All Hallows’ Eve in Second Life

Witch and ghost make merry on this last of dear October’s days.

Anonymous

Leaves are turning color and falling from the trees in both Second Life (SL) and Real Life (RL).

The days are getting noticeably shorter and there’s a crispness in the air that wasn’t there last week.

Yes, autumn has arrived!

With its arrival comes the unofficial start of end-of-year Holiday season – Halloween!

I know, I know. Halloween isn’t for another month! (Significant Other sighs resignedly. Significant Other has never gotten used to how I play fast and loose with the calendar.) Last Halloween seems like only yesterday.

My good SL friend and Mayor of Mieville, Perryn Peterson has reached out and informed me that the Mieville Halloween Village is ready for a tour.

While we both realize it’s early (I don’t know about Perry but I haven’t even bought candy for the trick or treaters yet.) we decide to start the publicity campaign now to give everyone plenty of time to come and see the spectacle that Perryn and his team have prepared for everyone.

We meet at the Village to begin our tour.

When I first see Perryn, I assume he’s getting into the swing of things early by wearing his lederhosen and cap. (Nice legs BTW!) But as it turns out, he’s doing double duty as the Biermeister at the Mieville Oktoberfest this evening. (I guess things aren’t all that easy when you’re the Mayor.)

Perryn begins by explaining to me that there are six themed areas in the Halloween Village.

The first is the Pumpkin Patch and that’s where we’re standing. There are a lot of pumpkins and let’s just say that orange is the predominant color.

Here, visitors can either smash pumpkins or carve their own jack o’lanterns. Not to worry about getting carried away, they grow back almost immediately.

Moving along, we come to the next area, Witches’ Woods. Leaves fall around us adding to the autumn mood.

Guess what the theme is here?

Yep, you guessed it. Witches! (Significant Other accuses me of sometimes pandering to my audience.) There are enough cauldrons and witches about to satisfy even Hansel and Gretel.

Up next is Skellytown. (We’re playing to a lot of stereotypes here I know but it’s all done with the best possible taste in the most macabre way possible.)

As we walk through these theme areas, I notice the shops and wagons of the participating merchants. Their merchandise is appropriate for Halloween and is of the highest quality. Many will be offering free gifts to visitors. Perryn works continually to have the best designers and creators at his events.

Our fourth stop is Vampyreville. None of our fanged friends are about when we arrive but there is an imposing castle which would make the Old Impaler himself proud. Perryn points out that the Halloween dances will be taking place on its rooftop.

The Village amusement park with rides is located in Vampyreville. One ride, a pumpkin coach reminded of a childhood ride that I once too. (Contrary to rumors started by my mother and which Significant Other continues to spread, I did have a childhood.)

Next up is Ghostly Gulch where graveyards and ghosts reside. A few of the latter have even set up a small barber shop quartet. Be careful around some of the graves because they have a nasty habit of reaching up and grabbing the unsuspecting. (Perryn finds this very amusing.)

Here is also the memorial to The Master. The grave of Edgar Allan Poe lies to one side for those of us who reread regularly his works to drop by and remember him.

Finally, Perryn and I reach the last themed area, Spyder Steppes.

Climbing the creaking old steps (Perryn has a thing for word play and puns I’ve learned over the years.) and brushing aside cobwebs we arrive at the top of a steep hill.

Here, as Perryn puts it himself, he has saved the best for last.

And, indeed he has!

For here, all free, is a treasure trove of mad scientist gear from the master herself, Aley Resident (AKA Acadia Asylum). I strongly recommend everyone who visits Mieville Halloween Village to at least stop here. Even if you’re not a collector, you must stop by to see some of the most ingenious contraptions inworld.

My tour with Perryn is over and he has to return to his biermeister duties and I have another interview to get along to. (I’m realizing that we’re both busy guys!) So, I thank him as we make our farewells and then rezz off into the Unknown.

All my impressions of the Mieville Halloween Village are favorable. After this whirlwind tour and my return trip to take pictures for this story, I’m impressed by both the scope of the sim and its detail.

Mieville festivals seem to be getting bigger and better. The Tolkien Festival earlier this year is another good example.

In lieu of the traditional Hunt with the event, there will be trick or treat doors with select merchants. Knock on the door at the appropriate time and you’ll receive a gift as a treat from the merchant. Knock at the wrong time and as a trick you may be teleported home! Wyvern Dryke

This particular sleight of hand is the handiwork of Wyvern Dryke. Wyvvy is one of the team’s most creative scripters.

This sim has lots of scares and fun but avoids the blood ‘n gore of others. (Significant Other informs me this one is preferred to some others I’ve visited in the past.)

The Village opens on October 18^th and runs until Halloween. Maybe I’ll see you there!

I strongly recommend the Mieville Halloween Village to all who want a little fun inworld during this time of the year.

Happy Halloween!

I would like to thank Perryn for his time and hospitality while meeting with me for this interview.

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.

I’ve included some pictures from my meeting with Arkad in his private offices inworld.

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Open roads and safe fires!