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Desert Bus 2025 Total Raised
$1,059,553.89
Desert Bus 2026 Begins Oct 23, 4 PM PT
141:17:13:13
Welcome to
Desert Bus 2026
Giveaway for the LRR Prize Pack!
November 18, 2023 at 07:33 AM PST
Posted by Az

Our second to last giveaway for the year, and this is a wonderful selection of LoadingReadyRun merch! If you'd like to get your chance at this prize you just have to donate $6.69 or multiples thereof by 8:30am PST!

LoadingReadyRun, those silly goofs, have once again offered up a fine selection of their merch for a prize this year! The winner of this prize pack with receive:

- The LRR20 Hoodie in the size of their choice.
- A shirt of their choice in the size of their choice.
- The playmat of their choice.
- The pin of their choice.
- The Moonbase Spacelines Amenities Bundle, a limited edition item that is no longer for sale.

All choices may be limited by current availability of stock.

And that's a wrap on Zeta Shift!
November 18, 2023 at 06:32 AM PST
Posted by Matthews

Chat, it's been real. It's been fun. It's been real fun. But unfortunately, Zeta is done. If you missed out on watching live, no worries! We got you covered.

Zeta talked about that bread.

So, now that Zeta is done, here's what we all have planned to chill.

One last round of chaos karaoke!

We had a little This or That. As a treat.

We got some songs in!

And we finally wrapped on lego!

Friends, thank you so much. We couldn't have done Zeta every night without you, and we certainly couldn't have bussed so long. We don't have words to express our gratitude. We'll see you next year!!

Giveaway: Lord Of The Rings Commander Set
November 18, 2023 at 04:45 AM PST
Posted by Matthews

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future. Summon the Rohirrim, consult the elven council, amass the dark forces of Mordor.

This lot contains 4 of the Lord of the Rings: Journey to Middle Earth Commander Decks: The Hosts of Mordor, Riders of Rohan, and two copies of Elven Council.

Donate $9.45 or positive multiple integers thereof from starting now until 5:45am PST for a chance to win!

Giveaway: Critterpedia Shadow Boxes
November 18, 2023 at 02:55 AM PST
Posted by Matthews

This set of shadow boxes contains several crocheted creatures from the Animal Crossing: New Horizons critterpedia including: a frog, a tadpole, an anchovy, a sea star, a firefly (it really glows in the dark!), a monarch butterfly, and a red dragonfly. Hanging these on your wall will undoubtedly inspire you to complete the critterpedia, and perhaps collect some nook miles along the way!

Donate $6.85 or positive multiple integers thereof from now until 4am PST for a chance to win!!

Giveaway: Trakke Canna Backpack Bundle
November 18, 2023 at 01:28 AM PST
Posted by Matthews

Finally, a way to carry of of your rad Desert Bus merch! The Canna backpack is perfect. It has a roomy interior with space for a 13-inch laptop.

This bundle includes a Canna backpack in olive, made from durable waxed canvas, as well as a matching pencil case, a key ring, and a 3-pack of pocket journals. All of Trakke's backpacks are handmade in Glasgow, Scotland and come with a lifetime guarantee.

Donate $8.13 or positive multiple integers thereof from now until 2:30am PST for a chance to win!

Giveaway: Absurdly Long Star Wars Scarf
November 18, 2023 at 12:13 AM PST
Posted by Matthews

This unwieldy scarf is wildly impractical, absolutely gorgeous, and perfect for representing your support of either the Rebel Alliance or the Empire! The original pattern (found on Ravelry and Tumblr) called for using a much thinner yarn than was used in this piece, which would have made the this scarf a much more reasonable length (but what's the fun in that).

This galactic beauty is 8 feet (2.4 meters) long, was made with super soft worsted weight yarns, and uses the double-knit technique to create a scarf where you get to choose to represent the light side or dark side of the force. It's warm, snuggly, filled with lots of iconic Star Wars imagery, and a great addition to the collection of any scruffy-looking nerf herder.

Donate $9.44 or positive multiple integers thereof from now until 1:15am PST for a chance to win!!

Nightwatch: $1. MILLION. DOLLARS!
November 18, 2023 at 12:05 AM PST
Posted by Soraya

'Tis the night ere Omega, and all through the bus, when it came time to donate, we raised one million plus.

The Nightwatch crew bounces with the rhythm as the dollars raised counter ticks up from $999,000. The moment it hits $1million, everyone cheers! The crew of Zeta walks on-screen moments later, looking resigned.

