Game wiki
Stardew Valley Festivals Guide
Festival guide for dates, entry windows, shop closures, time rules, animals, friendship effects, special rewards, and route planning.
Quick facts
Mayor Lewis sends a letter before each major festival, and a pop-up announces when the festival begins.
Most festivals lock homes and shops for the day, but Desert Festival, Trout Derby, SquidFest, and Night Market keep normal time moving.
Talking to villagers at festivals gives friendship points, and some festivals add larger friendship effects or gift bonuses.
Festival day rules
A festival changes the shape of the day. For most daytime festivals, buildings are locked and leaving the festival sends the player home late at night. Mini festivals and Night Market behave more like normal days with special activities layered on top.
- Do shop errands before daytime festivals that lock homes and shops.
- Feed and pet animals yourself during Night Market, Desert Festival, Trout Derby, and SquidFest.
- Use late-night festivals like Spirit's Eve and Moonlight Jellies after finishing normal chores.
Reward planning
Festival rewards touch many long-term goals: rarecrows, Stardrop, Prize Tickets, friendship, seasonal seeds, unique fish, recipes, and collection items.
- Egg Festival matters for Strawberry Seeds in Spring Year 1.
- Stardew Valley Fair is a major Stardrop and Star Token route.
- Night Market and SquidFest add rare fish, books, prizes, and winter routing decisions.