From Thursday, July 24 through Saturday, July 26, HBO Max transformed Nova nightclub in the Gaslamp into Peacemaker’s wild alternate dimension with Peacefest, a full-throttle, 80’s glam rock bar experience that — in my opinion — delivered the best offsite of the entire weekend.

This wasn’t just an activation — it was a full-blown party, complete with live music, themed drinks, and a rockin’ good time.

We entered Peacefest through the “glowing Quantum Unfolding Chamber”, instantly transported into Peacemaker’s world. Inside, there was something to discover at every turn: the “Peacecycle” vehicle from Season 2, interactive character-themed booths like Adebayo’s Hero Test Photo Booth (what was your superhero style?) and Economos’ Ops Mortal Kombat gaming station, and an open bar that kept the party energy high all weekend long.

For a true “wow” moment, select fans were taken to the rooftop to meet Peacemaker’s sidekick Eagly (which in this case was an eagle from Dollywood’s eagle sanctuary). Though the live animal’s appearances were limited due to it being, well, a live animal, those who made it to the rooftop for that experience walked away with one of the coolest interactions of the con.

But the true highlight of Peacefest was, of course, the music. A rotating lineup of live bands kept Peacefest rocking all weekend long (including The Mighty Crabjoys fresh off Superman) that turned the nightclub into a high-energy, crowd-singing party, rocking out to 80’s glam rock. Of course, the theme song from the first season, the Wig Wams’ “Do Ya Wanna Taste It?” was on the setlist.

Between sets, fans could grab a drink at Harcourt’s KO Corner Bar (open bar!) or dive into the merch at Vigilante’s Hero S*** Shop, which featured shirts and exclusives from Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, DC Shop, McFarlane Toys, Sideshow, and Upper Deck. While the merch was for sale rather than free, the lines were certainly shorter than across the Gaslamp at the Convention Center — making it an easy way to score a souvenir from the experience without losing half your day.

Peacefest also nailed the details. The photo ops were clever and creative, and the swag (including that coveted Peacemaker helmet) made the experience feel like a true reward for fans who made the trek (and survived the reservation experience). And the fact that the experience ran a full 45 minutes — practically a marathon in San Diego Comic-Con offsite terms — meant that every guest got time to really enjoy the vibe, take it all in, and soak up the atmosphere without being rushed through.

And for a few lucky fans throughout the weekend, the experience was extended, with invites to the Saturday night VIP party, where James Gunn and star John Cena made appearances, along with musical performances from Foxy Shazam and Steel Panther. We met tons of real attendees at the party who had been extended an invite during a Peacemaker session earlier in the week — proving that HBO Max really did care about giving fans the best experience possible this week.

Peacefest was pure fun — a wild, immersive, high-energy celebration that left us very impressed. To quote someone in my group as we were leaving, “This [was] the best day of my life!”