OSFest^✦ @OSFest

OSFest begins in 9 days, but you're still in time to get a place as an exhibitor, merchant or sponsor! Check the website for the simple instructions, jump over to the grid to see the parcels still up for grabs, and be part of the celebration of opensim!
Grid address
hop://grid.opensimfest.com:8022/Welcome/130/129/24
https://www.opensimfest.com/post/osfest-2023-building-fren...

The schedule of events for OSFest is being finalized!
The event begins on Friday September 15.
We will have shopping hours, sales hours, parcel tour hours, Mindfulness Mondays, Wellness Wednesdays, zombie quests, special meeting hours, satellite events, and performances.
There is still time to get involved with OSFest 2023, come visit the grid at
hop://grid.opensimfest.com:8022/Welcome/130/129/24
and check the website for all your FAQs!
https://www.opensimfest.com/

OSFEST GRID IS OPEN!
Welcoming all builders to come get set up. You have questions, we have answers.. please read this useful article on the OSFest Blog
https://www.opensimfest.com/post/the-osfest-grid-is-open

For OSFest 2023 in September as of 7/12/2023, 12 of 68 exhibit parcels and 6 of 40 merchant parcels are reserved, please spread the word around the HG.
Register for your spot on the OpensimFest website
https://www.opensimfest.com/
You can start building on your home grid and transfer the build later when the grid is open.
Like to build? OSFest is looking for a creator to work on a new Welcome Center. Contact Banker Ibor on Discord or on the website for more details
Discord group: https://discord.gg/cxbnMRQB

This year’s theme is Jazz/Blues Era, late 1860's to early 1970's and all the styles and genres that Jazz and Blues have inspired.
Progress report: Website is almost ready, and the grid admin are working hard to get the new grid up and running.
Good luck and happy building! If you have questions about your build, consider joining OSFests's discord channel where you can find help and suggestions
https://discord.gg/8QMqVpr5KW

This year’s theme is Jazz/Blues Era, late 1860's to early 1970's and all the styles and genres that Jazz and Blues have inspired.
Progress report: Website is almost ready, and the grid admin are working hard to get the new grid up and running.
Good luck and happy building! If you have questions about your build, consider joining OSFests's discord channel where you can find help and suggestions
https://discord.gg/8QMqVpr5KW

OSFest is user friendly, for all levels of ability.
Event Organizer Shelenn says: " Some thoughts for those planning on participating as exhibitors or merchants...
Builders and Creators in SL/OS, did you know how you build matters when it comes to accessibility? Did you know some users with visual, cognitive, and motor challenges use a viewer named Radegast? The Radegast viewer has an option to "read" the object name field of every object and its parts to the user. The number of disabled users in Virtual Worlds is a much higher percentage than in the offline global population. When a build is not accessible, it is painfully obvious and unusable for many.
When creating content for SL/OS, please make your builds accessible by:
1) Properly naming all parts (so Radegast does not blabber on meaningless information like primitive, primitive, primitive... or object, object, object...). Not properly naming parts disables others who need them described for them. Review your existing builds. TIP: If you have a linkset with many parts that take a long time to rename, you can right click the linkset to edit, select edit linked parts, then give them all (parts not used by scripts) the same name.
2) Scripting cues as in when building and scripting your scenes, people who cannot hear well need visual cues and people who cannot see well need aural cues. Providing aural cues for visual events and visual cues for aural events in your builds via scripting is practicing accessibility by design and makes them more immersive for everyone!"
Join us at OSFest this September. Want to participare in OSFest this year? Check us out on Discord. https://discord.gg/8QMqVpr5KW

Expenditures for OSFest2023 have begun. These include website with SSL cert and event extensions, server space, ascap license, and more. Thanks if you have offered to sponsor aka help with costs. Information on sponsor levels will be available on the website soon.
As for the grid, we will be doing some things differently based on participant feedback and lessons learned so the parcel layout is being redesigned.
Thanks for your patience!
Volunteers please contact Banker.
Performers, slots are filling fast! Please contact Rosa Alekseev if you have not gotten a slot on the schedule.

