The 2013 SL Christmas Expo is underway. While the official Relay For Life Second Life 2013 events season is officially closed, the Expo is in support of RFL SL, and is being held on four regions adjacent to that of the American Cancer Society. Proceeds will be donated directly to the RFL of SL 2014 campaign.

The Expo, which runs through until December 15th, brings together merchants and entertainers from across the grid to help us prepare for the holiday season and get in the mood for Christmas as the New Year, and features a number of special events and activities.

Running alongside of the Expo is the 2013 Magic of Christmas Breedables Fair, which is being held on two regions which are linked to the Expo via the RFL Christmas Festival region, which adjoins the American Cancer Society’s HQ in Second Life.

The Expo regions are laid-out so as to be as low-lag as possible, with shops arranged around the outside of each of the four regions to form a continuous street scene with a Victorian feel to it, with cobbled road surfaces and gas lamps providing the light along the footpaths at night. There are 84 content creators with stores along the streets, each of whom has at least one or two RFL vendors selling selected items the proceeds of which go directly to RFL of SL. In addition, scattered through the Expo region are market stalls and also special RFL vendors offering a range of items, the proceeds of which also go directly to RFL of SL.

In the middle of each of the four regions are the special event areas, including a frozen lake for ice skating (free skates available for both Big ‘Uns and Tinies) the event stage, where entertainment will be provided throughout the length of the Expo, and the Expo Theatre, which will, on December 11th and 12th, be hosting a special production of Wit, Margaret Edson’s first play which, in 1999, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (see more below).

Special Events

The Expo will also feature a number of special events to raise funds for RFL. These include a silent auction and the Raffle for Life (details on both still TBA at the time of writing). Oher events include:

The Holiday of Hope Ball

In keeping with the Victorian feel of the Expo, the 4th Annual Holidays of Hope ball takes the theme of A Dickens Fantasy, and requires Victorian formal attire to be worn by guests. Featuring music by Trader Whiplash and Nuala Maracas, the ball will take place between 16:00 and 20:00 SLT on Saturday December 14th, and will feature random door prizes for guests and a holiday basket raffle as well as seasonal music and dancing. All proceeds raised during the event will go directly to RFL of SL.

2013 Hunt for the Bells

Twenty-seven golden bells have been hidden in stores around the Expo. All you have to do is follow the clues to each one; w When you find them, right-click to pay (L$10). All proceeds from the hunt will go directly to RFL.

The Quill and Qurrel Presents Wit by Margaret Edson

Wit is a powerful story about a John Donne scholar who is hospitalized for and dying of ovarian cancer which examines what makes life worth living through the exploration of the one element of existence we cannot avoid, our own mortality, while also probing the vital importance of human relationships. As Edson herself once described the play, “It is not about doctors or even about cancer. It’s about kindness, but it shows arrogance. It’s about compassion, but it shows insensitivity.”

The production will take place at the Expo Theatre on Wednesday 11th December at 14:00 SLT and again at 13:00 and 14:20 SLT on Thursday 12th December in text,, voice (via the region’s radio stream) and live action.

The RFL Xmas CD 2013

Once again, the Expo features a special Xmas CD featuring 53 seasonal songs recorded by some of SL’s top artists. The CD, coordinated and arranged by Liz Harley, can be obtained via dedicated vendors, and cost L$1000 with 100% of proceeds going to RFL. Each copy includes an in-world CD and a link for downloading track MP3s outside of SL.

Magic of Christmas Breedables Fair

Taking place across two regions, the Magic of Christmas Breedables Fair brings together the creators of the top breedables in Second Life, and also runs through until December 15th, 2013. As with the Xmas Expo, participating creators include at least one or two special RFL of SL vendors offering special items for sale to visitors, 100% of the proceeds of which go directly to RFL of SL.

In addition, the Fair will feature its own RFL of SF fund-raising events, the Breedable Auction For Life. One of the highlights of the Breedable Community’s year, the auction can raise an astonishing L$2,000,000 for RFL of SL.

Full details on the Fair can be found at the Breedables Central website.

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