Know Before You Go: 2025 Edition

Hello everyone!

We are about two weeks away from Mysterium and there are only a few days left to pre-register online. Can you believe it? Are you excited?

Before you hit the road, we’ve outlined some important information for you to know.

Escape Room Assignment Survey

If you’re participating in our escape room excursion and haven’t already done so, please check the email you used to register for a survey invitation from us. Your responses will be used to assign you to rooms, plan for transportation needs, and distribute liability waivers.

We’ll begin reviewing responses on Sunday, July 20th. Please complete the survey by then.

Enjoying Mysterium in Atlanta

Atlanta is unquestionably hot at this time of year. This week, high temperatures reached the mid-90°F range with a high heat index. We strongly encourage you to bring a hat; an insulated, refillable water bottle; and sunscreen. Water stations will be available within the convention space for your convenience.

Badge Pickup, Registration, and Swag Flow

Badge pickup, registration, swag pickup, and swag sales will open in phases, as outlined below. These times may change; refer to the schedule for the most recent information. Unless otherwise noted, all registration or swag-related activity will occur inside the Piedmont Ballroom.

Pre-Registered Badge Pickup Pre-ordered Swag Pickup Walk-in Registration On-site Swag Sales
Thursday, 7/31 at 8 PM Open** Closed Closed Closed
Friday, 8/1 at 9 AM Open Open Open (See Below) Closed
Friday, 8/1 after Opening Ceremonies Open Open Open Open

**Thursday’s Pre-Registered Badge Pickup has moved to the hotel’s Media Lounge, located to the left when entering the lobby via the main entrance.

On Friday morning at 9 AM, there will be two lines to enter Piedmont Ballroom. If you already picked up your badge on Thursday night, use the right line. If you still need to pick up your badge, use the left line. Regardless of which line you are in, you will be able to show your badge and pick up pre-purchased swag at the swag table.

Walk-in registrations will open after we have checked in lined-up, pre-registered attendees.

Georgia Aquarium Experience and Policies

If you are joining our Georgia Aquarium excursion, know that the experience is indoors, though some outdoor walking will be required if you are planning to travel via MARTA. Using MARTA is encouraged to avoid downtown congestion.

The Georgia Aquarium only permits outside food and beverage for children or individuals with allergies. Refillable water bottles are encouraged for everyone and may be filled at a number of stations around the aquarium.

For more information, we recommend reviewing the “Need to Know” section at the bottom of this page.

Creativity Prompt

June’s Creativity Prompt winner was redwoodrroad’s envisioning of Gehn’s beach day.

Digital painting of Gehn at the beach. He is standing with a beach chair under his right arm, a how to book in his left hand, sunglasses, and a frilly hat. His extra short swim trunks expose most of his legs.

Submissions are still being accepted for this month’s topic, “End of Ages.” Send them in on Discord!

 

The Committee truly cannot wait to see everyone! This has shaped up to be a fantastic year and we hope you enjoy some leisure, puzzles, and laughs amongst friends.

This will likely be our last post before the convention begins. If you’re attending and aren’t already part of our Discord server, now is a great time to join! Be sure to mark that you’d like to receive on-site announcements in the “Channels & Roles” section so you can get important information as it becomes available.

Safe travels, everyone. We’ll see you shortly!

Curator and Drew
Mysterium 2025 Co-Chairs

Just Some Late June Reminders

Happy Thursday, everyone!

With June winding down, final preparations are ramping up. Are you Mysterium 2025 Ready? If not, we’ve got some quick reminders for you so you don’t miss out!

Deadlines

This is the final call for all excursion registrations, swag pre-orders, and discounted pre-registration. Please be sure to add and purchase all excursion tickets and swag by the end of this Tuesday, July 1st. Head to the Registration page for further details.

Additionally, our hotel group rate and guaranteed availability end on July 9th. If you haven’t booked your stay, head to the Location page for more information.

And finally, have some artwork or writing you’d like us to showcase at the convention? Be sure to send it in by July 15th! The Writing & Art Table Submissions page will tell you all you need to know.

Our badge designs are ready and the lanyard charms are looking great, so be sure to get those registrations and shopping carts submitted!

Picture of the Myst 5 tablet printed on an acrylic lanyard charm. It is attached above the upper right corner of a name tag.

Unconference Talking Topics

This year sees the return of the Unconference, in which you get to decide what to discuss. To help make it easier for folks who have ideas but may not feel comfortable sharing in front of the group, you can submit as many thoughts as you’d like via our online form.

Before the event, you’ll also be able to submit more ideas and vote on breakout discussions.

Creativity Prompt

May’s Creativity Prompt award goes to redwoodrroad’s “Gehn Meets Chicken” piece.

Drawing of Gehn standing with a piranha chicken biting his gloved finger. He holds his hand and finger in the air so the bird is dangling with its feet desperately swinging around.

Just a few days remain to submit works for this month’s theme, “Beach.” Head to Discord to join the fun!

 

Earlier this month we said it was hard to believe that Mysterium was two months away. Somehow… it’s only a month away, now! Where has the time gone?

We hope you’re doing your best to stay cool this summer. See you all soon!

Curator and Drew
Mysterium 2025 Co-Chairs

Not A Scheduled Post

Hello everyone!