The final weekend of OpensimFest's music events kicks off at 9am SLT, that's 18.00 in Central Europe.
The first of three days of DJs singers, musicians and fun.
Come on over to grid.opensimfest.com:8022:Event1

Attention Shoppers!
Interested in better knowing the commercial creators of opensim?
Check out the ongoing Sales and Freebie opportunities at OpensimFest.
You will find the goodies at grid.opensimfest.com:8022:Chlorine

Speaking of the Grid Calendar there is a HUGE Merchant Sales event on right now! You can get there by loading the Grid Calendar in your browser, click the Merchant Sales event then click on your choice of buttons to teleport in! https://grid.opensimfest.com/website/grid/calendar

Did you know you can use our Grid Calendar to see all events and get your TP from the calendar? It's new and unlike any other! Check it out at https://grid.opensimfest.com/website/grid/calendar

Powerhouse performers all three days this weekend for twelve hours each day! Gloebits enabled so be sure to authorize the OSFest 2022 grid!

OpensimFest roars back into life!
The music kicks off again tomorrow, Friday 15 July, starting at 9am Pacific time, 18h in Central Europe.
The picture shows just a few of the great acts that will be gracing our 4 stages in coming days. How many of them can you name?
The full events calendar is here on OSW in the Events section, or check out the OSF calendar
https://grid.opensimfest.com/website/grid/calendar
Join us for 12 hours of back to back fun on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - make it a truly hot long weekend!
grid.opensimfest.com:8022:HG-Welcome then jump to Event1, Event2 ... you get the idea.

Day three, and the fun is just beginning at OSF!
about 200 people visited the region on each of the 2 days, so thank you for your support.
The third day of Music and revelry begins in a few minutes with
Whirli Placebo at 9am Pacific time and
Clan Escotia and band, at 10 am
Read more about it here
https://www.opensimfest.com/post/it-s-almost-time-for-osfe...

We have Holocluck spinning the tunes right now at OpensimFest! come on over and join us
grid.opensimfest.com:8022:HG-Welcome so you can load your hg avie and get the Grid LMs and goodies,
then jump over to Event1

It's coming....
OpenSimFest begins on Friday, 8 July at 9am PST (Gridtime)
grid.opensimfest.com:8022:HG-Welcome
Music, dance, poetry and more !
Friday's performers are
Zoree Jupiter - Remy Farman - Karima Hoisan - RoseDrop
DJ Emar - DJ Jahka Flow - Khiron Ametza - Joka - Rogue Galaxy
DJ Carbo - Da Bluez Preacher - DJ Walter Balazic
Come enjoy the entertainment, visit the shops and exhibits, and make new friends!

Building is well underway on OSF, and there is more good news.
Getting your free parcel on the opensimfest grid just got easier!
Come to the grid and reserve your spot simply by clicking on the yellow box of your choice.
There's room on Oxygen and Fluorine regions, take your pick!
Sponsor parcels can also be bought on the spot using Gloebits.
Grid URL is grid.opensimfest.com:8022
Join the OSF Discord group to meet your fellow exhibitors, read updates and get involved.
https://discord.gg/8QMqVpr5KW
For an easy to read map of the grid, go here
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/891871633726398474/...

Tomorrow, come and take a load off!
OpensimFest Load Test Party
07/02/2022 at 10:00am - 12:00pm
with your DJane Rosa Alekseev!
Come on over to the grid grid.opensimfest.com:8022
The Festival opens to the public on July 8 at 9am Grid Time

The Festival is starting to come together.
Here are 4 photos by Doc Nolan of four very different builds already in place.
They are by: Aphra Hendrix, Kim Starr, Lain Iwakura, and Jillian 2000 Quintessa.
Can you guess who did what?
If you haven't finished your build, there is still time - but it's running out. See you on the grid!
OpensimFest July 8 - 24 2022
To see more photos, go to the Discord server and check out 'photos 2022' https://discord.gg/QceX93hJ

*WAVE*
OpensimFest is less than two weeks away, and there's still a chance for you to be part of the fun!
Greeters organizer Snoots Dragon has a message for you
"TO EVERYONE: We are greatly in need of Greeters. This is an easy task and a great way to make new friends. We have a Greeters Guide notecard with quick-to-read information on being a Greeter. The job is easy: spend however much spare time you may have available at Central to help people if they have questions about the Festival. No schedule required; this is totally volunteer time. Please contact SNOOTS DWAGON either on Discord or by IM in-grid. Greeting is a fun and relaxing way to spend time at the Festival... and we could use your help. This is all in the promotion of science, and at the end of the Festival, there will be cake. Thanks!"
That Discord link? https://discord.gg/8QMqVpr5KW

