Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 2023 Events Guide

This guide will give you all the dates of the events happening in Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2023. With lots of different events happening throughout the year, it can be hard to keep track of what's coming up. This guide will give you all the dates you need to make a note of.

Animal Crossing New Horizons 2023 Events Guide

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is full of many events. You’ve got holidays, Nook Shopping seasonal specials, and big bonanzas. There are also fishing tournaments and bug offs. While these events are set on the same dates each year, it’s good to know exactly what’s happening and when. For example, you have the Bug-Off happening on the third Saturday of January in the southern hemisphere, but it’s easier if someone could give you the exact date. That’s what this guide is for.

This guide will provide you with a list of all the dates of events in 2023, as well as the hemisphere they’re taking place in. Here, you’ll also have a reminder of seasonal changes, such as when the snow arrives and melts, when to start collecting those summer shells, what Nook Shopping items to look out for, and more. We’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing! If you want a more detailed overview of each month, be sure to check out our in-depth guides.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available on Nintendo Switch.

For more New Horizons guides, take a look at our complete collection of Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2023 Events Dates

Here, we’ll list every event you need to know of in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, marking the actual date it’s occurring in 2023. A note will be made of which hemisphere the event will take place in. We’ll list the events in order of the dates, starting in January.

In this guide, expect to see the dates for the following:

  • Events such as seasonal holidays
  • Bug-Offs and Fishing Tournaments
  • Nook Shopping seasonal items
  • Any notable seasonal changes

January

It’s January, the beginning of a new year. The Christmas season is wrapping up, but the New Year celebrations continue with plenty of items from Nook Shopping to decorate your home with. There’s also the Fishing Tournament, taking place in both hemispheres on the 14th. The Bug-Off is also taking place on the 21st, but only in the southern hemisphere.

 

One other thing: do not forget to get up early to watch the spectacular sunrise on the 1st of January. You should see the sun first appear at 7am over the horizon. You’ll see the sun again as it lowers in the sky at around 4pm, finally disappearing at around half five. It’s a sight to behold!

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our January Overview guide.

If you want to see the sun on January 1st, tune in at 7-8:30am and 4-5:30pm.

If you want to see the sun on January 1st, tune in at 7-8:30am and 4-5:30pm.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
New Year’s Sunrise and Sunset 1st Both
New Year’s Day Items Ends 5th Both
Nanakusa Gayu Item Available 5th – 7th Both
Festive Series Ends 6th Both
Fishing Tournament 14th Both
Big Game Celebration Items Available 15th Both
Bug-Off 21st South
Groundhog Day Item Available 25th Both
Setsubun Item Available 25th Both
Lunar New Year Items Available 30th Both
Seollal Item Available 30th Both

February

In February, any remaining New Year’s celebrations ends. The big event of February in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is Festivale, a huge party that cannot be missed. This year, it’s taking place on the 20th. For southern hemisphere players, the Bug-Off is back on the 18th. Meanwhile, seasonal changes are happening in the north. The snow will be gone on the 25th, and spring will officially begin, with spring bamboo available to chop down from bamboo to craft unique items.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our February Overview guide.

Viva Festivale!

Viva Festivale!

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Valentine’s Day Items Available 1st – 14th Both
Lunar New Year Items Ends 6th Both
Seollal Item Ends 6th Both
Carnival of Venice Item Available 7th Both
Big Game Celebration Items Ends 15th Both
Bug-Off 18th South
Festivale 20th Both
Frozen Series Ends 24th North
Snowflake Series Ends 24th North
Winter Clothing Ends 24th North
Spring Bamboo Series Starts 25th North
Hinamatsuri Item Available 25th Both
Snow Melts 25th North
Summer Clothing Ends 28th (29th in Leap Year) South
Summer Shells Ends 28th (29th in Leap Year) South

March

March is a pretty quiet month in New Horizons for both hemispheres. However, there are Nook Shopping items to look out for. In the south, this is also the month when fall arrives, where you can find Acorns and Pine Cones in trees.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our March Overview guide.

Shamrock Day features some fun items, all in green, naturally.

