What to Do During Winter in “Stardew Valley”

Stardew Valley is a farming simulation game where instead of working a corporate job for the rest of your life, your grandfather gives you his farm that grants you the opportunity to bring life back to the town.

Comprised of four seasons, players begin in the spring then continue into summer, then fall and finally winter before repeating the cycle. This gives players the opportunity to build on some of the more important aspects of the game – farming and building relationships – before expanding to other aspects of the game.

Winter is a great time to work on other aspects of your farm that don’t involve crops – unless you unlocked the greenhouse. This guide will help you break down anything you need to have a great fall season for first-time players or those entering Year 10.

WINTER BIRTHDAY GUIDE

Probably an overlooked part of the game, birthdays are a perfect time to boost friendships in the game. There are eight villagers who have fall birthdays. 

Krobus: Winter 1 

Diamond, Iridium Bar, Pumpkin, Void Egg, Void Mayo, Wild Horseradish

Linus: Winter 3 

Blueberry Tart, Cactus Fruit, Coconut, Dish O’ The Sea, Yam

Caroline: Winter 7 

Fish Taco, Green Tea, Summer Spangle, Tropical Curry

Sebastian: Winter 10 

Frozen Tear, Obsidian, Pumpkin Soup, Sashimi, Void Egg

Harvey: Winter 14 

Coffee, Pickles, Super Meal, Truffle Oil, Wine

Wizard: Winter 17 

Purple Mushroom, Solar Essence, Super Cucumber, Void Essence

Evelyn: Winter 20 

Beet, Chocolate Cake, Diamond, Fairy Rose, Stuffing, Tulip

Leah: Winter 23 

Goat Cheese, Poppyseed Muffin, Salad, Stir Fry, Truffle, Vegetable Medley, Wine

Clint: Winter 26

Amethyst, Aquamarine, Artichoke Dip, Emerald, Fiddlehead Risotto, Gold Bar, Iridium Bar, Jade, Omi Geode, Ruby, Topaz

EVENT GUIDE

Festival of Ice – Winter 8

The festival features ice sculptures, snowmen and igloos. Players can purchase rare/winter themed items from the Traveling Merchant. Players can also participate in the Ice Fishing Contest along Pam, Willy and Elliott. The festival ends automatically after Mayor Lewis judges the fishing contest.

Night Market – Winter 15-17

Various boats and merchants appear at the docks at The Beach who offer to sell goods or take players for a boat ride to do various tasks. 

Feast of the Winter Star – Winter 25

The main event is secret gift-giving. A random villager will be selected to give the player a gift, and the player is assigned a random villager to give a gift to. Pierre also sells winter/holiday themed items during this event.

COMMUNITY CENTER PROGRESS

Winter Foraging Bundle

• 1 Winter Root
• 1 Crystal Fruit
• 1 Snow Yam
• 1 Crocus

Artisan Bundle

• Truffle Oil – use truffles with an oil maker
• Cloth – use wool with a loom/recycle a soggy newspaper
• Goat Cheese – put goats milk in a cheese press
• Cheese – put milk in a cheese press
• Honey – found in a bee house
• Jelly – from a preserves jar
• Apple – found in apple trees in fall
• Apricot – found in apricot trees in spring
• Orange – found in orange trees during summer
• Peach – found in peach trees during summer
• Pomegranate – found in pomegranate trees during fall
• Cherry – found in cherry trees during spring

River Fish

• Sunfish – spring/summer
• Catfish – spring/fall
• Shad – spring/summer/fall
• Tiger trout – fall/winter

Ocean Fish Bundle 

• Sardine – Spring/fall/winter
• Tuna – summer/winter
• Red snapper – summer/fall
• Tilapia – summer/fall

Night Fishing Bundle

• Walleye – Fall
• Bream – any season
• Eel – Spring/Fall

SEASONAL TIPS

Focus on farm animals by building a Barn for 6,000g and 350 wood and 150 stone or a Coop for 4,000g and 300 wood and 100 stone.

Catch unique fish in winter especially fish only available during winter such as perch, squid, lingcod and glacierfish.

Mine with full energy because you’re not going to otherwise use energy from crops.

Expand your house because why not?

Final Thoughts

The most important thing about this game is that it is going to feel like work. If you ever feel like it’s impossible to get something, be sure to check out the Traveling Merchant every Friday and Sunday in the Cindersap Forest to see if you can purchase what you’re trying to find or make.