The Halloween Shop And Hop Opens Today

 

Today is the official start of one of Second Life's largest Halloween-themed shopping events: The Halloween Shop and Hop. Organized by Linden Lab, this event has almost four hundred stores across twelve sims.

 

featuring over 380 creators across 12 shopping regions, promising loads of spooktacular fun! Each store will offer at least a 20% discount on all items, along with a new and exclusive gift or a gift certificate valued at L$300 or more, available for free! 

 

 The sims themselves are decorated to add to the atmosphere, some farm equipment, but plenty of Halloweenish builds. It's also notable that the Shop and Hop mall sims have open roofs. You can fly up and over into other sims. 

 

 A number of the stores are decorated as well, with a look, and bargains, to die for. Every store offers at least 20 percent off, plus at least one free gift. But some offer higher discounts. 

 

To head to the Shop and Hop, you can pick any of the sims in the Destination Guide. Or one can just hop in at https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jubilant/120/138/24 .  To find individual stores, one can check the list at the bottom of Linden Lab's Halloween Events page, or a list provided by "Fabulously Free in SL." 

 

One's sure to scare up some bargains, 

 

Bixyl Shuftan,  

Fantasy Faire-Inspired Contraption Sim

 

The Fantasy Faire is a popular yearly event in Second Life, taking place on a couple dozen sims that are around only for the few weeks it takes place. Normally when the Faire ends, that's the end of the landscapes, only able to be seen again in videos and pictures. But one of the sims from the 2025 Faire has recently returned. Galerie Gailland is back as the Contraption sim and store, and it got the attention of Faire fans happy to see it again.

 

Read the story in Places.  

 

Last Day At Abnormality Shopping Event

 

One of the larger seasonal shopping events is almost over. Abnormality's summer event, which started on August 7th, has it's last day today, August 28. This month's theme is "Jungle Jam." And the place has been made to look like a village in the middle of one, with the ground looking marshy outside the foot paths, and the shops made to look like huts with walls of sticks and thatch huts. On August 15, there had been a fifth anniversary party. 

 

Going over, there was quite an assortment of avatars, clothes, and accessories. But I noticed one place had a tag, "Human Made."  It appears some are concerned about items designed by AI.

 

Abnormality has events four times a year, advertising itself towards nonhuman avatars, "serving all human-adjacent and fantasy styles, furries, elves, and aliens alike."

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Abnormality/128/128/18 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

EOTB: Applications Being Accepted For SL23B Shop & Hop

 

For merchants wanting to take part in the Second Life Birthday Shop and Hop event, good news. Yesterday on April 30, Linden Lab announced it was accepting applications for the shopping event. 

 

For those interested, business owners wanting to be part of the event need to fill out an application on Google Docs (here). The SLB Shop and Hop will last for the duration of The Birthday, Thursday, June 18 thru Sunday, July 19. The setup itself will be from Friday June 5 to Monday June 8. Merchants are required to have all items in their store discounted by at least 20 percent, and have at least one available as a gift to anyone, or a gift certificate worth at least 299L, reguardless if they're in the store group or not. Politics is to be avoided, and items not for sale at the store cannot be advertised. 

 

This year, the Shop and Hop sims will be in two areas, one General-rated, and one Adult-rated. So those wanting to be in the Adult area can request it. Those wishing to be part of the General-Audience area need to keep their items and decor fit for the sim rating.  

 

Applications for the Shop and Hop need to be turned in earlier than other SLB applications, by Sunday May 10. Volunteers, Exhibitors and Entertainers need to turn theirs in by May 18. 

 

For more information, read the official blog post here.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Christmas Shop And Hop Starts Today

 

 For those of you who love Christmas shopping, or looking for a good buy and the occasional freebie, good news. The Holiday Shop and Hop, organized by Linden Lab, starts today.

 

The 2025 Holiday Shop & Hop is ... here with 360 participating Creators across 18 shopping regions, bringing you loads of festive fun! Every store will have at least a 20% discount on all items and a free (non-group) gift for shoppers or a gift certificate valued at L$300 or above! 

