Stardew Valley Festivals: Annual Events, Ranked 2025

Stardew Valley is more than just a farming simulation-it’s a vibrant world filled with traditions, celebrations, and community spirit. Stardew Valley Festivals break the routine of daily farm life, offering players unique opportunities to win prizes, deepen relationships, and experience the heart of Pelican Town.

This comprehensive guide explores every Stardew Valley apk 1.6 festival, including the Egg Festival, Desert Festival, Fall Festival, Festival of Ice, and more. Whether you’re a new farmer or a seasoned pro, understanding these events will help you make the most of every season.

Spring Festivals in Stardew Valley

Egg Festival (Spring 13)

The Egg Festival is the first major event of the year, held on the 13th of Spring in Pelican Town Square. The festivities begin at 9am and end at 2pm, after which you’ll be transported back to your farm at 10pm. The festival is split into two main parts

Socializing and Shopping: All villagers (except a few like Krobus and Sandy) gather in the square, offering a perfect chance to boost friendships. Pierre’s booth sells exclusive items, most notably Strawberry Seeds-a must-buy for maximizing spring profits, as they can be harvested twice before summer if planted right after the festival.
Egg Hunt: The highlight is the Egg Hunt, where you and other villagers race to collect hidden eggs in 50 seconds. The number of eggs needed to win varies by player count (9 in single-player). Winning for the first time nets you a Straw Hat; subsequent wins earn Prize Tickets.
Mastering the best egg festival route-targeting clusters behind Pierre’s, near George’s house, and around the graveyard-is key to victory.

Desert Festival (Spring 15–17)

Introduced in the 1.6 update, the Desert Festival is a three-day extravaganza held in the Calico Desert, accessible after unlocking the bus. It’s one of the largest festivals in Stardew Valley, packed with

Attractions and Activities: The event features races, a chef’s contest, food stalls, and a variety of challenges. Players can participate in the desert festival race, answer trivia questions, and sample unique desert festival food.
Stalls and Shopping: Vendors offer exclusive items and treats unavailable elsewhere.
Socializing: The festival is a rare chance to interact with Sandy and other desert dwellers.

Flower Dance Festival (Spring 24)

The Flower Dance is a romantic celebration in the southwest corner of Cindersap Forest, accessible via a temporary bridge. The event runs from 9am to 2pm.

Main Attraction: The dance itself, where you can invite eligible bachelors or bachelorettes. Successfully dancing with someone adds a full heart to your relationship, making it a key event for those pursuing marriage.
Shopping: Pierre sells decorative items like the Tub o’ Flowers recipe, Wall Flowers, and other seasonal décor.
Preparation Tips: You need at least four hearts with a villager to dance with them, so plan your gifts and interactions ahead of time.

Summer Festivals in Stardew Valley

Luau Festival (Summer 11)

The Luau Festival is a tropical-themed festival on the beach, where villagers contribute ingredients to a communal soup. The quality of your contribution affects your friendship with the entire town.

Trout Derby Festival (Summer 20–21, 1.6 Update)

A fishing competition where players aim to catch the most or largest trout for prizes.

Dance of the Moonlight Jellies (Summer 28)

A serene beach festival marking the end of summer, where villagers gather to watch glowing jellyfish drift by.

Fall Festivals in Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley Fair Event (Fall 16)

The Stardew Valley Fair is the biggest event of the fall, held in the town square from 9am to 3pm. It’s filled with minigames, contests, and a bustling fairground atmosphere.

Grange Display: Show off your best produce, artisan goods, and animal products. The higher the quality and variety, the better your score. Beating Pierre in the contest earns you Star Tokens.
Earning Star Tokens: Participate in minigames like fishing, strength tests, and the wheel of chance. Tokens can be exchanged for rare items, including the coveted Stardrop.
Best Items for Grange Display: Use high-quality crops, gold-star animal products, and artisan goods to maximize your score.

Spirit’s Eve Festival (Fall 27)

Stardew Valley’s Halloween celebration, Spirit’s Eve, features a spooky maze with hidden prizes and a festive atmosphere. The maze changes each year, and the Golden Pumpkin is the grand reward.

Winter Festivals in Stardew Valley

Festival of Ice (Winter 8)

Held in Cindersap Forest, the Festival of Ice is the first winter celebration, featuring snowmen, ice sculptures, and an ice fishing competition. The event runs from 9am to 2pm.

Ice Fishing Contest: Compete against villagers to catch the most fish within a time limit. Winning earns you fishing-related prizes.
Shopping: The Traveling Merchant offers unique winter-themed items.

Squid Festival (Winter 12, 1.6 Update)

A new winter event focused on squid fishing, offering unique rewards for catching the most or largest squid.

Night Market Festival (Winter 15–17)

A three-night festival on the beach, featuring traveling merchants, boat rides, and rare items.

Feast of the Winter Star (Winter 25)

The Feast of the Winter Star is Stardew Valley’s version of Christmas, held on Winter 25 in the town square from 9am to 2pm. The main event is a Secret Santa gift exchange.

Gift-Giving: Each year, you’re assigned a villager to give a present to, and you’ll receive a gift from another villager. Giving a thoughtful gift boosts your friendship significantly.
Best Gifts: Aim for each villager’s loved items for the best results.

