Ranking Every Event in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Featuring Exclusive Items

Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a dynamic lineup of events throughout the year, allowing players to engage in real-life holidays with specially themed in-game items. While many of these events come with themed items, a select few introduce exclusive products to the shops, providing a fresh way for players to enrich their island aesthetics for the festivities.

The seasonal events in Animal Crossing: New Horizons vary significantly in their execution. Some events unfold over several days, delivering a wealth of gameplay modifications alongside a broad array of new items, while others last merely a day, yielding just one or two items. Though the shorter events may seem lackluster, they still provide players with enjoyable activities amidst the game’s myriad of experiences.

Nature Day Has Lost Its Interactive Element

Nature Day Events Disappeared After an Update

Nature Day once stood as one of the more engaging events in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, allowing players to accumulate Nook Miles through nature-centric tasks for twelve days. Players earned rewards like 200 Nook Miles for planting specific flowers, such as Lilies and Cosmos. However, after the introduction of version 1.9.0 in 2021, this vibrant celebration has been rendered a mere footnote in the game, with no interactive gameplay—only a cool globe available from Nook Shopping.

This change feels disheartening; the globe lacks thematic coherence with Nature Day, which could have been visually represented through flora rather than a generic item located in the shop.

Valentine’s Day: Charming Yet Lackluster

Limited Activities Define Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a polarizing holiday in the real world, and this is likely reflected in Animal Crossing’s approach, leading to a muted event with minimal gameplay changes. Players can expect to receive special letters from Isabelle and close friends, which include gifts like a chocolate heart or heart-shaped bouquet, while Brewster offers hot chocolate and holiday-themed dialogue.

While players can send their own valentines, new exclusive items are disappointingly limited to the same chocolate heart and bouquet they receive, which brings little to the table. Due to the lack of engaging activities and novelty, Valentine’s Day stands out as one of the more underwhelming celebrations in the Animal Crossing calendar.

Shamrock Day: Festive Items with Few Activities

Celebratory Items Galore, But No Engaging Events

Shamrock Day takes a lighthearted approach to St. Patrick’s Day within the game. Though there aren’t interactive activities tied to this holiday, players can delight in a selection of festive items, which fill the void left by the lack of engagement. Shamrock-themed items become accessible through Nook Shopping starting March 10, followed by clothing options available closer to St. Patrick’s Day.

The offerings include a shamrock doorplate that reads “fáilte!”(an Irish welcome), shamrock rugs, and a refreshing green shamrock soda. Players can also acquire a complete Leprechaun outfit including a shamrock suit, hat, and shoes from Able Sisters. A DIY recipe for a shamrock wand can be found from floating balloons during the event, although it remains absent from shop inventories.

Setsubun: Celebrate a Japanese Tradition

Experience the Fun of Bean Scattering

Setsubun marks the end of winter in traditional Japanese culture, where families throw roasted soybeans to chase away evil spirits. Participants may also wear oni masks for added fun during this celebration. Animal Crossing: New Horizons reflects this cultural tradition by offering unique Setsubun items, available for purchase starting in late January.

Players can obtain a bean-tossing kit from Nook Shopping and later access an ogre costume and okame mask from Able Sisters during the event period from February 1st to 3rd, encouraging players to participate in the beans scattering fun.

Turkey Day: A Culinary Adventure

Gather Ingredients for a Feast

During the beloved Turkey Day event, coinciding with American Thanksgiving, players assist a charming turkey chef named Franklin in gathering ingredients for a grand feast. Players can collect fish, clams, and ingredients from villagers to prepare various recipes, receiving Turkey Day-themed rewards upon completion.

Some of these rewards can also be acquired from Nook’s Cranny, such as the Turkey Day casserole, chair, decorations, and more. The event may be limited to just one day, but the quest-like nature of gathering ingredients makes Turkey Day significantly more engaging than many other events.

