Winterfest 2021 (Dec 5th-18th) Schedule

[Strawberry]

Winterfest 2021 Schedule of Events

With so much to do, we have elected to extend Winterfest from its original week-long celebration to two whole weeks, culminating with the Yule Ball on December 17th and the Duel of Swords End of Cycle Tournament on December 18th. Read on for a schedule of events.

Sunday December 5th

Grand Opening of the Christkindlmarket - Located in the Marketplace, the Christkindlmarket is a Yule Market rivaling the very best of Terran European Christmas Markets. Experience the warmth and authentic charm of an authentic holiday market with a Rhydinian twist right in the heart of Rhydin City’s market. Stroll through alleyways lined with cozy wooden huts and shop for unique, finely crafted artisan gifts and delicious treats brought to you by local, regional, and extraplanar small businesses. All the while, cheerful sounds of live holiday music from no less than six universes will fill the air while you savor the season with traditional glühwein, German biers, and traditional holiday fare from across the multiverse. (Board)

Lighting of the Yule Tree - Selected from the Great White Forest far to the north, the 55-foot white fir tree arrived just in time to be set up in the market not far from the Christkindlmarket. Sporting over 8,000 lights and 5,000 ornaments and bows, the tree will at last be lit in all of its glory shortly after sundown, signaling the beginning of Winterfest in Rhydin Cirt, and will remain lit until the holidays end. After the tree lighting countdown, guests will enjoy a one-of-a-kind fireworks show with live performances by local high school bands. (Vapor)

Monday December 6th

Wreath Making at the Solarium - Get out of the cold and step into the warmth of the Solarium. There you can find crafting tables set up for all your wreath making needs. There you can find everything from fragrant fir and spruce garland to tinsel, pine cones, winter berry sprigs, ribbons, ornaments, and even solar powered LED lights! Take your creation home when you’re done or donate it on your way out to have it sent to the Old Duelists Home to bring joy to the old fogies that live there. (Vapor)

Tuesday December 7th

Parade of Artisans Craft Auction - Are you the crafty sort? Do you want to share your craft with others while benefiting city literacy programs? Sounds like you’re the perfect fit for the Parade of Artisans Craft Auction, an auction in which the city’s artisans can show off their chops, share their creations, and see just how deep the pockets of the charitable go for the sake of taking them home! (Board)

Wednesday December 8th

Yule Book Readings for Children - Visit Books and Brews in the Old Market for book readings of holiday classics like The Night Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and extraplanetary favorite Grandma Got Ran Over by a Festivus Slug. Readings will be staggered throughout the day starting at 12pm and running until 8pm. Complimentary milk and cookies will be provided to all children with optional spiked coffee or egg nog on hand for adult caretakers and kiddo wranglers.

Thursday December 9th

Holiday Coat and Book Drive - Drop off points will be available in all districts for those wishing to donate coats and books for the holidays. Accepting coats of all sizes and styles, the only request is that they are in new or gently used condition. Books of all genres will also be gratefully accepted. Distribution will prioritize area children’s homes followed by homeless shelters and camps. (Vapor)

Friday December 10th

Hallmark Holiday Movie Night at Thunder Road Drive In - Located just a short drive east of the city, Thunder Road promises fun for the whole family. Boasting three screens, a fully stocked snack bar, an arcade, and a mini golf course, a Friday night at Thunder Road is sure to bring holiday joy to all as each screen hosts a triple feature from Hallmark’s holiday lineup. Cozy up with your winter love with a peppermint hot cocoa or some sweet and salty kettle corn. (Vapor)

Screen 1 - A Christmas Melody, Matchmaker Santa, A December Bride
Screen 2 - A Christmas Detour, The Christmas Card, A Very Merry Mix-up
Screen 3 - The Christmas Ornament, The Christmas Spirit, A Royal Christmas

Saturday December 11th

Santa’s Workshop - A magical workshop has appeared on the very edge of where New Haven meets Battlefield Park. Come by to meet St. Nick himself (or at least someone that looks quite a bit like him) as well as Mrs. Claus, the reindeer, and Santa’s elves. Photographers will be on hand to take pictures and even pets are welcome to join in for family photographs. Pictures are free but donations are welcome and all donations will support the Rhydin First Responders Fund. After telling Santa what you want for Yule, stay to decorate cookies, drink cocoa, and make holiday cards for area retirement homes and seniors who may not have family to spend the holidays with. All kids that visit will go home with their very own gingerbread house kit at no cost. (Vapor)

