Unlike Geoff and Gavin who were too busy eating ghost peppers or lying in bed sick, I actually went to Geek Fest on Saturday. They had about 1500 RSVPs on their Facebook event, which made Geoff think tens of people might actually be there. Well, there were certainly many many tens!
Despite the cold front blowing through Joburg on Saturday, tons of geeks came out in force to Bedfordview. People were selling board games, toys and figurines, as well as swords, funky contact lenses and zombie make-up. That said, I think the guys who made the most money were the ones selling pizza in a cone and coffee. Yeah, the longest line all day was for coffee.
The day featured all kinds of events – pet cosplay, cosplay competition, and even some swordplay/LARP demonstrations. There was meant to be a robot war, but somehow that didn’t seem to happen… or at least, it didn’t happen within two hours of when it was supposed to, by which time I had left. With a sunburn. Yup, it was so cold, so I stood in the sun the whole day and now have a creepy t-shirt sunburn.
It was great to see people come out and support this kind of event – instead of complaining that cool things never happen in SA, the Joburg geeks descended and made it an awesome event. Some cosplay was better than others – my personal favourite was the doggy cosplay – but the effort made was fantastic! Anyone stay for the Star Wars movie marathon?
Check out my awesomely bad photography skills. Also, it’s not my fault they did the cosplay in the shade while we had to stand in the sun.
Last Updated: September 2, 2013
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
September 2, 2013 at 13:33
Combat? Hehe.
Why no pictawrs of the stalls?
Her Highness the Hipster
September 2, 2013 at 13:50
because i was too busy giving them my money to take pictures 🙂
JHN
September 2, 2013 at 13:58
I spent most of my money on beer and the rest on some of the cool art. Didnt buy a pizza cone, im not adventurous enough for that.
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:19
Get any cool stuff?
Her Highness the Hipster
September 2, 2013 at 14:20
epic board game that’s a strange mix between setllers of catan and risk. 🙂 also some fall back cosplay options
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:22
Damn I never even played Risk…. All I played was Magic then I gave up and felt pitty on those who still played… Forgive me Settlers or catan is like asking me to understand Zulu never heard of it lol
Admiral Chief Assassin of King
September 2, 2013 at 14:25
Oh? what is original and what is fallback?
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 2, 2013 at 14:28
For the Mac lover…
Skyblue
September 2, 2013 at 15:38
I see your Mac lover and raise you a real Mac Lover.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 2, 2013 at 15:49
Why couldn’t they have taken that pic on a cold day?
Skyblue
September 2, 2013 at 15:56
It’s scary enough and he already looks up to the tas… um, pretty excited
Her Highness the Hipster
September 2, 2013 at 14:32
original, haruhi suzumiya 🙂 but requires lots of sewing… i’m a gamer not a craftswoman 🙁
Trebzz
September 2, 2013 at 13:46
I heard people complain about this event so glad I didn’t bother going.
JHN
September 2, 2013 at 13:56
Well then never complain about events not happening. Because unless you support the small ones the big ones wont happen.
Sargon
September 2, 2013 at 14:03
South Africans complaining? Lol. Now there is something new. 😉
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
September 2, 2013 at 16:42
You are complaining about people complaining.
Umar Final Fantasy 15 Hopeful
September 2, 2013 at 13:47
Holy Crap Inoue has been eating too many gatsbys there lol !!!
Love the Hatsune Miku cosplay. And I see one of my favorite characters being cosplayed too..Mukuro Rokudo!!!!
Warren K Smith
September 2, 2013 at 13:49
I got sunburn too!
Didn’t stay for the Star Wars marathon either. 5 hours was plenty!
And I picked up a sweet talking Sheldon bobble-head.
Matthew Holliday
September 2, 2013 at 13:50
Bat Dog: great dog.
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 13:50
How did they survive in the sun?
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
September 2, 2013 at 14:06
XDXDXD
ElNicko
September 2, 2013 at 14:01
Honestly , this was a great turn out to something that was quite poor.
I mainly went for 2 things – Old Magic Cards and Old Comics – neither of which were really present.
Charging R50 was a hell of a lot for what was essentially a geek-themed fleamarket , Even Icon doesnt charge that much for the Whole Weekend.
Big ups to the Cosplayers , must have been rather frosty with the little warm gear they had on.
JHN
September 2, 2013 at 14:04
Agreed but its important that we support these events in order for them to grow, and become something great.
ElNicko
September 2, 2013 at 14:07
I fully agree with you there mate. I could have stayed in bed on saturday but I chose to support these guys and see if i could pick up any bargains on the Comic/MTG front, but alas there were none.
Seriously wished Outerlimits brought more stuff along ( they were the only ones selling comics that I saw)
RinceThisNintypoo
September 2, 2013 at 14:09
Zoe? Easy ghost peppers! Shit everyone, she’s come down with the dreaded ANN7 plague! Gahhhhh!
ElNicko
September 2, 2013 at 14:10
is there a cure for that ??
JHN
September 2, 2013 at 14:11
Nope have to be put down.
RinceThisNintypoo
September 2, 2013 at 14:11
Yes, a bullet 0-O
Her Highness the Hipster
September 2, 2013 at 14:14
*facepalm*
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:15
its okay rather make a typo than be and wanna kill my boss today who prefers watching music videos than working….
