Christmas is almost upon us and it is past time when I should have covered one of the great annual events of the season in Second Life: the Calas Galadhon Christmas regions, rich in detail and offering plenty of entertainment. I feel slightly tardy in getting to the four (yes, four this year!) Midwinter regions so late in the month (although it’s still sooner than last year!), but unfortunately, when it comes to time and dealing with the physical world, things are what they are, and I’m still taking things as they fall / time allows. Apologies to Ty, Truck and the team for this.
For 2025, the Calas Christmas regions follow the same overall design as seen for both 2023 and 2024 – but with the addition of the aforementioned fourth region. As to be expected, all of the elements which heighten enjoyment during a visit are included: ice skating, sleigh rides, flying reindeer rides, balloon tours, horse riding, and music, together with of opportunities for photography.
Following on from 2024, reaching the ground level of the regions is a two step process. The first being the main Landing Point, with its walk across a frozen setting to a teleport portal for a trip down to Santa’s workshop complete with a chance to visit with Santa within it. From here, an outside path passes the present loading bay where Rudolf and his team are waiting, presumably eager to get on with the work of delivering presents around the world. From here, arrows point the way to the second teleport portal. Do note that the portals are walk-through, but that if you haven’t previously accepted the Calas Galadhon Experience, you’ll be asked to join it on the first use of one of the portals.
The Landing Point lies on the southern edge of Midwinter 2 with the open countryside of Midwinter 3 behind it. The Landing Point is home to the couples and single / group sleigh rides, with the cross-country ski tour starting point (Group membership required) a short distance away, as is a Calas horse rezzer. These will travel south into Midwinter 3 and so can visitors on foot – just over the the region crossing is a sled ride down to the lower-lying lands there, for those who prefer.
Within the wilder lands of the south visitors might find a Christmas tree farm, a cavern with a teleport leading back up to Santa’s workshop, a barn serving as the warehouse for the Christmas tree farm, wild animals and … a sense of peace.
North across Midwinter 2 are various routes up through the snow-covered lands to where the Christmas Pavilion presides over the frozen skating lake with its Christmas tree and miniature Disney island, together with the overflow dance pavilion and Calas Christmas Special train. With its multiple places to sit around the shore of the lake, the seasonal interior of the pavilion and cosy confines of the train carriage, together with the balloon tour, the lake and pavilion are an obvious destination for visitors. However, what interested me with this year’s iteration of the estate lay within the newest region to be added.
This lies to the west of Midwinter 2, and offers another wilderness setting to explore, with little touches of typical wintertime activities such as people driving home for Christmas (RIP Chris Rhea). The setting is dominated by the Loon Overlook Café and Bar, a homely place sitting upon a table of rock overlooking a ribbon lake which in turn offers a quiet place for skating should the pavilion lake prove to be a little crowded. A little further to the west is the flying reindeer tour.
Facing the Loon Overlook from across the lake are a couple of log cabins, while a cocoa station sits on the bank of the lake for those who need a warming drink, the main lake and the pavilion forming a backdrop for those with a high draw distance. However, what I like in particular about the new Midwinter region is that it has an air of the main Calas Galadhon estate about it, offering those exploring it a sense of wandering through the Calas parklands in winter, without ever having to leave the Christmas regions or all they have to offer.
Throughout the entire Midwinter estate are places to sit, things to do and a multiplicity of poses which might be used for photography – details are available via Calas Galadhon Christmas introductory note card presented at the Landing Point. Those who enjoy Christmas music should enable the local audio stream.
As always, the Calas Galadhon Christmas regions offer a lot to see and enjoy – so make the most of them now to both continue your Christmas and holiday celebrations and before they once again vanish into the night for another year!
SLurl Details
Note that the Midwinter estate is rated Moderate.
- A Calas Christmas main landing point
- Santa’s workshop
- A Calas Christmas sleigh tour (ground level landing point)
- A Calas Christmas cross-country skiing
- A Calas Christmas balloon ride
- A Calas Christmas horse rezzer
- A Calas Christmas ice skating
- A Calas Christmas pavilion
- A Calas Christmas small pavilion
- Calas Galadhon website
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 