Con Weekend Concert series. Better yet, the Symphony has been gracious enough to provide us a pair of tickets to give away to a lucky reader for a concert of the winner’s choosing. Which concerts to choose from? Funny you should ask…

Note: All Comic-Con Weekend Concerts are located at Embarcadero Marina Park South, behind the San Diego Convention Center.

Video Games Live

Date/Time: Thursday, July 24, 8pm

Location: Embarcadero Marina Park South

Ticket Price: $25-90

Tickets & Info. Link: http://www.sandiegosymphony.org/calendar/view.aspx?id=4248

Jack Wall, conductor

Special Guests: SACRA/PROFANA, chorus

Description: After a five year absence from Summer Pops, Video Games Live returns: popular game music themes given the full symphonic treatment just in time for Comic-Con. This visual and action-packed sensory extravaganza combines memorable video game music with synchronized lighting and even some real on-stage game-playing!

Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton

Date/Time: Friday, July 25, 8pm

Location: Embarcadero Marina Park South

Ticket Price: $25-90

Tickets & Info. Link: http://www.sandiegosymphony.org/calendar/view.aspx?id=4250

John Mauceri, conductor

Special Guests: SACRA/PROFANA, chorus

Description: Danny Elfman and Tim Burton represent one of the most successful composer/director collaborations in Hollywood history. This brand new orchestra event features Danny Elfman’s famous film scores brought to life on stage by orchestra, and enhanced by visuals on the big screen of Tim Burton’s original film sketches, drawings and story boards. Highlights include Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Big Fish, Corpse Bride and more! Concert will be conducted by John Mauceri, founding director of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. (Note: Neither Mr. Elfman nor Mr. Burton will be appearing.)

Star Trek (2009): The Movie

Date/Time: Saturday, July 26, 8pm

Location: Embarcadero Marina Park South

Ticket Price: $25-90

Tickets & Info. Link: http://www.sandiegosymphony.org/calendar/view.aspx?id=4252

David Newman, conductor

Special Guests: SACRA/PROFANA, chorus

Description: Space is still the final frontier, and Star Trek finally gets the Summer Pops treatment! If you’re shut out of Comic-Con on Saturday night, or just love Star Trek, come down to the Embarcadero for a wide screen showing of the highly successful J. J. Abrams 2009 Star Trek film reboot featuring the San Diego Symphony performing the soundtrack LIVE, conducted by David Newman (composer of Joss Whedon’s cult hit Serenity.) Special appearance by composer Michael Giacchino!

Special Post-Screening “Meet and Greet” in the Summer Pops VIP Area with Star Trek (2009) soundtrack composer Michael Giacchino are available HERE for $75! Admissions are limited!

The contest will end on Thursday May 15 at midnight. Just follow the simple instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. There are multiple ways to enter. You can Like/Follow us and the San Diego Symphony on Twitter and Facebook, or you can tweet a message about the giveaway, which you can come back and do daily until the contest close for extra entries to win!

The hardest thing about this contest will be, with such a stellar line up of concerts for the weekend, which one will you choose?

Thanks to the good folks at the San Diego Symphony. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