Like any grid, OpensimFest would be nothing without the tech person keeping it safe, fast, and accessible
Who is this handsome fellow?
https://www.opensimfest.com/post/meet-the-man-behind-the-c...
PS. Been putting off signing up for a FREE parcel at the Fest? You still have a little time to do so!
Sign up here and get the ball rollling https://www.opensimfest.com/event-details/osfest-2022

IT'S NOT TOO LATE!
Promote your grid, show off your creativity, on one of the free parcels of land at OpensimFest.
If you are using an HG avatar, you will not see a group invite unless you are in the OSFest grid at the time the invite is sent. If you are using a local avatar, check your notifications to see your group invite. If you don't see it, let one of the organizers or admins know. Here is an updated grid layout map that shows grey parcels are taken. Can't see the map clearly? click here https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/891871633726398474/...
Plenty of room! Tell your friends to come signup https://signupschedule.com/osfest and register https://www.opensimfest.com/register
OpensimFest July 8 - 24

If you like Drama, and judging by the most commented posts on this page, you clearly do, then check out the DRAMATIC* pictures of past Festivals.
https://discord.com/channels/501160842939727874/8754808588...
Luna Lunaria has compiled a History of the event, with photos, videos, and articles going all the way through from early editions of AvatarFest, through to the Gather region, meant as a place for Fest alumni to party and remember past chaos.
OSFest begins on July 8 2022
(*nah, not really any drama, but pretty interesting as part of Opensim's cultural legacy.)

Rules rule!
Do you enjoy TOS?
Are you a Policies Person?
Can't get enough when it comes to Code of Conduct ?
Then this link is for you!
https://www.opensimfest.com/policies
No, seriously, here are the limits to what's allowed behavior at OSFest. It's serious business.

Continuing our series of profiles of the OSFest team, this time Thirza Ember.
Bookmark our Blog page, it will have information and reviews throughout the festival!
https://www.opensimfest.com/post/meetup-with-osfest2022-le...
OSFest begins July 8, and runs for 17 days of music, entertainment, shopping and exhibits.

If the builds are the heart of OpensimFest, then the musical performances are its soul, so who better to organize the performers than the Fairy Godmother of soulful tunes of every genre, Rosa Alexeev.
But wait, who is she exactly? Find out here!
https://www.opensimfest.com/post/meet-our-osfest2022-perfo...
Still haven't signed up to be part of OpensimFest?
Register today, it's free! https://www.opensimfest.com/event-details/osfest-2022
and join our Discord channel to learn more

https://discord.com/invite/8RtXqpS7cT

Greeters needed for OpensimFest! It's an opportunity to help out in a fun way. Who's running the Welcome crew? Read about Rob here:
https://www.opensimfest.com/post/meetup-with-osfest-2022-l...

Do you need a nice building in which to show off your creations/merchandize at OSFest?
Making mesh that fits the limits of the grid can be challenging but Luna Lunaria has kindly provided a solution!
" Fits the 64 x 64 and is full perms so that you can size it to your parcel and do with whatever you like. You can find it at the main landing as well as the landings for Oxygen, Sulphur, and Fluorine. Feel free to share it" - Luna Lunaria

Are you a performer or host/hostess?
If you would like a local account and haven't registered, do so now so we can send you an email invite
Here is the link for the new performer group 'tickets' https://www.opensimfest.com/register
How can you join the Performers group inworld? Personal invitations are going out today.
How to check you're in the group - Login to OpensimFest Grid, activate your Performers group tag, go to any of the Event regions, and test your ability to rez, change the parcel audio stream and to enable or disable voice.

OpensimFest is a machine with many moving parts, and dedicated volunteers help to keep it running smoothly. Curious about who's who at the Fest? Check out this profile of Contessa Lacombe, the Exhibit Coordinator
https://www.opensimfest.com/post/meet-exhibitor-organizer-...

Grid was briefly offline to install Gloebit capability, and all is good !
Builders, there will be occasional periods with the grid Offline to test and update software, so if you cannot get inworld, please check Discord for updates.
This is the announcement channel https://discord.com/channels/501160842939727874/8918716337...
OpensimFest just 33 days away! Happy building.

A big THANK YOU to all Sponsors and Contributors. You've helped us reach our goal of covering the cost of OSFest !
Keep it coming - all further donations and sponsorship contributions will be shared out among the many performers who will be on stage over the 17 day event.
Avatar registration is now open. Check your email for a link to set up your local avie. PS, YES you CAN use your usual avatar name.
Building with a HG Avie?
Contact Shelenn on Discord to set up a meet to get building permissions.
https://discord.gg/8QMqVpr5KW