All new festivals and how to access them in Stardew Valley 1.6

With the roll-out of Stardew Valley 1.6, we finally know what all the new festivals will be like and how you can access them. So when can you partake in these festivals? Here’s everything you need to know about these festivals.

The Desert Festival is probably the biggest new festival of the 1.6 update. You can only attend it if you’ve repaired the bus, and it takes place in the Desert on Spring 15-17. For three days straight, you and the villagers will convene at the Desert Festival for a bunch of fun activities.

You’ll want to collect as many Calico Eggs as you can throughout this festival for the most rewards. You can earn Calico Eggs through a couple of different methods:

• Skull Cavern Challenge: Find Calico Eggs and Calico Statues in the Skull Cavern. Your “Egg Rating” determines your likelihood of finding these eggs, and your “Egg Rating” increases every five levels down. It also increases anytime you activate a Calico Statue.
• Willy’s Challenge: Catch three Sandfish for a reward of 25 Calico Eggs.

Once you collect enough Calico Eggs, speak with the strange creature in the purple tent to trade your Calico Eggs for cool items like Mystery Boxes or unique clothing. You can also trade Calico Eggs with Demetrius and Pam for some interesting items.

Squidfest happens in Winter 12-13. Head to the beach and you’ll be able to catch squids for prizes. Since they put squid bait in the water, the chances of catching a squid are much higher.

You can check what type of rewards you’ll get depending on how many squids you catch. It goes from Copper to Silver, to Gold, then to what looks like Iridium.

You can participate in the Trout Derby fishing festival in Summer 20-21. Instead of the beach, you’ll need to head to the river below Marnie’s Ranch.

You have a chance to catch a Rainbow Trout in these waters, and they can carry a Golden Tag. Whenever you get a Golden Tag, talk to the man in the tent to receive a prize. You can earn things such as a Tent Kit (another new addition to 1.6), or even Deluxe Bait.

Another fun feature of the Stardew Valley 1.6 update is the Bookseller, which can sell you books that can upgrade some of your integral skills.