Shamrock Day features some fun items, all in green, naturally.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Acorn & Pine Cone Season Begins 1st South
Pi Day Item Available 1st – 14th Both
Hinamatsuri Item Ends 3rd Both
Shamrock Day Items Available 10th – 17th Both
April Fool’s Day Item Available 26th Both

April

April hosts another big unmissable event in both hemispheres in New Horizons: Bunny Day! While the big day itself is on the 9th, the week leading up to it (starting the 2nd), you can start gathering those all-important eggs around your island. Also, don’t forget other important events like the Fishing Tournament on the 8th, the beautiful Cherry Blossom season in the first third of the month (north only), plus Prom Season is taking place all throughout April, with special items available at Nook Shopping and the Able Sisters.

There’s another event to watch out for. The May Day maze is available from April 29th and ends in May on the 7th. Note that you can only do the maze once, so pick a good time to do it and make the most of it!

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our April Overview guide.

For 2023, Bunny Day will be taking place on April the 9th.

For 2023, Bunny Day will be taking place on April the 9th.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
April Fool’s Day Item Ends 1st Both
Prom Season 1st – 30th Both
Cherry Blossom Season 1st – 10th North
Singmogil 1st – 10th Both
Bunny Day 2nd – 9th Both
Nature Day 4th – 22nd Both
Fishing Tournament 8th Both
Children’s Day Items Available 28th Both
May Day Begins 29th Both

May 

The May Day event continues into May, if you haven’t done it yet. There’s plenty of time, and it’s fun! There’s also International Museum Day, where you can collect stamps around the museum. If you’re in the south, the fall is in full swing. Look out for mushrooms all month, as well as maple leaves in the second half. In the north, the spring ends on the 31st of May in New Horizons, so those spring bamboo won’t be available afterwards. There’s Nook Shopping stuff to look for as well.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our May Overview guide.

Don't forget to check out the May Day maze. You can only do it once a year!

Don’t forget to check out the May Day maze. You can only do it once a year!

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Mother’s Day Item Available 1st – 31st Both
Mushroom Season 1st – 31st South
Children’s Day Items Ends 5th Both
May Day Ends May 7th Both
Maple Leaf Season 16th – 25th South
International Museum Day 18th – 31st Both
Cheese Rolling Item Available 22nd – 31st  Both
Spring Bamboo Season Ends 31st North

June

June is another busy month in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The north and south hemispheres have contrasting experiences; north players will find summer shells washed up on their beaches, and the summer solstice takes place, while southern players will see snow from the 11th and celebrate the winter solstice. The northern hemisphere will also see its first Bug-Off of the year, now that summer has arrived. There are plenty of critters to catch!

The big event of June though, whichever hemisphere you’re playing in, is Wedding Season. Make sure to drop round to Harv’s Island and snap some romantic shots for Cyrus and Reese.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our June Overview guide.

Cyrus and Reese are celebrating their wedding anniversary in June and need your assistance.

Cyrus and Reese are celebrating their wedding anniversary in June and need your assistance.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Summer Clothing Available 1st North
Summer Shells Available 1st North
Winter Clothing Available 1st South
Father’s Day 1st – 30th Both
Wedding Season 1st – 30th Both
International Children’s Day 1st – 15th Both
Dano Festival 5th – 14th Both
Dragon Boat Festival 5th – 14th Both
Acorn & Pine Cone Season Ends 10th South
Snow Arrives 11th South
Snowflake Season Begins 11th South
Frozen Series Available 11th South
Summer Solstice 15th – 22nd North
Winter Solstice 15th – 22nd South
Bug-Off 24th North

July

There’s nothing too major happening in July, except for another Fishing Tournament on the 8th in both hemispheres and another Bug-Off in the north on the 22nd. There are some Nook Shopping items to grab as well, so make sure to pick those up while you can.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our July Overview guide.

You can celebrate the French holiday Le 14 Juillet in New Horizons.

You can celebrate the French holiday Le 14 Juillet in New Horizons.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Tabanata 1st – 7th Both
Fishing Tournament 8th Both
Marine Day 8th – 22nd Both
Le 14 Juillet 10th – 20th Both
Cowboy Festival Item Available 15th Both
Bug-Off 22nd North

August

August is all about the spectacular fireworks shows you get to watch every Sunday night. This is the only time to watch fireworks, except for the New Year’s Countdown, so make the most of them. This is a month of things ending, such as snow melting in the south and marking the beginning of spring, as well as the end of summer in the north. Don’t miss the Bug-Off in the north on the 26th either.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our August Overview guide.

