Your 2024 Guide to a Magical Year in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Another year has dawned on our idyllic island getaways, and with it comes the comforting, familiar rhythm of seasonal changes and community celebrations in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Whether you're a seasoned resident who has perfected your island's terraforming or a newcomer just setting up your tent, 2024 is brimming with opportunities to create lasting memories, collect exclusive items, and deepen your bond with your virtual home. This comprehensive guide is your one-stop resource for navigating the entire year of Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2024 monthly events, ensuring you don't miss a single highlight, from the serene cherry blossoms of spring to the festive toy-filled evenings of winter.
Let's dive into the calendar and explore what makes each month special, offering tips and insights to maximize your enjoyment and collection.
January: A Fresh Start and Cozy Celebrations
The year begins amidst a blanket of snow, transforming your island into a shimmering winter wonderland. This is a perfect time for introspection and planning your 2024 island layout ideas. With fewer major events, the pace is slow, allowing you to focus on building snowfolk.
- Building Perfect Snowboys: Every day, you can roll two snowballs to create a Snowboy. His judgment on your proportions is swift! A "perfect" Snowboy will reward you with a large snowflake and a DIY recipe from the Frozen Series. This is your prime opportunity for obtaining all frozen set DIY recipes, which include everything from icy arches to three-tiered snowpeople. Be precise, and you'll have the complete set by month's end.
- New Year's Day: While the main celebration has passed, if you time-travel back to January 1st, you can still find New Year's noodles and sparkling cider as special seasonal items at Nook's Cranny.
February: Love is in the Air
February is short but sweet, dominated by one of the most charming events of the year.
- Festivale: Led by the vibrant green parrot, Pavé, this energetic celebration usually falls in mid-February. Your island will be decked out with colorful flags, and the air will be filled with confetti and K.K. Parade music. The goal is to catch feathers floating in the sky—red, blue, yellow, green, and purple—and trade them with Pavé for extravagant Festivale furniture and clothing. This event is a visual feast and a fantastic way to acquire vibrant Festivale furniture items to add a pop of color to your home or island plaza.
March: The Awakening of Spring
As the snow melts, the landscape begins to green. March is a month of beautiful transition.
- Shamrock Day (March 17th): A smaller, yet delightful, holiday. Isabelle will hand out a shamrock-themed accessory, and you'll find limited-time items like a shamrock soda and a party shamrock hat at Nook's Cranny. It's a simple, charming way to add a touch of luck to your island.
- Cherry Blossom Season (Late March to Early April): For ten glorious days, your hardwood trees will be adorned with beautiful pink cherry blossoms. This is a crucial period for farming cherry blossom petals DIY recipes. Using your net, catch the pink petals floating in the breeze and shoot down balloon presents, which have a high chance of containing the coveted Cherry-Blossom Series DIYs. From the enchanting blossom-viewing lantern to the delicate cherry-blossom pochette, this set is a fan favorite for a reason.
April: A Month of Reflection and Renewal
April brings one of the most significant and unique events in the game.
- Bunny Day: Zipper the Bunny returns, hiding eggs all over your island. While this event can be... intense, it's a key part of the complete guide to Bunny Day egg collecting. There are six types of eggs to find: Sky Eggs (in balloon presents), Stone Eggs (in rocks), Leaf Eggs (on trees), Wood Eggs (from wood), Water Eggs (by fishing), and Earth Eggs (underground). Collect them to craft the Bunny Day series. Pro tip: The "Bunny Day Bed" DIY recipe is often the key to triggering the final reward from Zipper on Bunny Day itself.
May: A Tranquil Interlude
May is a quiet month, perfect for enjoying the late spring weather and engaging in some core gameplay.
- International Museum Day (Mid-May): During this week, Blathers will host a stamp rally. Collect stamps from the fossil, fish, and bug exhibits to receive plaques and unique wall-mounted rewards. It's a wonderful excuse to revisit the magnificent museum and appreciate the collections you've built.
