Halloween 2008 Event Details
OOC NOTE: Consider this page as a flyer that's being circulated around Yuriba. That means that it's not very editable (and written partly from a first-person perspective, as it happens; this is intentional) 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 CST, as CST is now the same as MUSH time. Additionally, international players should remember that due to changes in US law, daylight savings time in the US extends for one week longer than it did in 2006 or previously (until November); therefore, times may be off an hour from what you would normally expect them to be. Any questions or comments should be paged or @mailed to Tanaku in-game.
The time has come for the sixth annual Yuriban Halloween Festival. In the past, this has been an annual one-day-only event that falls on the 31st of October each year; this year, a small portion of the event will also take place on the first of November, making the festival nominally a two-day event. As is often the case, I, Tanaku, will be the event's organizer.
This will be my second consecutive year to organize the Halloween event, and my fourth year to run it overall. I believe the experiences of years past have suggested ways that the event might be optimized, and I hope this year will prove to be the most efficiciently run in some regards (and hence, perhaps, the most fun) that we've had thus far.
As with last year's Halloween event, there will be many unusual prizes. While the costume competition will remain the main event this year as is typical, much other entertainment is to be had as well. Trick-or-Treating and the pre-event party see a return, and scary storytelling will once again be featured, but it will be better-moderated. None know what other surprises the evening may hold, but those in appropriate attire may be most likely to discover. Most of the event will be held in the Sombreuil Community Center, as is traditional.
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Annual Yuriban Costume Contest
Firstly, let's rehash what's always one of the most anticipated announcements made about this event: The annual costume contest's categories!
Categories for this year
In previous years, an effort was often made to make the costume contest's categories uniquely different from those in all years previous. This year, instead I've chosen some of the most successful or appealing categories from events past.
- Traditional/Worldy - This category returns from Halloween 2005. 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.
- Cutest - This category seems like a natural for Yuriba; as such, it should not be astonishing that this will be not the second but the third year our costume contest has featured it (the others were 2005 and 2006). Be cute! Not too hard, right?
- Most Realistic - This quirky category was a surprise hit, and returns from way back in 2003. Humorous entries are likely, but not the only sort which will be elligible for this prize; interpreting the precise meaning of this category will be an exercise left to the maskers.
- 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
In order to be elligible to win the costume contest, one must have one's likeness recorded at either the pre-event party or the event proper - this means one must visit the Community Center at some point between 6 PM and midnight. In particular one should be sure to pass through the Corridor - it is there that many costumed pixies may be seen flitting about throughout the evening, and it is these who have been charged with noting what each is wearing, so that magical etchings may be made. Thusly, nothing more than one's presence (in costume) is required to win the contest.
The contest's prizes won't be announced until they're being handed out, but they're always interesting and sometimes very unique, so see if you can win! Note that despite the lack of updates to certain documents, last year's prizes were considered by many no less exceptional than those in previous years.
Judging information
Certain categories this year will be judged by me, certain categories this year will be judged by individuals I have selected, and certain categories this year will be judged by popular vote.
Any I recruit to judge will be immortalized as having been one of the judges in the memories of Yuriba's citizenry; however, judges will be recruited anonymously during the event and will be known neither to other judges nor to non-judges until the Awards Ceremony. Participating in the contest will not necessarily disqualify you from being a judge this year, and being a judge this year will not necessarily disqualify you from participating in the contest; a unique system will be used to maintain fairness.
A further mechanism whereby fairness will be increased this year is that images of all those who come in costume will be taken down, and judges (and the general public) will have a full day to review these at their leisure before making any selections; this will be the first time that such records have been taken and made available for general consumption in many years, and these will be available even after the first, recorded for posterity. This provides even more incentive to come in costume - be a part of Yuriba's history!
Trick-or-Treating Contest
Many doubtless remember the trick-or-treating last year, and trick-or-treating will be offered again this year in a similar format. If memory serves, this will be the first time it has been offered fully in consecutive years, though it has been offered in one form or another on at least 3 prior occasions.
One will receive a special trick-or-treat bag, and must then use it to go around collecting candy and other treats from various predesignated spots. Once one had visited every locale, as was true last year, one will find oneself able to enter the community center early and attend a pre-event party. (Any vagrants will be kicked out and the building will be locked up tight on midnight of the 30th.)
