Variable Events

As time goes by and the seasons change, your neighbors regularly gather to celebrate a variety of special events. From small, happy gatherings like birthdays to more involved proceedings like the Harvest Festival, this chapter tells you about every special event that occurs throughout the year.

The following events occur multiple times throughout the year. Check the bulletin board each day to ensure that you don’t miss them!

Birthdays

Date: Varies

Everyone loves to celebrate their birthday, especially with friends. Whenever a neighbor’s birthday is coming up, you’ll receive a letter in the mail, inviting you to their party. A special message also appears on the town bulletin board the day of their birthday to remind you.

Swing by your neighbor’s house anytime during the day to join in the fun—just make sure to bring a present! It doesn’t have to be much—even something as small as a piece of fruit will do the trick. It’s the thought that counts!

Your Birthday

When your birthday rolls around, your best friends in town will whisk you away to a fabulous party. Make a wish and blow out those candles! If you’ve helped out your neighbors often and developed strong friendships with them, they’ll give you some truly special gifts. The following table shows all of the presents you might get.

Birthday Gifts

Bug-Off

Dates: 3rd Saturday of June, July, August, and September

When the weather warms up, keep an eye out for Nat at the plaza, who runs a special event called the Bug-Off. Nat just loves bugs and hopes everyone in town will bring him lots. You have until 6 p.m. to blow away your neighbors by bringing Nat the best bug in town!

Nat will sell you a net for a fair price you don’t have one. Now it’s up to you! Spend the day catching bugs all around town. Show Nat each insect you catch, and he’ll grade it based on rarity, size, and “luster.” Nat gives your bug a score, then tells you who currently holds the best record.

Bug-Off Prizes

Each time you give Nat a bug that breaks the current first-place record, he gives you a special prize, as indicated by the following table. It’s therefore best to give Nat your smallest and most common bugs first, aiming to break the first-place record over and over to score lots of goodies. Nat also gives you a high score to shoot for—if you can reach that lofty goal, he’ll hand you something really special!

Bug-Off Prizes

Award Ceremony

Milking Nat for prizes is fine—just make sure you’re in first place when the clock nears 6 p.m. At the stroke of six, the tourney ends, and Nat holds a special ceremony inside his tent. Enter the tent between 6 and 9 p.m. to receive your trophy!

Fishing Tourney

Dates: 2nd Saturday of February, April, October, and December; 3rd Saturday of January, March, May, and November

During the cooler months of the year, a friendly fellow named Chip sets up a tent at the plaza. Speak with Chip to learn all about the Fishing Tourney—a fun, relaxing event that’s similar to the Bug-Off event. Catch fish with a rod and show them to Chip, and he’ll score your fish based on its size.

Your Fishing Tourney tips are similar to those from Bug-Off events. You get prizes each time you break the first-place record, so catch lots of fish and show Chip your smallest catches first, then work your way up to the bigger ones. This is a great way to score lots of prizes from Chip!

The Fishing Tourney ends at 6 p.m.—enter Chip’s tent to receive your trophy, assuming you’ve earned one. The following table reveals all of the prizes you can score from Chip and the Fishing Tourney.

Fishing Tourney Prizes

Meteor Shower

Date: Varies

Every so often, a weather report will appear on the town bulletin board, informing everyone that a meteor shower is on the horizon. Don’t worry, these events aren’t dangerous! Instead, they’re quite beautiful. Keep an eye to the sky during meteor shower nights, and watch those shooting stars sparkle.