Animal Crossing New Horizons: February Overview

February might be the shortest month of the year, but it’s packed with exciting events in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It’s also a month of many changes. In the north hemisphere, the snow will disappear towards the end of the month. In the south, it’s the last month of summer before autumn begins. This guide will help you plan your month. Look out for events such as the Bug-Off in the south. Also, find out what bugs, fish, and sea creatures are available. What’s new to catch in February, and what’s going to disappear at the end of the month? This guide will also tell you what birthdays are taking place this month, as well as special seasonal items available from Nook Shopping.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available for Nintendo Switch.

Events in February

Winter/summer might be winding down, but February is far from quiet. There’s plenty to do this month, whether it’s a big celebration or some special items from Nook Shopping commemorating an important occasion. Let’s find out exactly what’s going on this month.

Who said that February was a quiet month?

Lunar New Year

Occurs: January 30th – February 6th

Hemisphere: Both

We have already covered the Lunar New Year in our January overview guide for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but for your convenience, we’ll cover the details in this guide too.

• Although Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, takes place on different dates each year (either in January or February), you can get the items in New Horizons during the same period of time every year.
• You can grab two items from Nook Shopping to celebrate Lunar New Year: the Lunar New Year Decoration for 2,000 Bells, and the Lucky Red Envelope for 500 Bells. 
• With the Envelope, you can place Bells in and then gift it to someone else in the game, as per the tradition.
• You can also celebrate Seollal (Korean New Year) in New Horizons with the Bokjumeoni Lucky Pouch, also available at Nook Shopping for 500 Bells. It works the same as the Lucky Red Envelope, being able to add money to it and give it to another person.

You can celebrate the New Year Chinese-style with special Nook Shopping items.

Groundhog Day

Occurs: January 25th – February 2nd

Hemisphere: Both

This is another event that carries over from January, but here’s a quick overview.

• To celebrate Groundhog Day, for a short period, you can buy a Resetti Model from Nook Shopping for 2,200 Bells.
• It is somewhat interactable: you can turn on and off Mr. Resetti’s headlight.

Pick up a Resetti Model from Nook Shopping to commemorate Groundhog Day.

Setsubun

Occurs: January 25th – February 3rd

Hemisphere: Both

Also known as Bean Day, this event is traditionally celebrated by the Japanese to mark the end of winter and beginning of spring. Here’s how you can commemorate it in New Horizons.

• You can buy a Bean Tossing Kit from Nook Shopping for 800 Bells.
• The beans can be tossed into the air while holding the kit by pressing the A button.
• The Able Sisters is also selling the following items to celebrate Setsubun, or Bean Day. These are the Horned Ogre Mask, Ogre Costume, and Okame Mask.

You can toss beans in New Horizons using the Bean Tossing Kit.

Valentine’s Day

Occurs: February 1st – 14th

Hemisphere: Both

Look out for Valentine’s Day themed items in New Horizons in the first half of February.

• On February 14th, you may receive either a Heart Chocolate or Heart-Shaped Bouquet from Isabelle or one of the villagers in the mail.
• You can also purchase these two items from February 1st to the 14th from Nook Shopping. They each cost 1,200 Bells and come in different colors.
• If you drop into The Roost café at the museum on Valentine’s Day, Brewster will serve you a hot chocolate instead of the usual coffee.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in New Horizons with chocolate hearts and flowers.

Big Game Celebration

Occurs: January 15th – February 15th

Hemisphere: Both

There are a lot of events in New Horizons that cross over between months, including the Big Game. Two Nook Shopping items are available for this occasion.

• You can buy a Cheer Megaphone for 1,500 Bells. This can be equipped and blown into.
• There is also the Football Rug for 2,000 Bells.

Celebrate the Big Game in New Horizons with this cool football rug and fun megaphones.

Carnival of Venice

Occurs: February 7th – March 1st

Hemisphere: Both

Animal Crossing has Festivale this month (or March, depending on the year), but there’s also the Carnival of Venice to celebrate.

• Carnival of Venice isn’t celebrated like Festivale, but you can still mark the occasion thanks to a Nook Shopping item.
• Venetian masks can be bought for 2,400 Bells. They come in 5 color variations.

Bug Off

Occurs: Third Saturday of February

Hemisphere: South Only

It’s time for Bug Off number two in New Horizons – in the southern hemisphere at least.

• Starts at 9am and ends at 6pm.
• Flick is hosting the event, ready with challenges and prizes.
• Flick will also buy bugs off you for higher-than-normal-prices.

Frozen and Snowflake Series Ends

Occurs: February 24th

Hemisphere: North Only

Since winter is ending in the northern hemisphere this month, there are a few things you should be mindful of.

• On February 25th, the snow will melt.
• Snowballs will no longer appear each day. This also means that you can no longer make Snowboys.
• Snowflakes will also disappear with the snow.
• These changes marks not only the end of winter, but the Frozen and Snowflake series of DIY recipes. Before the snow goes away, make sure to catch all those snowflakes and build your last Snowboys.

When the snow disappears, so will snowflakes, snowballs, and Snowboys.