Admiral Chief Assassin of King
September 2, 2013 at 14:16
Eish…So much of eish there
RinceThisNintypoo
September 2, 2013 at 14:11
This is pretty damn awesome. I know why these sort of events never happen in the Mother City, it’s cus people would pitch up 9 months later…
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 14:12
Hell, they still need to finish building the mountain.
RinceThisNintypoo
September 2, 2013 at 14:13
Cape Town has a mountain? 0-O
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 14:17
Half a mountain
Jonah Cash
September 2, 2013 at 14:18
The Lego’s are finished… We are still waiting for the next shipment… M’kay???
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 14:20
On which ship? Dromedaris, Reijger or Goede Hoop. Or all three 😉
Admiral Chief Assassin of King
September 2, 2013 at 14:20
Nope, you break them down for parts to finish building
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:18
someone lost control big time I mean really is half… but only in south africa I guess
Admiral Chief Assassin of King
September 2, 2013 at 14:19
The missus took the other half in the settlement
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 2, 2013 at 14:15
lol – I think that’s the best mountain-related comment I’ve ever heard.
Hammersteyn
September 2, 2013 at 14:18
It’s rather old but still a classic ^^
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 2, 2013 at 14:22
Never heard it before. I usually get the “So how’s the mountain?” crack at least once when I’m passing through JHB.
Admiral Chief Assassin of King
September 2, 2013 at 14:17
The lulz is sooo much with this comment
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:17
thats why its called slaapstad 🙂
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 2, 2013 at 14:19
You could just go to an art or photo exhibition. I’ve seen some people there who I assume are cosplaying, but I don’t recognise the characters.
Admiral Chief Assassin of King
September 2, 2013 at 14:19
HAHAHAHA
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:20
some dont quite fit the look if you know what I mean…
Jonah Cash
September 2, 2013 at 14:12
Why is there so many Geek Chicks???? And where the hell were they when I was growing up!!!!????
ElNicko
September 2, 2013 at 14:12
because its the ‘In thing’ these days unfortunately
Jonah Cash
September 2, 2013 at 14:13
But then I want a rerun of my youth!!! NOW!!!! Hahaha
ElNicko
September 2, 2013 at 14:15
To the Time-Machine!! !!
Jonah Cash
September 2, 2013 at 14:16
I’ll bring the gel, ps1, black school shoes, and a pamphlet explaining rainbow parties 0_O
Admiral Chief Assassin of King
September 2, 2013 at 14:17
XD
ElNicko
September 2, 2013 at 14:18
dont forget a 6pack of Hooch , (that was a thing back in the day right ??) its a long trip.
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:19
bacardi breeza !
ElNicko
September 2, 2013 at 14:22
those things were dangerously sweet………so glad I learnt about the Beauty of Beer and Whiskey
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:23
I remember when a brandy and coke still tasted kak to me 🙂 now its like 4 shots brandy rest coke.
ElNicko
September 2, 2013 at 14:34
so you mean a 4-finger special……namely 4 vertical fingers of brandy and 4 horizontal fingers of coke…..
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:27
wtf is a rainbow party?
Jonah Cash
September 2, 2013 at 14:32
That is why I am bringing the pamphlet along!!! I only heard about them, never lucky enough to be there for one!!
It goes like this: girls put different colour lip products on and then go into a room with a boy…. the boy who has the most amount of colours around his dingeling wins the rainbow party…. See… Pamphlet!!!
Her Highness the Hipster
September 2, 2013 at 14:33
O_O
Jonah Cash
September 2, 2013 at 14:35
I thought you might end up with wide eyes after that one!!! Hey apparently it was a thing, but I never made it to those parties!!! Hahahaha
Her Highness the Hipster
September 2, 2013 at 14:41
also, lipstick doesn’t last that long… 😉
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:46
Im too afraid to think about the technical aspect. and as Zoe said lipstick doesnt last that long…. I wouldnt know but I guess women do lol. disturbing thought if rainbow parties really did exist…
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:14
some of those chicks were dodgy though
Jonah Cash
September 2, 2013 at 14:15
I don’t care, there weren’t even dodgy geek chicks back in my day!!! That would have been a step up…. (Would still avoid them, but also adored them…. from a far!!!)
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:16
I know the feeling man… I know the feeling Banging chicks in cosplay ahhh a guy can dream
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
September 2, 2013 at 14:26
The guys who co-played the Joker and Harley gets my thumbs up! Awesome work!
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:27
yes the nice one. the other couple X_x
Jonah Cash
September 2, 2013 at 14:29
Hey!! Why did you put your Splinter Cell review up on Friday???? I lost my whole weekend!!! I have only played 3 parts of the main story! The 4E missions is awesome…. but still where the hell did the weekend go… woke up this morning thinking it’s Sunday till the wife kicked my out of bed!!
TiMsTeR1033
September 2, 2013 at 14:30
she is a good wife!
fred
September 2, 2013 at 15:01
Batdog and Robin wins it for me.
Paul Fouche
September 2, 2013 at 15:47
hahahaha i know the guy in the first pic ROFL small world 🙂 cool pics
FoxHoundR - NO LONGER TROLLING
September 2, 2013 at 16:55
Love the CoD cosplay
Yateen Dayaram
September 3, 2013 at 13:41
Adventure Time Finn cosplay! And Saeko Bushujima from HOTD cosplay! <3 <3