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Stardew SquidFest
Unlike most other festivals, shops and homes remain open during SquidFest—including those at the beach—and time continues to pass normally. Additionally, players must manually feed their animals, as the game does not automatically account for feeding during the event.
Prizes
There are 4 tiers of prizes: copper, iron, gold and iridium. The squids needed to be caught for each tier are listed on a sign to the left of the shop. The amount of squid the player has caught is shown in a counter on the top-left corner. The counter resets between days.
Below is the list of tiers and rewards with the number of squids required to be caught on that day to earn the reward. The prizes can all be claimed at once. If the player’s inventory is full, any unclaimed prizes will drop onto the ground around the player.
Fixed Stock
| Day | Tier | Squids Required | Possible Reward(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 12th | Copper | 1 |  Deluxe Bait ×20 |
Guaranteed reward. |
| Iron | 3 |
 Winter Seeds ×10 Mystery Box ×2 Dish O’ The Sea ×1
|
Dish O’ The Sea is guaranteed. One of Winter Seeds or Mystery Boxes is awarded randomly. | |
| Gold | 5 |  Pearl ×1 Coffee ×3 |
Both rewards are guaranteed. | |
| Iridium | 8 |
 Squid Kid ×1 The Art O’ Crabbing ×1Mystery Box ×3 Seafoam Pudding ×1
|
‘Squid Kid’ is guaranteed. If The Art O’ Crabbing hasn’t been received, it is awarded. Otherwise: 3 Mystery Boxes + 1 Seafoam Pudding. | |
| Winter 13th | Copper | 2 | Trap Bobber ×1 | Guaranteed reward. |
| Iron | 5 |
Winter Seeds ×15Mystery Box ×3 Dish O’ The Sea ×1
|
Dish O’ The Sea is guaranteed. One of Winter Seeds or Mystery Boxes is awarded randomly. | |
| Gold | 7 |
 Treasure Chest ×1 Triple Shot Espresso ×3
|
Both rewards are guaranteed. | |
| Iridium | 10 |
 Squid Hat ×1 The Art O’ Crabbing ×1Mystery Box ×3 Seafoam Pudding ×1
|
Squid Hat is guaranteed. If The Art O’ Crabbing hasn’t been received, it is awarded. Otherwise: 3 Mystery Boxes + 1 Seafoam Pudding. |
Tips for Fishing
Tip #1
To maximize your success at SquidFest, proper preparation and strategy can make a significant difference in the number of Squid you catch and the rewards you earn. Using Squid Bait is one of the most effective ways to increase catch rates. Squid Bait can be crafted with a Bait Maker, which is unlocked at Fishing Level 6. Each Squid placed in the Bait Maker produces 5-10 Squid Bait after 10 in-game minutes, making it useful to prepare in advance. Bringing an Iridium Rod allows the use of both bait and tackle, further improving efficiency, while the Advanced Iridium Rod offers additional benefits for those who have unlocked Fishing Mastery.
Tip #2
Selecting the right tackle can also make catching Squid easier. The Cork Bobber increases the size of the fishing bar, making it easier to keep Squid in the catch zone. The Lead Bobber prevents the bar from bouncing when it reaches the bottom, which is particularly helpful since Squid tend to drop rapidly. The Sonar Bobber lets you identify fish before reeling them in, helping you focus only on catching Squid by skipping unwanted fish. The Trap Bobber, available as a festival reward, slows down how quickly fish escape, increasing the likelihood of a successful catch.
Tip #3
Eating food with fishing buffs can further improve efficiency. Trout Soup, available at Willie’s shop, provides a simple fishing skill boost, and other high-level fishing buff foods offer greater advantages. Understanding Squid behavior is also beneficial, as they tend to move downward rapidly, making it important to avoid chasing them too aggressively. Clicking just before the bar reaches the bottom slows it down, helping maintain control during the catch.
Tip #5
A higher Fishing Skill naturally improves the chances of catching Squid, so leveling up before the event can be beneficial. Additionally, bringing a Bait Maker to the festival allows you to convert Squid into bait without reducing your catch count, ensuring a steady supply of bait throughout the event. Since time does not pause during SquidFest, managing your schedule is important—be sure to feed your animals before heading to the beach.
Tip #5
Since the festival map does not change, placing a Chest at the beach before the event allows for extra inventory storage, preventing the need for frequent trips back home. While catching more Squid than required for the daily rewards does not provide additional benefits, extra Squid can still be useful for crafting more Squid Bait or for selling. By optimizing your strategy with the right bait, tackle, and time management, you can make the most out of SquidFest and claim all available rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)
❓What is SquidFest and When Does It Occur?
📍SquidFest is a fishing event where players aim to catch as many Squid as possible. It takes place on Winter 12th and 13th, from 6:10 AM to 2:00 AM. During the festival, Squid can be caught all day, deviating from their usual nighttime availability.
❓How Do I Participate?
📍Head to the western side of the Beach, where a booth and a “SquidFest” sign are set up. Bring your fishing rod and start catching Squid. A counter in the top-left corner tracks your daily catch. Note that the counter resets each day, and rewards must be claimed on the same day they are earned
❓What Are the Rewards?
📍Each day offers four prize tiers based on the number of Squid caught:
Winter 12th:
– Copper Tier (1 Squid): 20 Deluxe Bait.
– Iron Tier (3 Squid): Dish O’ The Sea (guaranteed), plus either 10 Winter Seeds or 2 Mystery Boxes.
– Gold Tier (5 Squid): 1 Pearl and 3 Coffee.
– Iridium Tier (8 Squid): ‘Squid Kid’ painting (guaranteed), plus either The Art O’ Crabbing book (if not already owned) or 3 Mystery Boxes and 1 Seafoam Pudding.
Winter 13th:
– Copper Tier (2 Squid): 1 Trap Bobber.
– Iron Tier (5 Squid): Dish O’ The Sea (guaranteed), plus either 15 Winter Seeds or 3 Mystery Boxes.
– Gold Tier (7 Squid): 1 Treasure Chest and 3 Triple Shot Espresso.
– Iridium Tier (10 Squid): Squid Hat (guaranteed), plus either The Art O’ Crabbing book (if not already owned) or 3 Mystery Boxes and 1 Seafoam Pudding.
❓How Can I Prepare for SquidFest?
📍-Use Effective Bait: Squid Bait, crafted using a Bait Maker unlocked at Fishing Level 6, increases catch rates. Each Squid yields 5–10 Squid Bait after 10 in-game minutes. Deluxe Bait and Magic Bait are also effective alternatives.
– Equip the Right Rod and Tackle: The Iridium Rod allows the use of both bait and tackle. Useful tackle includes the Cork Bobber (increases fishing bar size), Lead Bobber (prevents bar from bouncing), Sonar Bobber (identifies fish before catching), and Trap Bobber (slows fish escape rate).
– Consume Fishing Buff Foods: Foods like Trout Soup provide fishing skill boosts, enhancing your ability to catch Squid.
– Manage Inventory: Place a Chest on the beach before the event to store extra bait, tackle, and caught fish, as the festival map remains unchanged.
❓Do I Keep the Squid I Catch?
📍Yes, you retain all Squid caught during the festival. They can be sold for profit, used in cooking, or converted into Squid Bait using the Bait Maker.
❓Do I Need to Care for My Animals During SquidFest?
📍Absolutely. Unlike other festivals, time progresses normally during SquidFest, and animals require their usual care routines
