Animal Crossing New Horizons: July Overview

Although there’s always something happening every month in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, July is perhaps less eventful than others. That isn’t to say there’s nothing new to see or do in July though. The main highlights of this month are the Fishing Tournament and the Bug-Off in the northern hemisphere. There are also new bugs, fish, and sea creatures arriving in the north this month (but not in the south). Nook Shopping will also have some seasonal items available for a limited time. Plus, there’s the usual round of birthdays to make a note of. Perhaps one of your villagers is celebrating their birthday this month? Let’s see what July has to offer in New Horizons.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.

For further help with New Horizons, check out these other guides.

Events

As previously mentioned, July doesn’t have a lot going on in New Horizons in regards to events. However, there are some things going on this month. Let’s find out what’s happening in both hemispheres. Note that some events this month are exclusive to one hemisphere.

Tabanata

Occurs: July 1st – 7th

Hemisphere: Both

Tabanata, known as Starcrossed Day or the Star Festival, is a Japanese festival, although everyone can celebrate it in New Horizons. This day, which traditionally takes place on the 7th of July, is when people wish on the stars by writing their wish on a tanzaku paper and hanging it from a bamboo tree.

Although there is no actual event in New Horizons, the item you can buy from Nook Shopping is very special and serves as more than just an attractive decoration. During the first week of July, you can purchase a Bamboo Grass for 3,080 Bells. This can be interacted with. When you do, you’ll read a random tanzaku paper, in which has a villager or character’s wish. The wishes you read are quite interesting, and it’s a way of enjoying this occasion in your game.

You can read other people’s wishes on the Bamboo Grass item.

Marine Day

Occurs: July 8th – 22nd

Hemisphere: Both

This is another event marked only by Nook Shopping. You can pick up a Ship-Wheel Door Decoration for 1,300 Bells to commemorate this day. As the item’s name suggests, you can hang it on the door outside your house.

Marine Day is another holiday originating from Japan. The idea of Marine Day is to celebrate the ocean and what it does for us, such as trade and prosperity, as well as cultural exchange.

Place this nautical item on a wall or on your door to commemorate Marine Day.

Fishing Tournament

Occurs: Second Saturday of July

Hemisphere: Both

It’s that time again, to get your fishing rods ready and go and catch some fish for C.J. You can find C.J. at his fishing booth outside Resident Services, if you want to take part.

Le 14 Julliet

Occurs: July 10th – 20th

Hemisphere: Both

Le 14 Julliet, known as Bastille Day in English-speaking countries, is the national day of France to mark the French Revolution. In Paris at this time of year, a large military parade takes place in the city, followed by a spectacular fireworks display at night.

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you too can celebrate this holiday. Unfortunately, there’s no parade or even a fireworks display, but you can buy a Phrygian Cap from Nook Shopping for a limited time for 880 Bells. It comes in 5 different colors; red, orange, light green, blue, and purple. This is a hat that is actually worn by the French during this celebration. It symbolises freedom and its style was worn during the French Revolution. 

Celebrate this French holiday in July with these cool Phrygian Caps.

Bug-Off

Occurs: Third Saturday of July

Hemisphere: North Only

Flick is paying a visit to the northern hemisphere on the third Saturday of July. It’s a great month for bug-collecting, being the heart of summer. Go and catch those critters!

Cowboy Festival

Occurs: July 15th – August 15th

Hemisphere: Both

This event runs into next month, August. This Brazilian holiday, known as Festa de Peão, is another one marked by a seasonal Nook Shopping item. You can get a Rodeo-Style Springy Ride-On for 2,000 Bells. The Rodeo-Style Springy Ride-On item is similar to the Springy Ride-On item that you can get from Nook Miles Redemption. 

Get a unique Brazilian Springy Ride-On between July 15th and August 15th.

Birthdays

July brings another round of birthdays in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. One of your villagers could be celebrating their birthday this month. See the list below to find out if there’s anyone you know.

Kapp’n is one of many characters celebrating their birthday this month.

Bugs, Fish, and Sea Creatures

For you seeking to complete your Critterpedia, this section takes you through what you can find in July. There are bugs to be found on the ground, in the sky, on trees, on stumps, hiding underground, and even hidden under rocks. Fish swim in the ponds, rivers, and ocean on your island. Then there’s those deep-sea-dwelling creatures, where you have to jump into the ocean and dive.

What’s available depends not only on the month, but also the hemisphere. The critters you can find are very different in the north and south. In July, the north are currently in the heart of hot summer, while the south are settled into the cold winter.

We already have some great guides that gives a detailed overview of the bugs, fish and sea creatures available in July. Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect to find. You should also keep in mind of any critters disappearing after this month.

Bugs

Brace yourself, northern hemisphere players, because there is a LOT arriving on your island this month. There’s an extensive list of new bugs coming. These include cicidas and stags. Some of these bugs are found on trees, so keep a look out and be careful not to spook them! Some of these bugs sell for good money, so you should catch them when you see them. 

There’s only one bug leaving the north in July, and that’s the honeybee, so you won’t see it buzzing around your flowers for much longer.

In the southern hemisphere, things are very different. This is because there are no new bugs this month, neither are any leaving, so for the south, nothing is changing.

In the north, the honeybee is the only bug going away at the end of July.

Fish

North hemisphere players will get some new fish to catch this month, including the blue marlin, napoleon fish, ocean sunfish, puffer fish, and sweetfish.

There’s just one fish that will be absent from the waters after July in the north: tadpoles, which you can only find in ponds.

Unfortunately, in the south, this just isn’t the month for critter activity. Once again, as with the bugs, there are neither any new fish arriving or leaving.

The tadpole will be gone in the north by August.

Sea Creatures

In the north, you’ll find 3 new deep-sea creatures to catch: giant isopod, horseshoe crab, and moon jellyfish.

Again with the north, only one deep-sea creature (or vegetation, in this case) will disappear for a while: seaweed.

In the southern hemisphere, while there’s nothing happening with bugs or fish, there is something to make note of in the ocean. Two sea creatures will no longer be available after July: the abalone and lobster.

You won’t find seaweed in the seas of the north after July.

That rounds up July in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While it may be a quieter month, there are some Nook Shopping items to look out for, as well as the Fishing Tournament and Bug-Off. Let’s see what August brings!

What do you like best about July in New Horizons? Let us know in the comments.