Sunday December 12th

The Duel of Magic Winter All Ranks Tournament - Come to Twilight Isle for the Duel of Magic Winter All Ranks Tournament for a night of magic, fireworks, and delicious treats. Prizes include a twin win coupon, air gem familiar, thermo-gloves, a baby catalope, and the ever famous mystery box! With Max Lager at the helm, the menu is sure to be fantastic, so don’t miss out. Whether you come as a spectator or participant, there should be a little something for everyone! (Live)

Monday December 13th

Holiday Art Exhibition - An outdoor exhibition has been set up in the market square to show off local creators’ holiday art. Mediums span the spectrum and the holidays represented may surprise even the farthest flung visitors from the Nexus. A children’s art station has been set up in one corner, giving kids the chance to make their own holiday creations to take home and share with their loved ones. (Vapor)

Tuesday December 14th

Exhibition: Winter Holidays around the Nexus - The Holiday Art exhibition shifts on the next day to a display of holidays from around the Nexus. Explore booths that celebrate everything from Yule to Friendsmas to Festivus and everything in between. Sample eats and treats from various holidays and take home trinkets to celebrate them in your own home. Be sure to pick up your holiday passport at the Rhydin Visitor’s Center beforehand to collect stamps from each booth. Fill your passport and take home a 100 silver gift certificate to the Rhydin Chamber of Commerce, good at any member business. (Vapor)

Wednesday December 15th

The Candlelight Processional Holiday Parade - Enjoy a candlelit parade through Dragon’s Gate and Old Temple, led by a master of ceremonies who will narrate the stories of yule interspersed with stirring songs of hope and joy performed by a marching orchestra and massed choir. Area businesses, schools, and organizations are welcome to enter the parade as well, which will begin at the Red Dragon Inn and end at the Old Temple’s Winter Wonderland. Nevermelt Ice trophies will be given out to the top three entries in the parade with special consideration given to those who fit the theme of ‘Candlelight Processional’. (Board)

Thursday December 16th

Snow Structure Contest - Snowpeople, forts, and castles galore! A glen south of the city has been properly primed and filled with fluffy snow perfect for constructing all the best snow structures. Come show off your skills and build your best snowperson, snowball fight fort, or even a grandiose snow castle. The only caveat is that you must do it with nothing more than your hands and the supplied tools, no magic allowed! Buttons, carrots, sticks, coal, scarves, and hats will be on hand along with other miscellaneous decor for the snow people, while snow architects can find an assortment of shovels, buckets, picks, and carving tools to sculpt a structural masterpiece. (Board)

Friday December 17th

The Yule Ball - Prepare for a winter wonderland and venture by way of horse drawn carriage to a castle on the hill at the far north edge of Seaside. Enjoy the thousands of lights that decorate the path there and the tens of thousands that light up the castle where the ball will be held. Pass through a courtyard of ice sculptures on your way into the castle where Rhydin’s hottest DJs spin tunes for party goers. Passed hors d'oeuvres and drinks compliment a seated meal from a five star menu and magical snow falls overhead without ever touching patrons or their food. Surprises abound so be sure not to miss the penultimate event of Winterfest and the premiere social event of the holiday season! (Live - More info coming soon)

Saturday December 18th

The Duel of Swords End of Fall Cycle Tournament - The Arena helps us close out Winterfest with a bit of classic Rhydin dueling with the end of cycle tournament for the Duel of Swords. Catch the hottest names in the game as they battle it out for prizes, grants, and more! While you’re there, drop by the gift shop to finish up your Christmas shopping with last minute presents for all the dueling lovers in your life! (Live - More info coming soon)