 

The fun starts today, Friday December 5, at 9AM SL time,  and as the announcement says, there's a lot of territory to cover, 360 stores across 18 sims. Each item will be on sale at least twenty percent, and at least one free gift or a gift certificate worth at least 300 Linden dollars. 

 

To get to the Shop and Hop, check its section in the Destination Guide for the list of sims, teleport to one of the stores from the list on the bottom three-fifths of the Holiday Events blog page, or just jump right in at Gleaming (128/128/54). 

 

For those shopping after Christmas, the event goes on to Sunday January 4 2026.  

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

The Halloween Shop and Hop

 

 On Friday October 4, one of the bigger shopping events this month, if not the biggest, started: the Halloween Shop and Hop. Organized by Linden Lab, there's well over three hundred shops in eighteen sims. 

The 2025 Halloween Shop & Hop ... featuring 360 creators across 18 shopping regions, promising loads of spooktacular fun! Each store will offer at least a 20% discount on all items, along with a new and exclusive gift or a gift certificate valued at L$300 or more, available for free!

Before diving inworld, sneak a peek at many of the available items in the official Second Life Shop & Hop Flickr pool. Don’t forget to share photos of your haul too!

To visit the 2025 Halloween Shop & Hop, start at any of the regions, but make sure to explore them all to see everything on offer. Happy shopping! 

 Dropping by, there was some spooky decor in the sims. 

 

 Many of the stores had a spooky look to them. And some of the shoppers looked a bit spooky as well.

 

As stated earlier, all shops have items discounted at least 20% and have at least one free gift not necessary to be in the store group to get or a gift card. 

 

For a list of the sims, Click Here.  For a list of the 360 stores, check the bottom three fifths of the Halloween announcements page on the Linden blog here (more on the other attractions later). Or you can just hop straight in here:  https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Gilded/129/127/54.

 

The event lasts until November 2 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

More Halloween Shopping: Khargo and Halloween Town in Portland

 

With October approaching, some people are getting ready for Halloween early. And Gemma Cleanslate has been looking for a few places that can cater to them. She found two. One is Khargo, which had plenty of skeletons. At Halloween Town in Portland, you can take a tour and shop as you go along. 

 

Read Gemma's story in Design.  

 

More Halloween Shopping And Health Island In September

Gemma Cleanslatehas been continuing her search for Halloween, and autumn, themed places. Her journey took her to two. At Wonderland Beach, there was a noteworthy hunt going on. Halloweentown was appropriately named, with spooky shops offering decore, as well as a few surprises. But this wasn't all, she would stop by Health Island to see what they had this month. 

 

Read Gemma's article in Events. 

 

The 2025 Spoonful of Sugar Festival

 

The Spoonful of Sugar Festival is taking place in Second Life. From September 6 to Sunday September 21, the shopping and fundraising event will be taking place across six sims. It is to help raise money for the international group "Doctors Without Borders."

 

... we will be working behind the scenes to build a magnificent festival for you this September. We’ll be smiling too—as we hammer nails, plant gardens, and coordinate over 200 creators, performers, and events for you to enjoy and support. ... This year, join us for an unforgettable journey to Regency and 1800s England! Expect grand balls, garden parties, lively gossip, and a chance to time travel to another era while making a real difference in this one. 

 

Around the sims there are shops where one can get various goods. from indoor and outdoor furnishings, to breedable pets, and more. Some of these are in gacha machines. Pay attention as not every item sends 100% of the Lindens to charity. 

 

Every day but Monday there are smaller events. Most of these are music performances, but there are also some sports events.  

 

 

For more information, check the website: https://thesosfestival.com/ 

 

Main landing: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/UberGlobal%20Landington/127/106/22 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Early Halloween At Dench Designs

 

September may have only just begun, but for some people already they're getting ready for Halloween. Gemma Cleanslate decided to check out a few stores which have decorations for those getting ready for the spooky season. So which ones did she see, and what did they offer?

 

Read Gemma's story in Design. 

Applications Open For Halloween Shop And Hop (Until Aug 24)

 

It's only August, but already Linden Lab is making plans for the spooky season.  On Friday August 15, Linden Lab announced they were accepting applications from merchants interested in taking part in the 2025 Halloween Shop and Hop. 