Seeing the fireworks at least once in August is a must.

Seeing the fireworks at least once in August is a must.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Fireworks 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th Both
Cowherd and Weaver Girl Day Items Available 5th – 14th Both
Obon Items Available 10th – 16th Both
Cowboy Festival Item Ends 15th Both
Tomato Festival T-Shirt Available 20th – 31st Both
Bug-Off 26th North
Snowflake Series Ends 24th South
Snow Melts 25th South
Spring Bamboo Season Begins 25th South
Summer Shells Ends 30th North

September

Autumn has begun in the north in September, and so the Acorns and Pine Cones are available to gather in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There’s a Bug-Off as well on the 23rd. Also, don’t miss the Nook Shopping specials.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our September Overview guide.

There are some great autumnal items available in September.

There are some great autumnal items available in September.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Acorn & Pine Cone Season Begins 1st North
Grape Harvest Item Available 1st – 30th Both
Chuseok Item Available 12th – 21st Both
Moon Viewing Day Items Available 12th – 21st Both
Bug-Off 23rd North

October

October is all about one big spooktacular event: Halloween! You’ve got all month to prepare for this fun event. You should grow plenty of pumpkins so you can craft Halloween items with them. Meanwhile, the south gets to enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms, and both hemispheres can enjoy the Fishing Tournament on the 14th.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our October Overview guide.

All of October builds up to Halloween.

All of October builds up to Halloween.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Halloween Items Available 1st – 31st Both
Spooky Items Available 1st – 31st Both
Cherry Blossom Season 1st – 10th South
Fishing Tournament 14th Both
Day of the Dead Item Available 25th Both
Halloween 31st Both

November

The fall colors have arrived in the northern hemisphere in November, as well as the mushrooms. The Bug-Off is taking place for the first time in a while in the south on the 18th. However, the big event overshadowing everything else in November is Turkey Day, where you get to help Franklin prepare some tasty dishes.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our November Overview guide.

Franklin comes to the island on the 23rd for Turkey Day.

Franklin comes to the island on the 23rd for Turkey Day.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Mushroom Season 1st – 30th North
Lantern Festival Item Available 1st – 11th Both
Day of the Dead Item Ends 3rd Both
Shichi-Go-San Item Available 11th – 20th Both
Maple Leaf Season 16th – 25th North
Bug-Off 18th South
Turkey Day 23rd Both

December

December is probably the biggest month in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, jam-packed with Nook Shopping purchases, events, and collectibles. In the north, watch out for the snow arriving on the 11th. You should see snow flurries before then, but it won’t settle until the 11th. In the south, you can find summer shells on the beaches. The summer and winter solstices are happening in December: the winter solstice in the north, and the summer solstice in the south. There’s also a Bug-Off in the south on the 16th.

There are 2 major events in December in New Horizons: Toy Day and the New Year’s Countdown. These events are certainly not ones to miss. Toy Day takes place on the 24th, and the New Year’s Countdown starts at 11pm on the 31st.

For more details, including birthdays and creatures, see our December Overview guide.

Toy Day is on the 24th of December.

Toy Day is on the 24th of December.

Event Name Date Hemisphere
Summer Shells Available 1st South
Summer Clothing Available 1st South
Winter Clothing Available 1st North
Toy Day Items Available 1st – 24th Both
Acorn & Pine Cone Season Ends 10th North
Snow Arrives 11th North
Snowflake Season Begins 11th North
Frozen Series Begins  11th North
Festive Series Begins 15th Both
Summer Solstice Items Available 15th – 22nd South
Winter Solstice Items Available 15th – 22nd North
Bug-Off 16th South
New Year’s Eve Items Available 22nd – 31st Both
Toy Day 24th Both
Shōgatsu Item Available 26th Both
New Year’s Day Items Available 26th Both
Ōmisoka Item Available 26th – 31st Both
Silvester Item Available 26th – 31st Both
New Year’s Countdown 31st Both

 

That’s a list of all events in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, from major holidays to Nook Shopping exclusives. Hopefully this list will help you prepare for 2023 in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and help you keep track of everything you need to know that’s going on, so you don’t miss anything.

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