While this is not a scheduled post, it most certainly is a post about our schedule. We’ve got some exciting announcements to share!

2025 Schedule is Live!

We’re happy to announce that the Mysterium 2025 schedule is ready to share with the world. This year features a mix of presentations, group activities, and excursions (more on those below). We hope this year will offer an opportunity to meet new attendees, recognize the work of our community, experience what Atlanta has to offer, and, most importantly, have some fun!

Official Excursions

We are offering two official excursions this year:

  • Friday: Breakout rooms at Breakout Games, Atlanta/Buckhead
  • Saturday: A trip to the Georgia Aquarium

If you are interested in joining, tickets may be purchased through July 1st. Head to the Registration page to learn more.

Reminders

As a reminder, we have some important deadlines approaching:

Other deadlines:

March and April Creativity Prompt Winners

We had two winners for March and April’s Creativity Prompt, “Thawing.”

In first was redwoodrroad’s Gehn piece:

Painting of Gehn as seen behind a barred window with his hand longingly touching a picture of Keta.

Second, and breaking a three-way tie, was Harley’s story, “Thawing.”

Thanks, everyone, for the great submissions this round! Voting for May’s topic, “Chicken,” is open and submissions for June’s topic, “Beach,” are being accepted on Discord.

 

It’s hard to believe Mysterium is just two months away! We hope you’re as excited as we are. We’ll send you off with a picture of this year’s pins, which safely arrived last week!

Photo of Mysterium 2025 pin set with a planet for Todelmer on the left, a Relto book with DRC helmet and cone in the middle, and piranha chicken on a beach on the right.

 

Until next time…

Curator and Drew
Mysterium 2025 Co-Chairs

Get Your Registrations, Folks!

Evening, folks! It’s time for the most anticipated announcement of the season. Well… perhaps it’s more the third-most anticipated.

Registration Open

Registration is now open! As always, we have a few tiers to choose from. Early standard registration (admission) is $25 while a premium registration (admission and a shirt) is $40. Additional swag is also available to purchase with your registration through July 1st. After this date, swag will no longer be available to pre-order and standard registration will increase to $30.

This year, we will once again be able to sell swag and registration on-site as stock and capacity permits.

Head to our registration page to get started.

More Swag? More Swag!

We’re super excited to showcase two additions to this year’s swag lineup:

Coasters

Designed by Kelly “Rayne” Coston, we have a set of four coasters featuring stained glass interpretations of the Direbo bubbles. Coasters are UV printed on clear acrylic and include rubber feet. The display stand shown in the picture below, designed (though not yet finished) by Curator, is not included or available for purchase.

Four translucent coasters featuring stained glass-inspired designs of the four Direbo age bubbles are displayed in a wooden frame, backlit with sunlight.

Lanyard Charms

Kelly “Rayne” Coston has also contributed a Tablet design lanyard charm this year. While not shown, charms will include a ring and clasp for easy attaching to your lanyard or badge.

Colorized rendering of the Myst 5 tablet

Last Call for Event Submissions

As a reminder, event submissions close on April 30th. If you are planning to submit an event concept, please keep next week’s deadline in mind.

Creativity Prompts

Likewise, submissions for this month’s creativity prompt theme of “thawing” are due by April 30th. Head to the Discord to check it out!

 

Thanks, everyone, for your patience as we work hard to bring you a great Mysterium 2025! Until next time…

Curator and Drew
Mysterium 2025 Co-Chairs

Big Chicken: Shirt Edition

Happy Friday, everyone!

We are excited to unveil this year’s shirt and pin designs! Thank you to everyone who submitted artwork. We received several wonderful pin designs this year. It’s a shame we couldn’t pick them all!

All merchandise will be available to order with your registration once that opens within the next few weeks. While pre-orders are highly encouraged, we will once again be able to sell additional items in-person this year.

T-Shirts

Front Design

Mockup of a woman wearing a dark green t-shirt with the Mysterium 2025 design on front. The design features a Bahro holding a stone tablet. The stone tablet corner designs have been replaced with the letters A, T, L, and the number 25 in D'ni. A piranha chicken stands next to the Bahro.
The front design, by Kelly “Rayne” Coston, features a Bahro holding the Tablet, adorned with the number 25 and ATL, and a Piranha Chicken.

Back Design

Mockup showing the back of a dark green t-shirt worn on a man. It depicts line art of the Marietta, GA KFC Big Chicken surrounded by stick figures in worship. Gehn is shown on the right, raising his arms as if praising the chicken or confused.
The back design, by Curator, depicts the Marietta, GA KFC Big Chicken. Gehn seemingly cannot understand why everyone is praising it instead of him…

Pins

We are very excited to offer a set of three pins this year:

Perhaps we’ll have even more to share soon…

Submission Reminders

As a reminder, event submissions are open until April 30th. Additionally, if you are working on a 2026 Location Bid, be aware that those are due no later than April 1st.

Creativity Prompts

For January/February’s topic, “Rime,” TeaL submitted this gorgeous visual interpretation:

Illustration of the Rime age from Myst

We are accepting pieces for our current prompt, “Thawing,” through the end of April on Discord.

 

That’ll do it for today. Stay tuned for our upcoming registration announcement.

Curator and Drew
Mysterium 2025 Co-Chairs