Side Quest Socials: Connect with Cape Town’s Geek Culture & Community

A new quarterly event for Cape Town’s creative underground, Side Quest Socials invites geeks, nerds, and pop culture enthusiasts to gather for a community event designed just for them. It’s a chance to browse handmade art, collectables, and accessories inspired by fan-favourite franchises, participate in themed activities, and connect with their peers.

With a curated vendor market, live art demonstrations and exhibitions, workshops, and plenty of opportunities for socialising, there’s lots to do at Side Quest Socials. Here’s everything attendees should know.

What’s on at Side Quest Socials

The event is hosted by Geek Culture South Africa, an umbrella organisation dedicated to giving a platform to the country’s local talent and inviting the nerd community to support their work. With a new edition every couple of months, it’s also an important space for those interested in niche fandoms to meet and get to know one another regularly.

Upon entering the nerd sanctuary, everyone is given a quest card with a bunch of activities for attendees to check off. No two cards are exactly the same, giving all visitors their own little adventure to go on.

One of the main attractions is undoubtedly the vendor market, where a curated list of talented makers sell a wide range of products inspired by a variety of franchises. With little overlap between tables, the market ensures each creative gets their own spotlight, from fan art sketchers to nerd accessory producers and collectable hand-crafters. The focus is on promoting local creatives that are truly passionate about their work, rather than big brands that already get enough attention – no AI slop or cheap Temu stock.

Guests can rest assured knowing there are food vendors in attendance, from coffee for the caffeine-needy to gourmet dishes for the geek foodies out there.

There is also a Community Board, allowing anyone and everyone to request, promote, or ask for something they need. Whether it’s a fourth member for a D&D campaign or a potential business buddy in a niche market, the Community Board gives participants a low-pressure way of meeting new people and the opportunity to help one another.

The Trading Corner is for Magic, Pokémon, and comics traders to meet and deal with each other, with sign-ups making it easy for everyone to know who’s there, what they have, and what they want. There’s a chill space nearby for collectors and traders to hang out and play a few games with each other – no bookings needed.

Roll & Reveal Workshop

This unique activity invites amateur and professional artists to be part of something bigger and receive a truly exclusive product to take home.

Each participant rolls a die five times, with each number corresponding to a particular attribute for a newly-created creature, from the body shape to the size and special ability. Then, with acrylic paint markers and colour pencils, they create their character on black cardstock, making something entirely unique in a social, constraint-based drawing exercise.

All 54 drawings from each session are then collected, processed, and printed into a standard deck of cards with its own branding and container box. Everyone’s creativity and imagination are on full display, with every participant receiving an identical copy of the finished deck alongside their own design, delivered to their nearest Pudo locker.

Every workshop ticket includes access to the activity, their very own printed deck and its delivery, and general access to the Side Quest Social event.

Cost: R450 per person. Book now on the website

When: 5 September 2026 | 10am – 12pm (1st session) | 12.30pm – 2.30pm (2nd session) | 3pm – 5pm (3rd session)

Art Demonstration & Exhibition

The featured artist for this edition of Side Quest Socials is Natasha Saaiman, a digital illustrator whose dark and twisted work draws from gothic folklore, horror, and classic oil paintings. With this quarter’s event having a Lovecraftian theme, Natasha’s art and its unsettling, bloody imagery are fitting.

On the day, she participates in a gamified sketch session, with attendees able to bring prompts for her to incorporate into an exclusive artwork produced live. Visitors can watch the piece take shape throughout the day through the Live Sketch Window, and attend her talk afterwards to learn more about her work, style, and craft. Her work is available for viewing on Instagram.

Next to Natasha’s work is a blank wall, and every attending artist, from the newest amateur to the most skilled professional, is invited to contribute their work to the community art section. The theme remains steeped in folklore and legend, with everyone encouraged to bring something unsettling and monstrous. All mediums are welcome (illustrations, sculptures, painted pieces, etc.), and it’s a good place to start for artists who are new to showing off their work. More information is available on the website.

How to book tickets

Side Quest Socials invites Cape Town’s pop culture fandom and lesser-known creatives to promote their work and get to know their community in a social, people-first environment.

Cost: R30 per adult | Free for kids under 10. Book now on the website or pay at the door.