 

The Halloween season is creeping up on us once again, and so is one of Second Life’s biggest shopping events! If you’re a Content Creator, now’s your chance to conjure up your best items and reach thousands of shoppers across multiple regions.  

 

The shopping event is scheduled to take place Friday October 3 to Sunday November 2. Those interested in taking part need to fill out a form on Google docs (here). Those signing up will need to agree to their items at the store being offered with at least a 20 percent discount, and one free gift to anyone regardless of whether they're in the store's group or not. The gift must be a new one as well. If a gift card is offered instead, it must be at least 300L. 

 

No items rated adult can be offered, and nothing with political themes, or politicians, is permitted. The store cannot also be used to promote items at other events. And for those wanting to take part, signing up does not guarantee a spot.

 

The deadline for signing up is Sunday August 24.

 

For more information, check the Linden blog post (here). 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Valentines Day Shop And Hop Opens Today

 

Yesterday, Linden Lab announced that the Valentines Day themed "Shop and Hop" shopping event would be opening today, Friday January 31.

The 2025 Valentine Shop & Hop is almost here with 280 participating merchants across 14 shopping regions. All are offering their best to inspire your Valentine's fantasies from a romantic evening with your bae, to a party with your friends, and everything in between. You will definitely find something to suit you! 

 

As the announcement stated, there's fourteen sims with almost three hundred stores, with plenty of romantic-themed items. Each store has at least a 20 percent discount on it's wares, maybe more on some, and there's at least one free gift for shoppers whether or not they're in the store's shopping group, or a 300 Linden dollar gift certificate. 

For those wondering, all of the sims are rated Moderate. There is no separate area for adult-themed stored as there was in the recent past.

 

For a list of the sims, click here to check the Destination Guide page.

For a list of the stores, click here to check the Linden's blog post.

To just jump in, head here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Snowflake/128/129/54  

Bixyl Shuftan

More Christmas Shoping

 

Gemma Cleanslate has been going around Christmas shopping areas. Here, she writes about a few. One is the Christmas Wonderland event, with plenty of items and deals. But a few other places caught her eye,
LouChara Furniture, C.M.D. Christmas store, and Christmas Delights. So what did she think?

Read Gemma's story in Design.

 

 

Tex's Tree Farm

 

Gemma Cleanslate has been going around Second Life checking out winter and Christmas themed places. One she visited recently was Tex's Tree Farm. Here, you can pick your tree, chop it down, and take it home. But that's not the only thing you can do here.

 

Read Gemma's article in Places. 

Holiday Shop and Hop Starts Today

 

 

 It's time for the biggest shopping event in Second Life this Christmas season, the Holiday Shop and Hop. Starting at 9AM Friday December 6 (today), residents can hop on over and shop away.

 

This is a huge shopping mall consisting of 16 sims, with 320 stores. Beside the shops, there's numerous decorations to give the place a festive feel. 

 

"Every store will have at least a 20% discount on all items and a free (non-group) gift for shoppers or a gift certificate valued at L$300 or above!"

 

And you'll never know just who you might run into.

For a list of the sims, check here in the Destination Guide.  For locations of each of the stores, they're on the bottom two-thirds of this post in the Linden Blog. Or just head straight in here:

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lavendar/126/125/54

 

The Shop & Hop lasts until January 6, 2025.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

EOTB : Applications Being Accepted for 2024 Valentines Day Shop and Hop

 

 

 It's not yet Christmas, let alone New Years Eve. But already Linden Lab is getting ready for February 2024. Yesterday, Thursday December 14, Linden Lab announced that it was accepting applications for the Valentine Shop and Hop, but only for a limited time. 

 

While the festive cheer, twinkling lights, and echoes of holiday celebrations still continue, we are thrilled to announce the early opening of applications for the 2024 Valentine’s Shop & Hop!

As we prepare for an extra special Valentine’s event, we're on the lookout for enthusiastic Merchants ready to join the celebration of love ...

