It's official now: Patch 2.4.3 is indeed going live. You can download it now by logging into the game, and when the servers go up again, you can go buy mounts for all your level 30 alts. Here's some of the other highlights of the patch:

• Epic gems can be purchased for Arena points -- and yes, the Arena versions are not unique-equipped!
• You can now undertake a quest to beat up an old man and steal his hat.
• Haris Pilton is showing off her new line of 22-slot designer handbags, now for sale in Shattrath's Lower City.
• A new holiday boss and holiday boss loot appeared on the test server and will hopefully appear in time on live. Coren Direbrew is now a 5-man boss for the Brewfest, and new Headless Horseman loot should appear this Hallow's End.
• There was a bit of a nerf for the Rogue talent Cheat Death
• WWI attendees can now use their pet code to grab their own pet archangel!
• The new in-game loot from the Hunt for Illidan TCG expansion is now live.
• There were many profession changes as well, including new tailoring patterns.

You can also check out the full official patch notes (via MMO-Champion) after the break.

The first Darkmoon Faire event of the year is set to kick off this weekend (and indeed, has probably already started) in Orlando, Florida. If you're around down there and have any interest in the TCG at all, it's a lot of fun -- they're going to have lots of beginner and advanced tournaments, of course, and an ingame leveling contest on an event server, as well as tips on how to build the best deck and do some card crafting. I went to the Chicago event a little while ago, and I can confirm it's a fun way to spend a weekend afternoon. As always, if you go, take pictures and drop us a note when you get back.

In other TCG news, reader Dave (thanks!) sent us a note about what looks to be a brand new booster set, called The Hunt for Illidan. The set was announced quite a while ago, but with a release date of July 2008, retailers are just now ordering the cards. And there will be new loot cards in the new set, so we'll keep an eye out to see what else Blizzard has up their sleeve for new TCG rewards.