Halloween 2009 Event Details
Consider this page as a flyer that's being circulated around Yuriba. That means that it's not very editable, but there is a space at the bottom for people to add information on after-parties or the like. You may edit that part of this page to inform others of any after-parties you have planned. Discussion of potential afterparties (as well as discussion of the event in general, when appropriate) may also be made on the +Public channel.
Note that this year all times are PST, as PST is now the same as MUSH time (as opposed to last year, when MUSH time was CST). Additionally, in the US DST begins at 1 AM local time on Sunday, November the 1st, this year, so this may lead to some confusion, especially for international players. Any questions or comments should be paged or @mailed to Abryn in-game.
The time has come for the seventh annual Yuriban Halloween Festival. This will be Tanaku's third consecutive year to organize the Halloween event, and her fifth year to run it overall. This year Tanaku will be assisted by Abryn, who will be the primary person responsible for managing the event the day of.
As always, the annual Halloween costume contest is the main event, and prizes for the winners of this are likely to be more intesting (and dispensed rather more promptly) than they were last year. Since the announcement for the event comes so late this year, late entries for some categories will be accepted. Trick-or-treating will also make yet another return. The nature of the festivities the night of remains a mystery, but the usual sorts of entertainment (and then some!) are to be expected. Most of the event will be held in the Sombreuil Community Center, as is traditional.
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Annual Yuriban Costume Contest
Categories for this year
Categories to see a return this year will include some of the more interesting or successful categories of years past.
- Traditional/Worldy - This category returns from Halloween 2005 and Halloween 2008, perhaps because it is one of the organizer's favorites. The winner here will need to be wearing a costume that is well-conceived and well put together in its details, and yet which is also very stereotypically Halloween-y in terms of its basis. Both aspects are important. Note that this does not necessarily require spookiness.
- Traditional/Native - Go native! Get into the spirit of the island! This category returns from 2005, and is sure to please those in tune with the island's history and mythos. Entries were sparse in this category in the past, so a well-made costume in this category may have a higher chance of winning.
- Funniest - This category sees a return from 2003 and 2006. Judging will be done by a panel of sorts, so something that appeals to the island's collective sense of humour may be most successful. Bring some cheer to the festivities with these amusing costumes.
- Best Overall - Winners of other categories will also be eligible for this prize, but it usually ends up going to someone different, whose outfit had broader appeal; if one obtained one's costume before the categories were announced, this may be one's best hope.
Elligibility and Prizes
There are several ways to be elligible for the costume contest this year. For the Best Overall prize, you must attend the event in costume to be elligible, and the more people that see you in costume, the more likely you will be to win.
The easiest way to be elligible for the other prizes is also to show up at the event in costume. Pixies are stationed in the community center's central area, near the apple vendor, and as long as you pass through this at some point between 2 PM and midnight on the 31st, they will record your likeness. Note that it's important to have a costume ready from the very beginning - only the first outfit that you are seen in will be recorded.
If you have forgotten to don costume promptly and have had the improper likeness taken down by the pixies, you will have to contact Abryn or Tanaku to have your costume entered for consideration for these three prizes. If your outfit includes relevant views or you are carrying things that are part of your outfit, you will likewise need to contact one of the organizers to make sure they are taken into account. If you wish to enter a puppet instead of coming in costume yourself, you would also need to contact us for this.
Additionally, since the contest was announced so late this year, late entries for all prizes except for the Best Overall prize may be made by contacting Abryn or Tanaku, so long as they are made before midnight on Wednesday, the 4th of November. This will also give those who might not normally get a chance to participate due to their schedules a chance to enter the contest.
There are no alt restrictions on contest entries.
The contest's prizes will be announced during the evening of the 5th of November, to further build anticipation for the awards ceremony. They're always interesting and sometimes very unique, so see if you can win!
Judging information
The best overall prize will be decided by a popular vote amongst Yuriba's denizens, as it has been at times in recent years. Voting will be by ballot cast into the voting box in the Main Ballroom. Voting will open starting at 11 PM MUSH time on the 31st, and will close at midnight MUSH time on the 1st of November. Voting for yourself is discouraged, and only one vote per player (not per alt) will be allowed.
Judges for the other categories have been determined, but will remain a secret until after all winners have been announced. Judges will not be elligible to win in their own categories. Judging for these categories will begin as soon as the entries have been compiled, and will be completed on or before Saturday, the 7th of November. On this day at 1 PM, there will be an awards ceremony during which all prizes will be handed out. Attendance at the ceremony is encouraged, but not required to win.
Trick-or-Treating Contest
Trick-or-Treating will take the same format that it did last year, though some of the locations have changed, and the rewards have been tweaked slightly. This is the third consecutive year that Trick-or-Treating has been offered.
Starting from either the early morning or late morning of the 31st, you will be able to get a special trick-or-treat bag from the vendor that will be located in the village square, and you must then use it to go around collecting candy and other treats from various predesignated spots. Once you have visited every locale, you will receive a special certificate for your completion of this year's Trick-or-Treating that will be uniquely designed for this year. Trick-or-Treating will be able to be completed until midnight on the 1st of November, to make sure everyone has ample time to participate.
While there will be no pre-event party this year, all those who have completed their Trick-or-Treating by the designated time will be entered into a drawing to win an additional rare or unique prize. The nature of this prize will be announced with the other prizes, and the drawing for it will be held during the awards ceremony. Attendance at the ceremony is encouraged, but not required to win.
Note that Trick-or-Treating is not quite like a scavenger hunt; locations will be described somewhat specifically instead of merely vaguely hinted at, and must then simply be found. This is not likely to be terribly difficult in most cases, so one should have ample time to enjoy one's Trick-or-Treating even before the main event begins.
Event Itinerary
All dates are on October 31st unless otherwise noted.
- ~ early morning or morning of the 31st until midnight on the 1st: Trick-or-Treating will be available and can be completed for a unique Certificate of Accomplishment and an automatic entry to win a rare/unique prize.
- 2 PM: Doors to the main event open; be sure you're already in costume. Event will continue until ~ midnight, though it may be concluded earlier. Costumed socializing at one of the most intimate social occasions of the year, with who knows what surprises in store.
- 11 PM: Voting begins for the costume contest's overall prize in the Main Ballroom. Voting will be allowed to continue until midnight of the 1st to make sure everyone gets a chance to vote, even if they have to leave early.
- After midnight: Afterparties, if held, are recommended to begin at this time.
- Midnight, November 4th: Costume contest will be closed to new entries.
- Night of November 5th: All prizes (but not winners) will be announced.
- Saturday, November 7th, 1 PM: Awards ceremony for costume contest and prize drawing for Trick-or-Treating. All prizes handed out at this time.
Afterparties
Traditionally, some Yuribans also hold afterparties of various sorts; ideally these shouldn't be scheduled until midnight or so to avoid potential scheduling conflicts. If yours is scheduled for that time and things at the main event are winding down before then, folks can always wander over earlier. If you'd like to announce your afterparty, feel free to add it in the space provided below. Be sure to include projected time, location, and any other relevant or interesting details. You may also discuss or plan your party on the +Public channel.
Individual Afterparties
Please edit this space! Add your afterparties here, as per the above instructions, and describe in as much detail as you would like.