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Winter can be a difficult season to get through in Stardew Valley. With the harsh weather, you aren't able to fully maintain your farm like you can during the rest of the year. Fortunately, there are still plenty of other things you can still do!
Stardew Valley: 8 Best Villagers To Befriend First
There are a lot of NPCs in Stardew Valley, each with unique gifts that they can give you. Here are the best villagers to befriend first.This guide will take a look at what you can do during the winter. We will cover everything from what to do on the farm, to events and quests.
Updated April 3, 2024 by Jacqueline Zalace: Winters in Stardew Valley can stretch on forever, especially if you aren't sure what to do. We've updated this guide with more information on what to do during the winter, allowing you to make the most of your time.
Can You Farm In Winter?
You can do a lot of things during the winter, but farming is not one of them. The majority of seeds that you buy from Pierre's General Store or JojaMart will not grow during the season.
During the winter, you will only be able to successfully grow wild seeds and powdermelon. Planting and growing wild seeds will produce winter-specific goods, including winter root, holly, crystal fruit, snow yam, and crocus.
If you already have the Greenhouse, then you can still plant whatever you want! The Greenhouse allows you to grow any fruit and vegetable, regardless of the season.
Out-of-season seeds may be difficult to come across, so make sure to save some during the rest of the year.
Additionally, you can buy seeds all year long from the Oasis shop in the Desert.
Focus On Your Farm Animals
Winter is the perfect time to focus on your farm animals. With no crops to worry about, turn your attention to your barn and coop. Chickens and cows will produce eggs and milk on a daily basis, providing a steady income. To boost this, process eggs and milk into mayonnaise and cheese.
Be sure to pet your animals every day, especially during the winter. Petting an animal will strengthen their relationship with you, allowing them to produce higher-quality ingredients. These high-quality eggs and milk can then be processed and sold for a lot of money.
If this is your first winter in Stardew Valley, and you don't have any farm animals yet, now is the time! Head to Robin's house and build a barn and a coop. Below are the requirements for the basic-level buildings.
|
Building |
Cost |
Materials Required |
|---|---|---|
|
Barn |
6,000g |
350 Wood and 150 Stone |
|
Coop |
4,000g |
300 Wood and 100 Stone |
To get more animals, remember to upgrade your buildings!
Catch Unique Fish In Winter
Fishing is available all year long, however, there are some fish that can only be caught during the winter season. Below, you can check out all fish that can be found during the winter.
Night Market Fish
In addition to fishing around town, you will also be able to fish during the Night Market that takes place from Winter 15 to 17.
The following fish/objects will be available from the Submarine in the Night Market:
- Midnight Squid
- Spook Fish
- Blobfish
- Sea Cucumber
- Super Cucumber
- Seaweed
- Octopus
- Pearl
- Sea Jelly
Mine With Full Energy
During the winter, you should also explore the mines to the fullest. Since there are no crops to water or harvest, you can start your day with full energy and head to the mines. There are 120 floors to the mines north of Robin's house. When you reach the bottom, you will receive the Skull Key. This allows you to enter Skull Cavern, which is located in the Desert.
Overall, winter is a great time to do some exploring, as well as collect material that you can use later during the year. Many buildings and craftable objects require a lot of stone, so use this time to stock up on it!
Expand Your House
You can expand your house during any season, but winter provides the perfect opportunity to focus on it. A lot of buildings require wood and stone. Use the wood and stone you have gathered from mining to upgrade your house!
Expanding your house can be done at any point during the year, but during the winter, you don't have to worry about buying seeds. Instead, your money can be put towards house expansions.
Winter Events In Stardew Valley
There are four events and nine birthdays that take place during the winter.
Festival Of Ice: Winter 8
Every Winter 8, the Festival of Ice will take place in the Cindersap Forest (the area directly below your farm where Marnie's Ranch is).
During the festival, the Traveling Merchant will be selling a variety of Winter themed decor and foods. Below, you can see a list of all items available for purchase.
Additionally, you can participate in the Ice Fishing Contest. To win, you just need to catch at least five fish in the given time. Winning will reward you with the barbed hook, dressed spinner, a magnet, and a sailor's cap. If you win the contest again, you will receive 2,000g.
Night Market: Winter 15-17
The Night Market takes place in the middle of winter. During this time, the beach area of Pelican Town will have different vendors set up on boats. There will be tons of interesting things available for purchase, as well as opportunities to win rare items.
Feast Of The Winter Star: Winter 25
During this event, you will have the opportunity to give and receive gifts from the citizens of Pelican Town.
A week prior to the event, Mayor Lewis will send you mail with the name of your gift recipient. Over the next week, you will need to find the perfect gift for them.
You will also be given a gift by another resident as well. The gifts given will be at random.
You can also purchase themed decor at the Feast of the Winter Star. Check out the list of items available from Pierre's booth:
SquidFest: Winter 12-13
From Winter 12 to 13, you can also participate in the SquidFest. This is a mini-event that tasks you with catching as many squids as possible. The event itself starts at 6:10am taking place on the beach, allowing you to catch squid all day long.
Birthdays
There are nine birthdays throughout winter. Be sure to prepare and give the villagers a gift that they will love.
Explore Ginger Island
If you have completed the Community Center, you can also also spend your winter on a tropical island! If you have yet to unlock Ginger Island, be sure to head to the back of Willy's shop.
On the island, you can find several areas, along with new items and quests to complete. Additionally, the Island Farm can be used all year long. If you have a hankering for farming, be sure to plant some seeds here! With the farmhouse repaired, you can also spend the night on Ginger Island without returning home.
Complete Winter Quests
Finally, there are a variety of quests available during the winter. Below, you will see a list of all quests that you can complete during winter. In total, there are ten possible quests that are spread throughout the season.
During the winter, you can also complete the Winter Mystery quest. The reward for completing this quest is the magnifying glass, which can be used to read secret messages that are scattered throughout the world.
Additionally, you can also work to complete the Community Center bundles. The bundles can be completed at any point in the year, so just remember to keep foraging and mining throughout the winter.
