Linden Lab has announced that it will celebrate Second Life's 5th Birthday by holding a two-week long Virtual World Fair, which will feature roundtable discussions, parties and exhibits showcasing the creativity of its users and innovative uses of the Second Life platform.

The fair will kick off with founder and former CEO Philip Rosedale and current CEO Mark Kindom each delivering an opening address. Lotus Development Corporation founder and Linden Lab board member Mitch Kapor will offer closing remarks.

The Virtual World Fair, which will take place in several Second Life regions from June 23 to July 7, will be open to Second Life users, Linden Lab employees, and industry thought leaders. The event will explore topics such as Second Life's evolving culture, the role of virtual worlds in business, and the platform's opportunities for areas such as health care and education.

Said Rosedale: “It’s amazing to look back and reflect on everything that we’ve accomplished in such a short time. From our initial launch, to the decision to allow Residents to retain their IP, to opening up the Platform to third parties, most of the decisions we’ve made have gone against the grain of conventional wisdom and that’s made all the difference."

He continued: “While we’ve come a long way in our first five years and have surmounted significant challenges, there’s still plenty of work left as we continue to advance the medium. With Mark’s leadership and the passion and creativity of our Residents we are extremely excited about what the future holds and the evolving role that Second Life will play in business, arts, education and communication in general.”