Countdown: Celebrate the New Year Worldwide

Global Traditions Reflected in New Year Celebrations

The Countdown event serves as Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ New Year festivities, returning annually on December 31. A prominent countdown clock sets the stage at Resident Services, where players can collect various items, such as light sticks from Isabelle and party poppers from Tom Nook. A special New Year’s hat or silk hat can be purchased through Nook, adding a festive touch to the celebration.

Starting December 22, Nook Shopping unveils items inspired by international New Year customs, like Japanese Toshikoshi soba and a Spanish twelve-grapes dish. Midnight brings a unique celebration at Resident Services, but some may find it less appealing to be on the console at that hour instead of enjoying the standard New Year festivities.

Bunny Day: An Egg-Hunting Extravaganza

Search for Hidden Eggs on Your Island

Bunny Day, recurring like Toy Day, has captured the hearts of players in previous iterations of Animal Crossing games. Spanning eight days, this event culminates in Easter festivities, encouraging players to hunt for eggs scattered across their islands and within mystery islands. Five types of eggs are hidden across various locations, enabling players to craft enchanting Bunny Day items.

In preparation for Bunny Day, players can purchase themed furniture items from Nook’s Cranny, with the Bunny Day topiary—a delightful hedge shaped like a rabbit holding an egg—being a highlight. Although the excitement wanes once players craft all available items, the egg hunt itself allows for meaningful interaction and enjoyment.

Toy Day: Gift Giving and Cheer

A Festive Gift-Giving Experience

Firmly rooted in Animal Crossing tradition, Toy Day offers a celebratory experience reminiscent of Christmas. Players embody Jingle the Reindeer on December 24, tasked with delivering gifts to their villager friends. Upon successful deliveries, players are rewarded with prizes while villagers reciprocate with gifts to strengthen friendship bonds.

In anticipation of Toy Day, players can buy toys and festive items from Nook’s Cranny, though villagers often present gifts equivalent to those available in shops. This overlapping nature of gifts leads players to consider holding off on prior purchases until the event concludes. While Toy Day may be brief, its charm and interaction make it a standout occasion.

Festivale: A Vibrant Celebration

Interactive Festivities with Cool Items

Festivale embodies the essence of Carnival, taking place on a single day that coincides with Mardi Gras. Players can engage in the celebration by donning vibrant outfits purchased from Able Sisters from early February. On the event day, villagers join in, enhancing the festivity atmosphere. Additionally, Nook’s Cranny offers themed furniture and reactions, further immersing players in the experience.

During Festivale, players gather colorful feathers for the flamboyant Pavé the peacock. After gathering a certain amount, Pavé gifts players with a spectacular peacock float, making this event unique with some of the most visually impressive items, including interactive confetti machines.

Wedding Season: The Most Involved Celebration

A Week of Romantic Activities Awaits

Wedding Season in Animal Crossing: New Horizons transforms the month of June into a delightful experience filled with activities and interactions. Players are invited to join Harvey on his island to assist in arranging wedding-themed photo shoots that feature various wedding items available for purchase from the adorable alpaca couple, Reese and Cyrus. After completing several photo sessions, players will engineer a full wedding party.

Moreover, the event features a diverse range of wedding items available for sale throughout the month at both Able Sisters and via Nook Shopping. Players can find traditional Shinto wedding attire as well as enchanting decorations, including a nuptial bell and flower-petal basket to enhance the wedding theme.

Halloween: An Immersive Spooktacular

Engaging and Thematically Cohesive

Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Halloween celebration fully embraces the spirit of Halloween, stretching throughout October. Players can purchase candy daily, which they can later distribute to villagers in exchange for themed items. On Halloween night, villagers wear whimsical costumes, and Jack the pumpkin-headed overseer adds to the festivity.

Throughout the month, costume items are available for players to don during the celebration. Players, dressed for success, can earn candy from villagers or face the consequence of playful tricks, such as receiving face paint from villagers if they deny candy requests. This delightful interaction emphasizes the themed cohesion of Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Halloween festivities, making it one of the standout events in the game.

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