Other Notable Festivals and Seasonal Events

Festival of Seasons: A new event introduced in updates, featuring rotating seasonal activities and exclusive tickets.
Jellyfish Festival: Another name for Dance of the Moonlight Jellies.
Harvest Festival: Often refers to the Stardew Valley Fair or Spirit’s Eve, celebrating the autumn harvest.

Festival Locations and Access

Most festivals take place in Pelican Town Square, but some (like the Flower Dance and Festival of Ice) are held in Cindersap Forest or the Calico Desert. On festival days, certain areas are blocked off, and you must enter the festival area between 9am and 2pm (unless otherwise specified).

Festival Comparison Table

Festival Name	Season	Date(s)	Location	Main Attraction	Unique Rewards
Egg Festival	Spring	13	Pelican Town	Egg Hunt	Straw Hat, Prize Tickets, Seeds
Desert Festival	Spring	15–17	Calico Desert	Races, Stalls, Challenges	Exclusive items, food
Flower Dance	Spring	24	Cindersap Forest	Dance with Villagers	Relationship boost, decorations
Luau	Summer	11	Beach	Communal Soup	Town-wide friendship boost
Stardew Valley Fair	Fall	16	Pelican Town	Grange Display, Minigames	Star Tokens, Stardrop, rare items
Spirit’s Eve	Fall	27	Pelican Town	Haunted Maze	Golden Pumpkin
Festival of Ice	Winter	8	Cindersap Forest	Ice Fishing Contest	Fishing gear, decorations
SquidFest	Winter	12	Beach	Squid Fishing	Unique squid rewards
Night Market	Winter	15–17	Beach	Shopping, Boat Rides	Rare items, unique experiences
Feast of the Winter Star	Winter	25	Pelican Town	Secret Gift Exchange	Friendship boost, random gifts

FAQs

Where is the flower festival in Stardew Valley?

The Flower Dance occurs in Cindersap Forest (south of your farm) on Spring 24. Enter via the south exit near Marnie’s ranch.

Where is the ice festival in Stardew Valley?

The Festival of Ice takes place at the beach on Winter 8. Head to the usual fishing area near Elliott’s cabin.

Where is the egg festival in Stardew Valley?

The Egg Festival happens in Pelican Town square on Spring 13. Just walk into town from your farm.

Where is the dance festival in Stardew Valley?

This refers to the Flower Dance (Spring 24) in Cindersap Forest, west of the wizard’s tower.

Where is the fall festival in Stardew Valley?

The Stardew Valley Fair occurs in Pelican Town square on Fall 16. Pierre’s stall marks the entrance.

Where is the winter festival in Stardew Valley?

The Feast of the Winter Star takes place in Pelican Town square on Winter 25.

Where is the spring festival in Stardew Valley?

The Egg Festival (Spring 13) is the only spring festival, held in Pelican Town square.

What to do at the winter star festival in Stardew Valley?

Participate in the gift exchange (check your mailbox for assigned NPC)
Talk to villagers for friendship points
Enjoy free seasonal food at the buffet tables

What to do at the egg festival in Stardew Valley?

Compete in the Egg Hunt (win by collecting 9+ eggs)
Buy Strawberry Seeds from Pierre (best Spring crop)
Eat free snacks at the buffet

What to do at the fall festival in Stardew Valley?

Enter the Grange Display (aim for 90+ points to win)
Play carnival games (Token Shop unlocks rare items)
Buy rarecrow #1 for 500 tokens

What to do at the spirit’s eve festival in Stardew Valley?

Complete the maze (golden pumpkin reward at end)
Buy Void Ghost and Golden Pumpkin from merchant
Experience the unique spooky ambiance

How to win the egg festival in Stardew Valley?

Immediately go right to graveyard (4 eggs)
Then left through bushes to Haley’s house (3 eggs)
Finish near JojaMart (2 eggs). Total: 9 in ~45 seconds.

How to win the festival of ice in Stardew Valley?

For the fishing contest:

Use Cork Bobber/Trap Bobber
Fish near bubbles for instant bites
Catch 5+ fish to guarantee victory

How to win the fall festival in Stardew Valley?

Grange Display tips:

Use iridium quality items (6 categories minimum)
Include high-value items like truffle oil, ancient fruit wine
Rainbow shells count as “foraged” category

How to complete the flower dance in Stardew Valley?

To dance with an NPC:

Reach 4+ hearts with them before Spring 24
Wear nice clothes (not boots or rings)
Select “Ask to Dance” during the event

How to start the winter festival in Stardew Valley?

Simply enter Pelican Town between 9am-2pm on Winter 25. No preparation needed.

Can you give gifts during festivals in Stardew Valley?

No, gifting is disabled during festivals (except Winter Star assigned gift).

Do shops close during festivals in Stardew Valley?

Yes, all shops are closed on festival days until the event ends at 2pm.

Best items to bring to the fall festival in Stardew Valley?

Top Grange Display items:

Iridium Large Milk (animal)
Gold Starfruit (fruit)
Truffle Oil (artisan)
Diamond (mineral)
Ancient Fruit Wine (artisan)

Conclusion

Stardew Valley festivals are more than just calendar markers-they’re core to the game’s charm, offering rewards, social opportunities, and a sense of community. By planning ahead for each festival, optimizing your participation, and using the right SEO strategies, you can maximize both your in-game success and your content’s visibility.

Whether you’re racing for eggs, fishing on ice, or dancing among flowers, every festival brings the valley to life.