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What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been

50

Complete the world events achievements listed below.

Criteria:

Reward:

[Violet Proto-Drake], Master Riding

What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been is an achievement. If you are highly active in all of the seasonal world events — Lunar Festival, Love is in the Air, Noblegarden, Children's Week, Midsummer, Brewfest, Hallow's End, and Winter Veil — you will gain 50 as well as a rare mount, [Violet Proto-Drake] and the Master Riding skill. This achievement takes the longest amount of time to complete, requiring at least nine months - and probably longer - to complete all of the prerequisites (criteria).

A letter from Alexstrasza the Life-Binder

Upon completion, players receive the [Reins of the Violet Proto-Drake], attached to a letter from Alexstrasza:

Time and Time Again

With the drums of war pounding in the distance, it is easy for the denizens of Azeroth to forget all that life has to offer.

You, on the other hand, have maintained the dignity of the good races of Azeroth with your ability to remember what we fight for. To not celebrate our victories is another form of defeat. Remember that well, reveler.

May others be inspired by your good cheer.

Alexstrasza the Life-Binder

Notes

The earliest this achievement could be earned was 20 September 2009 (first day of 2009 Brewfest event).
The name of this achievement is commonly credited as a lyric from the Grateful Dead song "Truckin'"

"Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me;

Other times, I can barely see.

Lately it occurs to me ...

What a long, strange trip it's been."

Blizzard has stated they don't plan to add Pilgrim to the achievement criteria. ^[1]
Prior to Cataclysm, this was the only way to get a 310% speed mount without top-end raiding, top-end PvP or an extremely rare drop. Since, learning Master Riding improves all flying mounts to 310% speed.
Earning this mount will also award Master Riding for free.

Philosophy

A note about Blizzard's philosophy on holiday achievements:

Re: Now We're Cookin' | 2009-09-24 17:55 | Kisirani

Some holiday achievements require near maximum-level PvE content. This remains so even if people aren't inclined to reach maximum level.

Some holiday achievements require players to go into battlegrounds. This remains so even if people aren't inclined to get honorable kills on their character.

And, yes, some holiday achievements require skill in a secondary profession, and we have no plans to change that.

The holiday achievements are not necessary to advance your character. If you want a title or the mount reward at the very end of What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been, however, you will have to participate at least marginally in all these aspects of the game.

The holidays are designed to allow a large breadth of the playerbase to participate in some form, and there's normally something for you to do within the holiday itself. How much you choose to participate is up to you. If you choose to pursue the achievements, then you will have to participate in all these aspects of gameplay. That is absolutely by design and not something we plan to change currently.

That said, if leveling your cooking for Winter Veil seems like a tedious task, I suggest you wait until Pilgrim's Bounty.... :)

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Patch changes

Patch 4.0.3 (15-Nov-2010): What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been now awards Master Riding.
Patch 3.1.0 (14-Apr-2009): Noble Gardener is now required for the meta-achievement What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been.
/ Patch 3.0.2 (14-Oct-2008): Added.