You’re walking through Pelican Town at 3:00 AM. It’s quiet. Maybe a bit too quiet. If you’ve spent any significant time in ConcernedApe’s masterpiece, you know that the game isn't just about parsnips and pale ale. There’s a weirdness under the surface. This weirdness peaks when you finally find secret note 21 stardew players often overlook until their second or third year.
It starts with a drawing. Just a simple, hand-drawn map. No text. No instructions. Just a series of arrows starting from the center of town.
Honestly, the first time I saw it, I thought it was a bug or some leftover asset. It points toward a specific bush near the bridge leading to the Beach. If you don't have the note in your collection, shaking that bush does nothing. You’ll just look like a person obsessed with shrubbery. But with the note? That’s when things get strange.
What Secret Note 21 Stardew Valley Actually Reveals
Most people get frustrated with the Secret Note system because the drop rates feel completely random. You’re digging up artifact spots, slaying slimes in the mines, or chopping down trees hoping for that little scroll to pop out. Once you get #21, the game expects you to be a bit of a detective.
The note depicts a path starting from the brick circle in the center of Pelican Town, right outside the 1:00 PM sun. You follow the directions—right, down, right, up—until you hit a very specific large bush to the northwest of the bridge.
Here is the kicker: timing is everything. If you go there during the day, you get nothing but leaves. You have to be there at exactly 12:40 at night.
The Jump Scare You Didn't Expect
When you click that bush at 12:40 AM, a figure pops out. It isn't Lewis. It isn't Morris. It’s Marnie and Lewis. Together. In a bush. In the middle of the night.
They jump out, startled, and run in opposite directions. It is one of those moments that makes you realize how much "adult" subtext Eric Barone managed to sneak into a game about farming. It’s hilarious. It’s awkward. It also confirms every rumor the town has been whispering about since Year 1.
People always ask if this changes your relationship with them. It doesn't. Not really. Unlike the "Mayor’s Shorts" quest where you can actually embarrass Lewis by putting his boxers in the Luau soup, this is more of a world-building flavor text moment. You’ve seen something you weren't supposed to see. The game acknowledges it, and then life goes on.
How to Actually Get the Note to Drop
You can't just go to the bush because you read this article. The game code won't trigger the event unless the note is sitting in your "Secret Notes" tab in the collection menu. This is the part that grinds gears for many players.
To even start finding notes, you need the Magnifying Glass. You get this during Winter. A cutscene triggers at the Bus Stop where a "Shadow Guy" (Krobus, essentially) runs away. Follow his footsteps to the bush by the Community Center, and he gives you the glass.
📖 Related: Struggling with the Wordle hint Jan 24? Here is how to save your streak
Once you have it, here are the best ways to farm for secret note 21 stardew hunters swear by:
- Artifact Spots: These are those little "worms" or twigs wiggling in the dirt. Dig them up. They have an 11% chance to drop a note.
- Fishing: Catching a treasure chest while fishing gives you an 8% chance. It’s tedious but pays off if you’re leveling your fishing anyway.
- Mining: Stones have a tiny chance (0.75%), but since you break hundreds of them, it adds up.
- Combat: Slimes are surprisingly good for this.
I’ve found that the fastest way is actually clearing the woods. Giant stumps and fallen logs have a massive 25% drop rate. If you have the Steel Axe, go to the Secret Woods and just start swinging. You’ll fill your collection in a few in-game weeks.
Why This Specific Note Matters for Lore
Stardew Valley thrives on its secrets. Think about the Lucky Purple Shorts. Think about the statue of Yoba. Secret note 21 stardew is part of a larger narrative thread about the private lives of the NPCs. Lewis is the Mayor. He’s obsessed with his image. He even has a solid gold statue of himself hidden behind his house.
His refusal to go public with Marnie is a point of contention in the fandom. Marnie is lonely. She wants a real relationship. Lewis is too worried about "authority" or whatever excuse he’s using this week. When they jump out of that bush, it highlights the absurdity of their "secret." Everyone knows. Even the birds know.
The Logistics of the Midnight Bush Run
Let’s talk strategy. If you’re at the Farm, getting to town by 12:40 AM is tight.
You should leave your farm by 11:30 PM at the latest if you’re on foot. If you have the horse, you’ve got more leeway. The pathing is simple: head to the town square, stand on the paved area, and then move toward the bushes near the river.
Do not click too early. 12:30 AM is too early. 12:50 AM might be too late depending on the game's tick rate.
I usually stand right in front of the bush and spam the 'A' button (or right-click) starting at 12:39 AM. The animation of them running away is fast. If you blink, you’ll miss the direction they head. Marnie usually bolts toward her shop, and Lewis disappears toward his manor.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wrong Bush: There are several bushes in that area. It’s the one directly to the left of the bridge leading to the beach. Not the ones further up by the trailer.
- No Note: Check your wallet/collection. If you haven't "read" the note (by consuming it from your inventory), the event is locked.
- Winter 15-17: During the Night Market, the town layout changes slightly with the NPCs' pathing. It’s better to do this on a standard night to avoid any weird layering issues.
It is honestly one of the funniest moments in the game. It’s right up there with finding out what Pierre is hiding behind his bookshelf.
Beyond the Note: What Next?
Once you’ve "solved" note 21, you’ve basically seen the peak of the town’s gossip. But there are others. Note 19 leads you to a secret Solid Gold Lewis statue. Note 20 is a puzzle involving a rabbit’s foot and a truck driver near the JojaMart (or the movie theater).
The Secret Note system was added in the 1.3 update, and it changed how we play the mid-game. It gave us reasons to look at the environment instead of just looking at our crop yields.
👉 See also: Gen 3 Beta Sprites: What Pokémon Fans Still Get Wrong About Ruby and Sapphire
Final Steps for the Completionist
If you’re sitting there wondering why you haven't found it yet, stop mining. Seriously. Go to the Secret Woods.
Bring your axe. Chop every stump. Most players find that they get a backlog of notes this way. Also, keep an eye on the weather. On rainy days, you aren't watering crops anyway, so spend that time tilling the soil in the Beach or the Desert. The sheer volume of artifact spots in the Desert makes it a gold mine for secret notes.
Your Action Plan:
- Verify you have the Magnifying Glass from the "A Winter Mystery" quest.
- Clear the Secret Woods daily until Secret Note 21 drops.
- Wait for a non-festival night.
- Enter Pelican Town at 12:40 AM sharp.
- Interact with the large bush directly to the left of the Beach bridge.
The animation will play once. It’s a one-time deal. Make sure your zoom level is out far enough so you can see the full "escape" of the Mayor and Marnie. It’s a tiny detail, but it’s what makes this game feel alive.
After you've done this, head over to the truck parked outside JojaMart (if you have a Rabbit's Foot) to handle Secret Note 20. It's the logical next step in uncovering the weird side of Pelican Town. Happy hunting, and don't let Lewis catch you judging him too hard.