No significant parts of the celebration will be held during this window of time, so those who don't manage to or choose not to complete their trick-or-treating before the deadline won't be missing out on anything major. However, one prize will be given out to a randomly-selected person who successfully completes their trick-or-treating and attends the pre-event party, even if only briefly. If one still wishes to complete one's trick-or-treating after the deadline has passed, one will still be able to, as the trick-or-treating locations won't be removed until 24 hours after they've been put into place. Completing one's trick-or-treating late won't make one eligible for the pre-event party prize, but one will still receive a ticket for entry to that party, which might be kept as an award, of sorts - this will be similar to but distinctly different from last year's award, in this regard.
Note that this contest is not the same as 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 leisurely enjoy one's trick-or-treating and still make some of the pre-event party if one gets an early start.
Area Decorating (optional)
Last year, the area decorating contest was hardly a resounding success, so the contest part of the idea will be scrapped to see if more interest can be drummed up in our denizens if it is a more casual thing, and so that they may still have a chance to play host to our Trick-or-Treaters, if they wish. All who pledge to have their areas decorated and accomplish this before 1 PM on the 31st of October will have their areas made into destinations for Trick-or-Treating. Note that you don't have to be present for the Trick-or-Treating (though you may be, and I quite encourage people to stick around and hand out treats); all that's required is that your area be open and decorated properly in advance. Since it's not a contest, you also don't need to worry about trying to win - all I need to see is that you've made an effort to deck out at least one room of your area appropriately.
OOC Rules and Guidelines
- The area must be gridded. Portaled or unlinked areas won't be accepted for this contest.
- Whichever room Trick-or-Treaters are intended to go to must be unlocked and publically accessible. Further, no rooms entered on the way to it may be behind any trick/secret/DARK exits.
- You can decorate one room of your area, several rooms of your area, or your entire area. Simply give me the DBREF# of the room you wish for the Trick-or-Treating to occur in in your page.
- Only one area may be entered per alt, but one area may be entered for each alt you have.
- Your area can be decorated however you would like (within the MUSH's rules); Halloween, Samhain, or otherwise; actually creepy, amusingly spooky, or simply fun - whatever you wish to try.
- It's preferred but not required that areas entered in the contest use a room multi-descer, that way they can be set to more easily use these descriptions in the future - and you can be on the Trick-or-Treating route, next year.
Event Itinerary
All dates are on October 31st unless otherwise noted.
- 12 AM: Community center will be emptied and locked until the event starts.
- Until 1 PM: Submissions of appropriately-decorated areas to be added to this year's Trick-or-Treating route are accepted; they must be properly decorated by this time.
- 4 PM on October 31st until just before the Awards Ceremony on November 1st: Trick-or-treating will be available and can be completed to gain entrance to the pre-event party and receive a unique Certificate of Accomplishment item.
- 6 PM to 7:30 PM: Pre-event party will be held in the community center. Party only open to those that have completed trick-or-treating; those that arrive before 5 will have a chance to win a prize.
- 7:30 PM: Pre-event party ends. Doors open for the main event; completing trick-or-treating no longer required to enter and no longer elligible to win pre-event party prize.
- 7:40 PM: Pre-event party prize will be handed out.
- 8 PM to 10 PM: Spooky storytelling; try to think up your stories in advance of the event. Note that a moderation system of some sort will be in place this year.
- 10 PM to 12 AM on November 1st: Costumed socializing, dancing, meet and greet. One of the most intimate social occasions of the year.
- After midnight: Afterparties, if held, are recommended to begin at this time.
- 11 PM on November 1st: Start of the Awards Ceremony, where costume contest winners will be announced and prizes will be handed out. Competitors aren't required to be present to win, but should try to be.
Other things will also be going on throughout the evening. There will be refreshments and music, and perhaps other spooky surprises and unannounced things.
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
Come by Leona's Bar and Girl to hang out, drink beer, and enjoy some spooky sexy fun!
Please edit this space! Add your afterparties here, as per the above instructions, and describe in as much detail as you would like.