Spirit’s Eve is Stardew Valley’s spooky night festival. Pelican Town fills with skeletons, jack-o-lanterns and a haunted maze built by the Wizard, and there is a real reward hidden at the end.
Since update 1.6, the maze is different depending on the year, which trips up a lot of players. This guide covers the timing, both maze layouts, the rewards and Pierre’s shop.
When is Spirit’s Eve in Stardew Valley?
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Fall 27, every year |
| Enter between | 10:00 PM and 11:50 PM (11:50 is too late) |
| Location | Pelican Town square |
| Ends | When you leave; you return to the farm at 12:00 AM |
| Main activity | The Haunted Maze |
| Reward | Golden Pumpkin (odd years) or Prize Ticket (even years) |
Because it is a night festival, you get the whole day to farm first. Just make sure you walk into Pelican Town before 11:50 PM.
Tip: Do not stay up late in the mines that day. If you pass out, you will miss the festival.
What happens at Spirit’s Eve
There are no contests and no scores. The festival is mostly about atmosphere:
- A haunted maze north of Pierre’s booth, with a treasure chest at the end
- Pierre’s festival shop with spooky decorations
- Townspeople reacting to the maze in funny ways
- Spirit’s Eve dialogue and decorations all over town
According to the villagers, the Wizard spent all day building the maze. Abigail cannot get past the spiders, and Jodi will not let Vincent go in during the first year.
Spirit’s Eve maze: odd years (Year 1, 3, 5…)
In odd years you get the original, simpler maze. The prize is the Golden Pumpkin.
How to reach the chest:
- Enter the maze north of Pierre’s booth and keep going left. It is not a big maze.
- Look for a wooden sign with a question mark in the upper-left area.
- Walk into the hedge just below and to the left of the “?” sign. It is a secret passage.
- Go north into a dark cave, then follow it to the right. The path twists, so move slowly.
- You come out in the treasure area. Open the chest for your Golden Pumpkin.
Tip: Wear a ring that gives light, like the Glow Ring, so you can see where you are in the dark section.
After grabbing the chest, use the minecart shortcut to jump back to the maze entrance next to Pierre’s booth. It was added in update 1.6.3.
Spirit’s Eve maze: even years (Year 2, 4, 6…)
Update 1.6 added a larger and harder maze for even years. The prize here is a Prize Ticket instead of a pumpkin. In this version, Vincent goes in with Sam, and Abigail sits it out.
How to reach the chest:
- Again, find the first “?” sign and walk into the hedge just below and to its left.
- Follow the path past Sebastian.
- In the top-right of the maze, look for an unmarked gap in the hedge. It leads over to where Sam and Vincent are.
- Find the hut standing on chicken legs. Behind it, to the right of the sign, are three hidden passages.
- Take the middle one. The other two are dead ends.
- Open the chest for your Prize Ticket.
The hut on chicken legs is a reference to Baba Yaga from Slavic folklore, and the floating hands on the path nod to the fairy tale Vasilisa the Beautiful.
Is the Golden Pumpkin worth it?
Yes, for two reasons:
- It sells for 2,500g.
- It is a universally loved gift, so every villager loves it. That makes it a great birthday gift or a quick friendship boost.
The Prize Ticket from even years can be used at Mayor Lewis’s prize machine for a random reward.
Pierre’s Spirit’s Eve shop
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jack-O-Lantern | 750g | Light-up fall decoration |
| Jack-O-Lantern Recipe | 2,000g | Craft your own (needs a pumpkin and a torch) |
| Rarecrow #2 | 5,000g | Only sold here; one of 8 rarecrows |
| Grave Stone | 350g | Spooky farm decoration |
| Funky Rug | 4,000g | Indoor rug |
If you are collecting all 8 rarecrows, buy Rarecrow #2 here. Missing it means waiting a whole year.
Best Spirit’s Eve tips
- Talk to everyone in the maze. Many villagers have unique, funny lines.
- Bring a light ring for the dark cave sections.
- Save gold for the Rarecrow if you are working toward the collection.
- Give the Golden Pumpkin away if you need friendship more than money.
- Check Krobus. In even years he can be spotted near the monster cages.
Spirit’s Eve mods
Want your Spirit’s Eve to feel bigger? Expansion mods add new villagers to the festival. For example, Sophia from Stardew Valley Expanded calls it her favourite festival, and Ridgeside Village characters also show up. If you want a darker take on the game all year round, see our eldritch mod crossover article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is Spirit’s Eve in Stardew Valley? Fall 27 every year.
What time does Spirit’s Eve start? You can enter Pelican Town between 10:00 PM and 11:50 PM.
Why didn’t I get a Golden Pumpkin? In even years, the maze gives a Prize Ticket instead. You get the Golden Pumpkin in odd years.
Can I get the Golden Pumpkin every year? You can get one every odd year from the maze.
How do I leave the festival? Walk out of town. You go back to your farm at midnight.
Final thoughts
Spirit’s Eve is short, but worth showing up for. Grab the Golden Pumpkin or Prize Ticket, pick up Rarecrow #2 if you need it, and enjoy the Wizard’s maze. With Fall 27 coming up for many players this month, it is a good night to plan ahead.