Together, we all took on a challenge issued by James and saw the 2023 total go over $1,000,000 before the end of Nightwatch. James, we're pretty sure, has never been happier to lose!

This money (and the money raised by 16 iterations of Desert Buses for Hope that came before us) has made a huge impact on the lives of children in hospitals. It's important to pause for a moment and think about that impact.

And to hear directly from those Child's Play has helped! (With a bonus "Andrew can't hold back the tears" cam. It's very moving and we're not sorry for crying!)

Thank you, everyone, for being part of this continuously wonderful reminder of the kindness and beauty that still exists in this big world of ours.


In other news, the night started long before that, as nights so often do. The world outlook seemed dire when we found out about the sentient, malevolent hot dogs. But then the news got much better as Desert Bus for Hope was featured on a for-real broadcast from CHEK News!

We got to thinking and talking about our rumbly tummies. Which naturally led us to think about the "interesting" restrooms our tummy-rumblings have led us to. Not to be outdone, Jigpaw showed up once again to torture our taste buds. It was time for: Coke or Croak!

Nightwatch crew members are seated the close-up table, dancing in their chairs with their eyes covered or closed. In front, site manager rearranges four glasses of Coke and one of pickle juice inside a box visible only to the camera.

We've survived Jigpaw, and we've survived a full week of driving a bus through desert from Tucscon to Las Vegas. It may not be the most exciting game, but it has been a most rewarding journey. Thank to everyone who's tuned in, and from all of us here at Nightwatch, remember: when in doubt, dance it out.

Jordan dances past the couch with marching steps and pumping arms.
Ben vogues to the camera.
Ian pumps Harry the Creepy Doll above his head, then lowers the doll and rubs its butt in wide circles. He is grinning widely and dancing the whole time.

Nightwatch Nightly Nuggets: your one-stop shop for recurring features!

Giveaway: Phyrexian Praetor Wall Scrolls
November 17, 2023 at 10:25 PM PST
Posted by Soraya
A set of five horizontally aligned wall scrolls with Magic: the Gathering monsters. They're hand-painted on silk with vibrant colors.

The iconic Praetor of Phyrexia from Magic: the Gathering have been distilled into their artistic essence for the sake of these beautiful wall scrolls. Hand-painted on silk, then dry mounted on archival cotton paper, and finally framed with brocade and satin ribbons - the craft and beauty of these pieces will stop even non-Magic players in their tracks.

Donate $11.11 (or multiples thereof) before 11:11pm PT for a chance to win the Phyrexian Praetor Wall Scrolls!

Giveaway: Sly Cooper's Cane
November 17, 2023 at 08:55 PM PST
Posted by Soraya
Sly Cooper's hook cane lies on a table. One end is the classic yellow hook shape and the long haft is made of shining wood.

Creeping around on rooftops and non-lethally bopping your foes has never been easier or more tempting than it is with Sly Cooper's Cane. Live your best raccoon life andd maybe make friends with a really smart turtle while you're at it.

Donate $7.34 (or multiples thereof) before 9:45pm for a chance to win Sly Cooper's Cane

Silent Auctions: Don't Miss the Bus, Bring it Home
November 17, 2023 at 07:37 PM PST
Posted by Soraya

Each hour brings closer to the bus stop of our final day and we prepare for our bodies to metamorph into their Omega Shift variants, like werewolves on the night of the full moon. Acqiring the relics from these auctions will remind you of us even in the after times, when we go loping into the desert for the rest of the year to howl at TikToks.

A woven Desert Bus banner with the road running through the desert, into a blue horizon. The horizon is decorated with an Omega sign, the green pine tree air freshener, a DB2023 bus, and Harry the Doll's creepy face.

Drive into the horizon every day you look at this banner hanging (perhaps!) on your wall. Just remember that unlike other horizons, this road cannot take you anywhere you want to go. It can only take you from Tucson to Las Vegas and then slowly, laboriously, back.

Tablet Woven Omega Shift Banner auction ends at 2am PT.


A pair of round leather earrings. Each of the Desert Bus shift symbols has been aligned around the edges like the points of a compass, and in the center is Omega in red.

With this pair of compass rose earrings, you'll never your lose way as long as your destination is Desert Bus. Because Desert Bus is in your heart! As far as physical locations we gotta be honest it won't be much help with that.

Leather Earrings auction ends at 2am PT.