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 traditionally celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1st, but the Chinese celebrate theirs almost a month later. Unlike New Year’s Day, which occurs the same day every year, Lunar New Year takes place on different dates each year. It can happen in either January or February. For example, in 2022, it’ll occur on the 1st of February, but in 2023, it’ll be on the 22nd of January. Whatever date it occurs, the event itself still plays out the same every year in New Horizons.

Regardless of the actual Lunar New Year date, between the 30th of January and 6th of February, two special items celebrating this event are available from Nook Shopping. The first is the Lunar New Year Decoration, which you can hang on the wall. This costs 2,000 Bells. The second is the Lucky Red Envelope, which is more than just a decoration. If you purchase this item, you can put Bells inside, which you can then give to someone else in the game. This is a Chinese New Year tradition said to ward off bad luck and wish for good health. The Lucky Red Envelope costs 500 Bells.

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

There’s another special New Year’s item available. This is also the time of year for the Korean New Year celebration, called Seollal. To commemorate this particular occasion, you can purchase a Bokjumeoni Lucky Pouch for 500 Bells. This item works similarly to the Lucky Red Envelope from the Chinese New Year. You can attach Bells to this item and pass it onto someone else to pay them good fortune. If you put Bells in the Pouch, it will turn into a Sebaetdon, which you can open to receive Bells.

Groundhog Day

Occurs: January 25th – February 2nd

Hemisphere: Both

This day on February 2nd isn’t commemorated with any special events within the game. However, that’s not to say there’s no way to mark it. From the 25th of January until the 2nd of February, you can pick up a Resetti Model from Nook Shopping, which you can display at home. It costs 2,200 Bells to buy. Also, you can interact with this item by turning 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. Setsubun takes place on the 3rd of February. In the week leading up to this day, you can buy your own Bean Tossing Kit from Nook Shopping for 800 Bells. With this, you can toss beans into the air while holding the kit. This is done to ward off demons such as sickness and disaster and welcome a year of good health and peace.

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

The Bean Tossing Kit isn’t the only way you can celebrate Setsubun in New Horizons. Between the 1st and 3rd of February, look out for special items at Able Sisters related to Bean Day. These include the Horned Ogre Mask, Ogre Costume, and Okame Mask.

Valentine’s Day

Occurs: February 1st – 14th

Hemisphere: Both

There’s no getting away from this romantic holiday in Animal Crossing. On the 14th of February, you might receive either a Heart Chocolate or Heart-Shaped Bouquet from Isabelle or one of the villagers in the post. You can also buy your own from Nook Shopping between the 1st and 14th of February. Each item costs 1,200 Bells and comes in different colors.

There’s another exclusive Valentine’s Day treat for you to enjoy. If you drop into The Roost café at the museum, instead of getting a coffee, Brewster will serve you a hot chocolate. 

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

Big Game Celebration

Occurs: January 15th – February 15th

Hemisphere: Both

This isn’t an event that takes place in the game, but two items that you can purchase to celebrate the real-world American football season, known as the Super Bowl, that occur at this time of year. Between January 15th and February 15th, you can buy a Cheer Megaphone and a Football Rug from Nook Shopping. The Megaphone costs 1,500 Bells while the Rug is 2,000 Bells. The Megaphone comes in different colors and designs. Your character can blow through the Megaphone while holding it.

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. Unlike Festivale, there isn’t an event for this occasion, but you can still purchase Venetian masks between the 7th of February and the 1st of March from Nook Shopping. They cost 2,400 Bells each and come in 5 variations.

Bug Off

Occurs: Third Saturday of February

Hemisphere: South Only

Exclusive to the southern hemisphere, it’s that time again. Get your nets ready as Flick arrives on your island to once again host this event. The Bug Off takes place on the 3rd Saturday of this month.

Frozen and Snowflake Series Ends

Occurs: February 24th

Hemisphere: North Only

If your island is based in the north, you’ll be saddened (or pleased) to know that on the 25th of February, the snow will be gone. After being so used to seeing snow for a long time (almost two months), it might be odd seeing grass on the ground again. Snow will also vanish off trees and rooftops. The snow melting means three things: you will no longer get two snowballs on your island each day, meaning you cannot create Snowboys. Secondly, you’ll no longer get snowflakes floating in the air, which you need for DIY recipes from the Frozen and Snowflake series. Thirdly, the snow going away marks the end of winter.

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, you should make a note that this means that summer and winter exclusive clothing from Able Sisters and Kicks will no longer be available.

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

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

If you like bamboo and the spring, then you’ll like this seasonal DIY series. Throughout spring, when you chop at bamboo with an axe, you can gather special young spring bamboo. You can also get DIY recipes by popping balloons or speaking to villagers in their houses while they’re at their workbench. There are plenty of cool items you can craft with young spring bamboo, and the spring won’t last forever, so get chopping and popping!

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. The Japanese holiday, called Girl’s Day, doesn’t officially take place until the 3rd of March, but the items for this holiday become available to purchase at the end of February. Between the 25th of February and the 3rd of March, you can buy a Blossom Lantern (2,400 Bells) and a Hinaningyo (2,560 Bells) from Nook Shopping.

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. This event is one of those where the date varies by year. For example, in 2022, it’ll take place on the 28th of February. Festivale takes place two days before Ash Wednesday, and can occur in February or March.

Throughout the day, you’ll find colorful feathers floating in the air. You can catch these and trade them in to Pavé for special Festivale items. You can find Pavé occupying the plaza outside Resident Services. He will ask you to gather three feathers of a specific color (Blue, Green, Red, or Purple). Give him three of the correct colored feathers and he’ll give you a Festivale item.

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

Feathers have a lot of uses during Festivale. You can exchange feathers with other villagers, or even use feathers at a DIY workbench to change the color of Festivale items. You can even craft your own rainbow feather if you have one of all four colored feathers. Feathers can also be worn as a headgear accessory. 

You can buy special Festivale clothing and items at Able Sisters and Nook’s Cranny so you can dress up for the occasion. These items are available two weeks leading up to the big bonanza.

Leap Day

Occurs: February 29th

Hemisphere: Both

Traditionally, February has 28 days, but every four years, you get an extra day. Although Leap Day is rare, it’s worth mentioning. Since New Horizons came out in March 2020, after the Leap Day that year, this game has never experienced a Leap Day before (unless you time travel). The next February 29th is set for 2024, and after that, 2028. One character celebrates their birthday on the 29th: Luna. If a player was born on the 29th and they 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. New to the north is the Tiger Beetle, which will linger until October. Leaving this month though is the Damselfly as well as the Dung Beetle. Both these bugs won’t reappear until the end of the year. It’s also your last chance to catch the Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing, although it’ll be back in April.

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

Meanwhile, in the south, you need to be on red alert, because there’s a TON of bugs departing at the end of February. You’ll have to make the most of this month to grab them before they vanish for a while. There are some new bugs to look out for this month though; the Migratory Locust, the Rice Grasshopper, and the Walker Cicida.

Fish

What’s happening with the fish? There’s nothing new arriving in the north, but the Pond Smelt and Blowfish will depart after this month, not to return for a long time.

In the south, some new fish will be showing up, including the Soft-Shelled Turtle, Moray Eel, and Ray. Some fish will also be leaving the ponds, rivers, and seas of the south by the end of the month, including the Giant Snakehead and Napoleonfish, among others.

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? There’s nothing new to report in the north, but some creatures won’t be available after the end of this month until the fall.

In the south, nothing much is changing either, except there’s one new creature to find and another that will be disappearing. The Flatworm will stick around until March, while the Vampire Squid will swim off for good until November comes around.

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.