All Winterfest Long

Yule Train Rides (Citywide) - Take a ride on the Yule Express, a trackless train that makes a loop around the city with at least one stop in each district. Perfect for a festive ride to Winterfest’s many attractions or to simply enjoy the city lights.
Ice Sculpture Exhibition (Citywide) - Can you find all the sculptures? An excellent city wide hunt for the kids or simply a relaxing sight to see as you go about your holiday preparations, no less than two dozen ice sculptures have been carved and placed throughout the city.
Ice Skating (Old Temple) - Enjoy ice skating in the heart of Old Temple amidst a plaza surrounded by temples and cathedrals that drip with colored lights. The rink is a frozen moat that circles the Hakodate Snow Palace. Thankfully there are no gators or other dangers in the moat. But beware the vendors who hawk their wares or else you might find yourself full of cocoa and sweets before you know it.
Hakodate Snow Palace (Old Temple) - A Japanese-style castle surrounded by the frozen skating moat, Hakodate is made of enchanted ice that never seems to melt. An elevated footbridge gives visitors a place to watch and wave to the skaters below and the circular balcony above serves double duty as a rental counter and pleasant place to sit and enjoy the view. The frozen ground floor opens to the outside and is bedecked with strands of delicate white lights across the archways which gives the entire scene a romantic glow.
Seaside Beach Bonfires and Hot Cocoa (Seaside) - It may be almost winter but Seaside Beach still holds warmth for those that seek it, with nightly beach bonfires and hot cocoa vendors. For a strong drink, bring your own alcohol and be sure to pick up your trash when you’re done!
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides (Seaside & Old Market) - Excellent for families, couples, or even solo, teams of horse drawn carriages offer rides going to and from Seaside and Old Market. Enjoy the market sights and smells or the view of the coast as you traverse between the two districts. Rides are free but tips are appreciated, especially if they come in the form of carrots or sugar cubes for the valiant horses.
Gift Wrap Stations (Old Market) - Not the gift wrapping sort? You aren’t alone! Throughout the market district, booths have been set up to help you wrap your holiday gifts for your loved ones. Paper, tape, ribbons, and bows are all on hand and before you know it, you’ll have plenty of beautifully decorated gifts just waiting to be torn apart by people who likely won’t appreciate just how pretty all that wrapping is. Thankfully all wrapping is eco-friendly recycled paper with a quick-degrade charm to ensure the impact on the environment will be minimal! This service is free to the public but donation jars will be placed at each booth to accept donations for the Rhydin Women’s Shelter.
Drive-Thru Lights (Dragon’s Gate) - Load up your friends and family into the van (or car, or truck) and experience holiday lights like never before. Drive through blocks of more than 1.5 million lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. You’ll drive by giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways and more. It’s like being immersed in another world. In fact, we won’t judge you if you join the kids with your face pressed against the window.
Axe Throwing and Archery (Dockside) - What’s festive about axe throwing and archery? The better question is what isn’t festive about flinging sharp objects at targets while drinking mead and ale. Rhydin-area brewers are encouraged to attend because nothing says ‘Drink Responsibly’ like drinking and lobbing axes, right? Charmed boards record high scores and chime when you reach a score worthy of a prize. Take home six and twelve packs of beer, giant stuffed animals, and even your very own set of throwing axes for the top score of each night!
Gingerbread Carousel (New Haven) - Head to New Haven for a ride on the gingerbread carousel, a fully functional carousel made of uncrumbling gingerbread in the style of vintage Italian carousels. Grab a colorful horse or spinning tea cup or even just a serene stationary bench to enjoy the three minute ride. All children get their first ride of the day for free and parents pay only a nominal fee with all proceeds going to the Rhydin LGBTQ Youth Outreach Center.
Lover’s Walk (New Haven) - Mistletoe and romantic lighting abounds on the lover’s walk, a half mile circular route that ventures along the shore of Lake Kaiju and through New Haven’s chic retail district. Holly and other greenery make for a scenic stroll, though rumor says the lakeside portion of the path is “haunted” by the Ghost of Christmas, a surprisingly attractive but somewhat transparent male dressed in garb of another era. He offers sage wisdom and jesting teases for couples venturing through. His advice is seldom the same for any two people but the general premise remains the same; love and give with all you have for tomorrow is never promised.
Reindeer Petting Zoo (Battlefield Park) - Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen… well, they’re quite busy this time of year, so they might not be found at the reindeer petting zoo in Battlefield Park, but a herd of similarly named reindeer are available on hand for gentle petting and hand feeding. The especially trustworthy and well behaved ones even wear saddles and reins for young kids to take sedate walks around the corral.
Sledding and Snow Tubing (The Wilds) - The biggest hill around has been transformed into a sledding and snow tubing destination. Bring your own equipment or rent from the shack at the bottom of the hill then spend the hours running up and flying back down. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, take the slide or set your course for the snow ramp for extra air!
The Winter Ice Castle (Twilight Isle) - Visit the unmelting ice castle on Twilight Isle and explore all the curious labyrinthine twists and turns filled with lights and cheer. Be mindful of any sweets you might take with you for they may have a habit of disappearing when you’re not looking and then they’ll be lost forever, taken as offerings to the water fae that are rumored to have built the place.


((Feel free to post miscellaneous Winterfest adventures here! Otherwise you can reference them in play, use them in live rooms, or ignore them completely. Whatever is fun for you!))