KUGOMPO CITY- The streets of Quigney will come alive with music, food, fashion and creativity when House 87 hosts its first-ever Winter Market on 27th June marking the start of a new seasonal cultural programme aimed at boosting local enterprise and community engagement.
The event forms part of the Quigney Culture Festival platform and will be followed by Spring and Summer Markets as organisers work towards establishing a year-round cultural calendar for Buffalo City.
House 87 founder and Chief Executive Thando Thomas said the Winter Market is rooted in the belief that culture can be a powerful driver of both social cohesion and economic growth.
“The core narrative of this year’s Winter Market is that culture has the power to bring people together while creating meaningful economic opportunities,” Thomas said.
Building on the momentum of the Quigney Culture Festival and a series of cultural activations hosted since House 87 opened its doors in 2022, this year’s edition introduces several new elements.
A partnership with Kids Love Jazz will place a stronger emphasis on youth participation and intergenerational engagement, while expanded collaborations with community institutions will see more public spaces and streets around House 87 activated for the event.
“This is the first time we are hosting the Winter Market as part of a seasonal programme,” Thomas said. “The integration of multiple platforms and partners into a single experience makes the 2026 edition particularly exciting.”
In addition organisers say visitors can expect an authentically KuGompo experience, with a programme featuring live jazz performances, jazz DJs, creative entrepreneurs, local food vendors, fashion showcases, art installations and family-friendly activities.
The streets surrounding House 87 will be transformed into an open-air cultural hub through market stalls and community-led creative interventions.
The venue’s proximity to the beachfront and Quigney’s growing cultural identity are expected to provide a unique setting for the event.
Thomas said the market is expected to attract a broad audience, including families, young people, music enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, artists, local residents and visitors from across Buffalo City and beyond.
Tickets are available through FIXR. A limited number of Early Bird tickets are selling for R200, while General Admission tickets will cost R300 once the discounted allocation is sold out.
Organisers have encouraged residents to secure tickets early due to anticipated demand, particularly following the collaboration with Kids Love Jazz.
For House 87, the Winter Market represents more than a single event. It is part of a broader vision to use culture as a catalyst for economic opportunity, tourism development and community building across the Eastern Cape.The Winter Market takes place on Saturday, 27th June , in Quigney, KuGompo City.
Photograph: Supplied
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