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A New Galaxy Is Forming — The First-Ever Seattle Black Nerd Festival Lands This May
- Sin Lasalle
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 10
This May, the stars are aligning in Seattle.
From the minds of visionary creators, culture shapers, and community builders comes something bold, necessary, and deeply overdue: the very first Seattle Black Nerd Festival (SBNF) — a multiverse of Black brilliance, imagination, and unapologetic nerdom.
Rooted in the powerful theme “Cosmic Grapevines🪐🍇”, and drawing inspiration from Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, the festival will serve as a portal to celebration, connection, and storytelling across genres and generations. Whether you're deep in cosplay culture, obsessed with indie games, leading tech innovation, or building worlds with your words—this festival is for you.
Who’s Behind It?
This inaugural event is the result of a dynamic partnership between 22owl and LANGSTON.
22owl a cultural production studio born from both legacy and the intention of legacy-building, is leading the creative direction and festival management for the inaugural Seattle Black Nerd Festival. With a foundation in storytelling and a commitment to community-rooted creativity, 22Owl brings a visionary approach to producing immersive experiences that resonate across generations. Drawing from its evolution as a studio that supports artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations in bringing bold ideas to life through video and audio production, 22Owl is shaping the narrative, tone, and feel of the festival to reflect the brilliance, innovation, and interconnectedness of Black nerd culture.
LANGSTON is Seattle’s home for Black arts and culture, born out of the historic Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. With decades of cultural impact under its belt, LANGSTON remains committed to cultivating Black brilliance through radical inclusion, artistic excellence, and community-rooted programming.
Together, we’re crafting a festival experience that honors tradition while boldly looking to the future.
What Is the Seattle Black Nerd Festival?
It’s a first-of-its-kind cultural festival that centers Black nerds of all identities, ages, and passions. It’s a gathering, an exchange, a celebration. A constellation of panels, workshops, performances, screenings, vendors, and gaming lounges — all intentionally curated to reflect the depth and range of Black nerd culture.
Guided by the metaphor of “Cosmic Grapevines,” the festival will explore how knowledge, stories, and creativity flow through our communities—extending, intertwining, and growing toward liberation.
Expect programming that spans:
Afrofuturism & Sci-Fi
Gaming & Tech Innovation
Comics & Animation
Fantasy & Tabletop Worlds
Cosplay Showcases
STEAM for Kids & Families
Black Joy, Black Futures, and all things unapologetically nerdy
Why Now? Why Seattle?
Seattle is home to a vibrant, growing Black nerd community—but until now, it’s lacked a dedicated cultural space for this energy to come together and shine. SBNF is here to change that.
In a city known for innovation, creativity, and complexity, we’re planting a flag and saying: Black nerds belong here—and we always have.
This festival is an invitation to imagine the future together—through story, technology, play, and purpose.
The Dream Team Bringing It to Life
22owl is serving as the festival's Project Manager, shaping the vision, structure, and soul of SBNF. From thematic design and programming to logistics and partnerships, the goal is to deliver an immersive experience that feels both epic and intimate.
Supporting that work is the SBNF Assistant, who’s handling the operational engine—volunteer coordination, budget tracking, vendor support, and onsite logistics. Together, this small but mighty team is bringing Cosmic Grapevines to life.
And surrounding them is an ever-growing constellation of creatives, advisors, partners, and artists who are shaping the experience in real time.
Be Part of the First Chapter
This isn’t just a one-off event—it’s the beginning of a cultural movement. A seed being planted with care, intention, and vision. Whether you're a lifelong comic fan, a coding wizard, a gamer, a filmmaker, a cosplayer, or simply curious—you belong at the Seattle Black Nerd Festival.
We’re building a space where we can imagine liberated futures, swap ideas, build community, and celebrate the richness of Black nerd culture.
So mark your calendars for May 24-25
. History is about to be made.
🪐🍇 Follow the grapevines. Find your people. Expand your universe. 🍇🪐
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