 The event itself will from from Thursday February 1st to Tuesday February 19. Merchants interested in taking part are asked to fill out a Google Docs form (here). Like previous Shop and Hop events, stores will be required to discount their items at least 20 percent and have at least one free gift available to residents coming by, regardless if the person is in the store's group or not, or offer a free gift card worth at least 300 Linden dollars. Merchants are asked to tell the Lab what they primarily sell.

 

What's different about this Shop and Hop is that Linden Lab wants to put the spotlight on merchants offering items for their new line of Senra starter avatars, "This year we will also be highlighting designers who are creating for our new Senra mesh bodies. To be considered a Senra designer for the Valentine Shop and Hop, you need to have at least 2 items available at the Shop and Hop for Senra bodies. Special consideration will be given to Senra designers when applications are being reviewed." The days merchants have to set up their stores are January 25 to Jan 28.

Some might note that the picture on Linden Lab's announcement shows a furry couple. Maybe the Lab is trying to appeal to this particular demographic, or in that it's showing a feline/canine couple trying to say that love can bring very different people together. 

Source: Linden blog 

Bixyl Shuftan

Black Friday

 

 

 "We interrupt this Second Life to bring to you the shopping season."

November 24 was "Black Friday." In real life, it's the busiest day for many stores in real life. And here in Second Life, many stores marked off the prices of their goods to attract shoppers eager to scoop up some bargains, getting gifts for friends and loved ones, or just wanted to be part of the shopping experience. It's good news for Linden Lab as it means more people buying up Linden dollars.

Some of the sales, maybe most, go on to today. So feel free to keep on checking for bargains. 

Bixyl Shuftan

The Thanksgiving Parade And Some Xmas Shopping Places

 

The Thanksgiving Parade is back! DJ Franny Dean’s friends were determined to keep her project going, and they succeeded. Gemma Cleanslate went to take a look, but also checked out some places to do some early Christmas shopping. So where did she go?

Read Gemma's article in Places.

SL20B "Shop And Hop" Open

 

 

 For those who love to shop, like finding a good buy or hunting for freebies, or both, then there's an event going on just for them. The SL20B "Shop and Hop." Part of the Second Life Birthday celebrations, it began at the same time as the SLB sims were opened: Thursday June 22 at 10AM SL time.

The SL20B Shop & Hop is almost here - and this year it is bigger than ever! The grand unveiling to the public is slated for Thursday, June 22nd at 10am PT, and this year we're pulling out all the stops with an expanded array of merchants, sprawling shopping regions, and a treasure trove of gifts!

 

And there's a LOT of places to shop from. There's a total of 24 sims with nearly five hundred stores to look around and buy from. And this year, some of the stores have adult-rated items. The main area has 400 stores in twenty sims, and the adult-rated area is four sims in size with eighty stores. Items in the stores are discounted at least 20% from their normal costs, though some places are offering up to 50% off at least one item. They also have one free gift available.

In the official Second Life blog, Linden Lab had a guide to the Shop and Hop, with listings for the locations of all 480 stores (here). Or you can just search them by sims in the Destination Guide (here). Or if you just simply want to dive right in, head to Snapdragon (131/128/54).

 

Happy shopping, but don't forget to check out the rest of the Second Life Birthday.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Valentine-Themed "Shop and Hop" Opens Today

 

 

 For shopaholics, those looking for something for Valentines Day, or for those looking for a good buy, you'll be happy to know the "Shop and Hop" officially opens today.

The 2023 Valentine Shop & Hop is ... here with 280 participating merchants across 14 shopping regions. All are offering their best to inspire your Valentine fantasies from a romantic evening with your bae, to a party with your friends, and everything in between. You will definitely find something to suit you! Every store will have at least a 20% discount on all items and a free (non-group) gift for shoppers or a gift certificate valued at L$300 or above!

 

The event officially starts at 9AM today, though those in the Second Life Birthday group have early access. The event goes on to Sunday February 19. 

For a list of stores, check them out on the lower areas of this page in the official blog. If you want to just head to one of the sims, check them out on the Destination Guide or just head to Forsythia (122/150/52). 

More Valentines Day news later.