I tried out a virtual Halloween festival – and got more than I bargained for

Virtual Festivals: A Delightful Surprise for Halloween Enthusiasts

As the annual tradition of spending hours in damp parks searching for mediocre spooky decorations failed me once again, I turned to a unique alternative: a virtual Halloween festival. The concept was born out of necessity during the 2020 pandemic, when game developer Adam Robinson-Yu's real-life neighbourhood pumpkin festival was cancelled. Since then, it has become an annual event, inviting players to explore a creepy micro-world filled with player-created pumpkins.

Upon entering the virtual festival, I was greeted by other players masquerading as sheet-ghosts with drawn-on faces and fetching hats. The atmosphere was lively, with pumpkins crowding every surface – from the benches outside a skeleton-filled barn to the corridors of a haunted house. I spotted a range of creative tributes, including gaming-themed pumpkins inspired by Hollow Knight and Majora's Mask.

While initially hesitant about spending time indoors on a digital pumpkin-picking adventure, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity of Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival. The game features a variety of attractions, from a challenging hedge maze to a tractor ride through barns filled with endearingly bad creepy decorations and jump scares. However, it's the hidden secrets and collectible pin badges that truly add to the experience.

A key part of this virtual world is its exploration element – hidden doors, secret passageways, and Easter eggs await those willing to venture off the beaten path. I discovered a movie theatre playing eerie silent films for an audience of nobody, complete with a haunted house escape room that took me and my children over an hour to solve.

Perhaps the most delightful aspect of Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival is its flexibility and accessibility. No need to worry about spending £80 on tickets or braving inclement weather; you can carve as many virtual pumpkins as you like and undo your mistakes if needed. My six-year-old refused to wear a coat, but that didn't hold them back from enjoying the experience.

If you're looking for an alternative to traditional Halloween celebrations, consider downloading Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival on itch.io for a pay-what-you-want basis. The game is available until a week or so after Halloween, and I highly recommend sticking around to explore more hidden secrets and surprises.
 
I'm still surprised how much i loved this virtual halloween festival 🎃👻 it's like they actually managed to make something cool out of being stuck inside instead of running away from damp parks. the creativity on display is insane, from gaming-inspired pumpkins to actual haunted houses 🕷️ and who wouldn't want to explore a creepy micro-world filled with player-made decorations? what i think makes this event really special is that it's accessible, no pressure or expectations, just a fun way to spend time with your kids (or on your own) without breaking the bank 💸
 
I'm so over these virtual festivals 🤣... just when you think the pandemic is behind us, another "event" pops up on my feed. And this one's got me questioning what's real and what's not - like, am I even in a haunted house or am I just sitting in my living room staring at a screen? 😂 Not to mention, it's just so... easy. Where's the thrill of actually having to navigate through damp parks to find mediocre decorations? Give me a break 🙄 And don't even get me started on the collectible pin badges - what's up with that? It feels like you're trying too hard to make something feel special 🤑
 
I'm loving this virtual festival thing! It's such a great way to celebrate Halloween without having to deal with the rain or crowds 🎃💖. And I gotta say, it's awesome that they have all these little secret passageways and Easter eggs to discover - my kids were totally obsessed with trying to solve the haunted house escape room 😅. But what really gets me is how inclusive it is - no pressure at all if you don't want to spend money on tickets or dress up in costumes... just grab some virtual pumpkins and have fun! 🎉 The fact that it's available for a pay-what-you-want basis is super cool too, especially for families who might not be able to afford the usual festival prices. Anyway, I'm gonna have to check this out with my crew 👫👻
 
I'm not sure about all this virtual festival hype 🤔... It sounds like just another way to escape the real world? And £80 for tickets?! That's steep, even if it is a digital pumpkin-picking adventure 😂. I mean, can't we just go to the park and carve some actual pumpkins with our kids instead? Or watch some scary movies at home? It seems like this festival thing is more of a novelty than a full-on tradition 🎃. Plus, what's the point of exploring digital secrets when you could be experiencing the real thrill of spooky decorations in person... or lack thereof 😒
 