Winter/Summer Exclusive Clothing Ends

Occurs: February 25th (winter) / March 1st (summer)

Hemisphere: Both

Since winter and summer are coming to an end in their respective hemispheres this month, this will mean changes at what’s available at Able Sisters.

• In the northern hemisphere, winter clothing will no longer appear in the catalog after February 24th.
• In the southern hemisphere, summer clothing will stop appearing after February 28th (or 29th if it’s a Leap Year).

Since winter and summer is ending soon, the seasonal clothing will no longer be available at the store.

Young Spring Bamboo Season Begins

Occurs: February 25th – May 31st

Hemisphere: North Only

With spring arriving in the northern hemisphere, there’s something new to look out for this season.

• From February 25th, Young Spring Bamboo can be chopped from bamboo.
• Special DIY recipes that uses Young Spring Bamboo can be found from popping balloons or speaking to villagers in their homes while they’re at their workbench.

Hinamatsuri

Occurs: February 25th – March 3rd

Hemisphere: Both

This is another holiday that is not celebrated as an event in the game, such as Festivale, but it doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate it with some special items. 

• Girl’s Day is a Japanese holiday that you can celebrate in New Horizons with two Nook Shopping items.
• The Blossom Lantern costs 2,400 Bells.
• The Hinaningyo is 2,560 Bells.

You can buy the Hinanigyo and Blossom Lantern to mark Girl’s Day in Japan.

Festivale

Occurs: February or March

Hemisphere: Both

Viva, Festivale! This fun party event isn’t one to disappoint, or miss. Here’s everything you need to know.

• Festivale is an event where its date varies each year. It takes place two days before Ash Wednesday, occurring either in February or March.
• On this day only, you can find colorful feathers floating in the air. These can be caught with a net and traded in to Pavé, the Festivale host, for unique items.
• Pavé will be stationed in the plaza outside Resident Services. He requests three feathers of a specific color in exchange for Festivale items.
• Feathers come in 4 colors: blue, green, red, and purple.
• Feathers can also be exchanged with other villagers, or used at a workbench to change the color of a Festivale item.
• If you possess one of all 4 colored feathers, you can craft a rainbow feather.
• Feathers can also be worn as a headgear accessory.
• You can dress up for Festivale thanks to the clothing items available at Able Sisters. Nook’s Cranny will also sell Festivale items. These are available two weeks leading up to the big day.

Festivale is one big party that you do not want to miss.

Leap Day

Occurs: February 29th

Hemisphere: Both

Traditionally, February has 28 days, but every four years, you get an extra day, February 29th.

• 2024 was the first year to celebrate Leap Day in New Horizons, as the game was released in March 2020, after the Leap Day of that year.
• The next Leap Day will be in 2028, and after that, 2032.
• If a player has their birthday for February 29th and are playing in a non-leap year, their birthday will be celebrated on the 28th, with other characters acknowledging their unique birthday.

Birthdays in February

February brings another month of villager’s and other character’s birthdays to celebrate. Check out the list below to see if any of your fellow islanders are celebrating theirs, so you can drop in on their party and even get them a gift.

Note: On the rare 29th of February, which only comes round every four years, Luna will celebrate her birthday. 

There’s a birthday every day in Animal Crossing. Kitty’s birthday is on the 15th of February.

Bugs, Fish and Sea Creatures in February

The changing months makes a big impact on the wildlife that dwells on the islands in New Horizons. In February, there’s plenty of bugs, fish, and deep-sea creatures to catch. Some are new to this month, some are sticking around, and others will be leaving at the end of the month for a while. There’s already an in-depth guide to the bugs, fish, and sea creatures in February, so be sure to check that out. Here’s a quick summary of what you can find in February.

Bugs

Let’s start with bugs. What’s new, what’s going?

• Northern Hemisphere: The Tiger Beetle is new this month, sticking around for a long time, until October. Leaving this month is the Damselfly, Dung Beetle, and Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing. The first two won’t be available again until the end of the year, but the Birdwing will return much sooner in April.
• Southern Hemisphere: New bugs include the Migratory Locust, Rice Grasshopper, and Walker Cicada. Be aware that a lot of bugs are also leaving the south in February. See our in-depth guide for more details.

The Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing will return in April in the north.

Fish

What’s happening with the fish? Let’s find out!

• Northern Hemisphere: Nothing new arriving, but the Pond Smelt and Blowfish will depart this month.
• Southern Hemisphere: New fish include the Soft-Shelled Turtle, Moray Eel, and Ray. There will also be departures, including the Giant Snakehead and Napoleonfish.

The Blowfish is one of those that will disappear for a while in the north.

Sea Creatures

What about those deep-sea dwellers you have to dive for? Let’s see what’s going on there.

• Northern Hemisphere: Nothing new for this month. However, some creatures will leave and won’t return until the fall.
• Southern Hemisphere: Not much activity here either. Just one arrival, the Flatworm, and one departure, the Vampire Squid.

The oyster is one sea creature that will be gone after February in the northern hemisphere.

That sums up February in New Horizons. There’s a lot of events and seasonal items to keep track of, but hopefully with this guide, you can plan your month.

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