- May Day Tour (Early May): Using the May Day Ticket sent to you in the mail, you can embark on a special, one-off tour to a unique island. This maze-like island often features a special visitor waiting at the end with a rare gift, like Rover's briefcase. It's a fun, self-contained puzzle.
June: Weddings and Summer Sun
The sun shines brightly, and love is celebrated once more.
- Wedding Season: Throughout the entire month, you can visit Harvey's Island to assist Reese and Cyrus in taking anniversary photos. By decorating the photo studio with wedding-themed items and taking their picture each day, you earn Heart Crystals. These can be exchanged for the entire Wedding Series furniture and clothing collection. With a new theme each week, it's worth visiting daily to collect all the elegant chairs, cakes, and wedding dresses.
July: Summer Fun and Deep-Sea Diving
The height of summer brings back a beloved activity.
- Summer Solstice (Late June): A brief event where you can purchase a summer solstice crown from Nook's Cranny.
- Ocean Swimming Returns: While not a single-day event, the return of swimming is a major summer highlight. Don your wetsuit and dive for sea creatures, which are a different set from the winter months. This is the best time to complete your sea creature museum donations for the summer season.
August: Fireworks and Wishes
August nights are illuminated by a spectacular display.
- Fireworks Shows (Every Sunday in August): This is a community favorite. On Sunday evenings, your villagers will gather in the plaza to watch a stunning fireworks display. You can purchase boppers from Redd and even customize the show by submitting your own custom designs to Isabelle. Be sure to talk to Redd's raffle stall to win fun prizes like sparklers and bubble blowers. It's a perfect, low-key social event.
September: The Harvest Moon
A sense of calm returns as the days grow shorter.
- Acorn and Pine Cone Season: Throughout the month, you can shake trees to collect acorns and pine cones, the key ingredients for the Tree's Bounty DIY series. This is your chance to craft rustic, autumn-themed items like the traditional balancing toy and the tree's bounty lamp.
October: Spooky Shenanigans
The air turns crisp, and the pumpkins are ready for harvest.
- Halloween (October 31st): Jack, the Czar of Halloween, arrives after 5 PM. Your villagers will be dressed in costume, and you can participate by giving them candy. Beware of any villagers who ask for lollipops—they might play a trick on you! By giving candy and collecting lollipops, you can earn spooky Halloween event rewards and candy from Jack, including the rare Halloween carriage DIY recipe. Don't forget to grow and harvest pumpkins throughout the month to craft your own spooky furniture!
November: A Time for Gratitude
The leaves change color, creating a breathtaking backdrop.
- Mushroom Season: Much like the cherry blossoms, this is a limited-time foraging opportunity. Five different types of mushrooms will appear around your cedar trees. Collect them to craft the beautiful Mush Series DIYs, which you find in balloons. The elusive mushroom lamps are some of the most sought-after items in the game.
- Turkey Day (Fourth Thursday of November): Chef Franklin arrives and needs help gathering specific ingredients and fish to create a feast. By helping him, you'll unlock exclusive DIY recipes for dishes and dinnerware, perfect for creating a cozy, autumnal kitchen in your home.
December: A Month of Magic
The year concludes with a flurry of festive activities.
- Toy Day (December 24th): Jingle the reindeer visits your island on Christmas Eve. By crafting a holiday-themed outfit and distributing gifts you've "guessed" for your villagers (based on their color hints), you'll earn festive rewards. Throughout the month, Nook's Cranny will stock limited-time toy items, perfect for finding all Toy Day seasonal gifts for your friends or to decorate with.
- Countdown to New Year's Eve (December 31st): The year comes full circle with a countdown event in the plaza. You can celebrate with your villagers, exchange gifts, and enjoy a final fireworks display to ring in the new year.
No matter the month, Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2024 offers a continuous, gentle cycle of activities that reward daily engagement. Use this guide as your companion, and you're sure to have your most fulfilling and organized island year yet. Happy crossing