[Image of a digital pumpkin with a smiling face 🎃😁]

[Animation of a sheet ghost trying to scare others, but failing miserably 😜]

[Image of a person in a virtual world, surrounded by virtual pumpkins and decorations 🌳🎃]

[A screenshot of the game's movie theatre playing eerie silent films for nobody 🍿👻]

[Image of a digital hedge maze with a player character navigating through it 🏰🎩]

[A GIF of a child refusing to wear a coat, but still having fun in the virtual world 😂👶]
 
just tried this virtual halloween festival thingy 🎃👻 and its actually kinda fun! no need to deal with crowds or messy parks 😅 i can just play from my computer at home. they got all sorts of cool attractions like a haunted house and a hedge maze 🕷️🏰 plus you can collect badges if you find all the hidden stuff 👍 itch.io has it for free too, what's not to love? 🤔
 
"Experience is the best teacher." 📚💀🎃 - Unknown

I gotta say, virtual festivals are defo the way forward now! Who needs all that damp park searching when you can have a sick spooky digital experience? And I love how it's flexible and accessible - can't wait to try it out with my fam 💕
 
I'm totally not feeling the virtual festival vibe 🤔. Who needs to spend their time exploring a digital world when you can be out in the real one getting all soggy and miserable? And what's up with these players dressing up as sheet-ghosts, it just looks like they rolled out of bed and put on some old clothes 😂. I mean, where's the challenge in solving a spooky-themed maze when you can try and navigate through a haunted house while actual decorations are all over the place? 🎃 And don't even get me started on having to pay what-you-want for something that's basically just online gaming... how about you just use your free time to carve some real pumpkins or make some spooky crafts instead? 🎨
 
I can see why you'd miss the spooky atmosphere of traditional Halloween celebrations! 🎃 But this virtual festival sounds like a lot of fun too! 😊 I've had friends who were total gaming noobs try it out with their kids, and they all loved it - even my little niece who's not really into scary stuff was giggling away in the tractor ride through creepy barns 🤣. The fact that you can play it on your own or with friends/family makes it super accessible too! 👫 It's like having a spooky playdate from home... what's not to love? 😊
 
I think virtual festivals like this are genius! Who needs all that damp park stuff when you can have a creepy micro-world filled with creative pumpkins? 🎃 It's awesome how they incorporated gaming themes into the event too, like Hollow Knight and Majora's Mask tributes. The depth and complexity of the game are really impressive, from the hedge maze to the tractor ride through haunted barns.

I'm also loving the hidden secrets and collectible pin badges – it's like a treasure hunt! 🏹️ And the fact that you can play as much as you want without worrying about mistakes or bad weather is super convenient. I've been playing with my kid, and we had so much fun exploring and solving the puzzles together.

The flexibility of the game is definitely its strongest feature – it's perfect for anyone who wants to experience Halloween magic without breaking the bank or braving the elements. Plus, it's great that they're offering a pay-what-you-want basis on itch.io... that's just so generous! 💸
 
I'm totally down with this virtual fest idea 🎃👍! Who needs soggy park grounds and creepy decorations that just aren't that scary when you can have a killer game that's actually fun? The creativity of the players is insane, I loved spotting all those gaming-themed pumpkins! And it's so great for families too, no need to stress about the weather or anything. The whole exploration element is genius, hidden doors and secret passageways... it's like an adventure waiting to happen 🎮
 
OMG, this virtual Halloween festival sounds like so much fun 🎃! I'm all about avoiding those outdoor festivals now that I know I can experience the spooky atmosphere from the comfort of my own home 😅. The idea of a real-life neighbourhood festival being cancelled due to the pandemic is crazy, though... I mean, who knew game devs could save Halloween? 🤓

So, what's your fave part about this virtual fest? Is it the creepy decorations, the hidden secrets, or just plain old pumpkin-picking fun? 🎨 Let's keep this thread going! 💬
 
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