You’ve spent all year planting turnips and chasing down stray cows, and suddenly the snow hits. Starlet Town transforms. It’s gorgeous, honestly. But if you’re heading into the Coral Island winter festival—officially known as the Winter Fair—expecting a relaxing stroll with a cup of hot cocoa, you’re in for a bit of a reality check. It’s chaotic. It's loud. And if you aren't prepared for the mini-games, you’re going to walk away with a handful of bronze seeds and a lot of regret.
The festival kicks off on Winter 17 and runs all the way through Winter 21. That’s a long time compared to the one-day bashes in Spring or Summer. It happens at the Lake, over by the Carpenter’s shop. You’ll see the decorations starting around 19:00 each night.
Don't just show up.
Why the Coral Island Winter Festival is Actually a Test of Skill
Most people think these festivals are just fluff. They aren't. Stairway Games packed this event with some of the most frustratingly addictive mini-games in the entire genre. You have the Shooting Gallery, the Ice Fishing contest, and that weirdly intense Tug of War.
The Shooting Gallery is where most people lose their cool. You’re standing there with a bow, trying to hit targets while the wind—or at least the game’s physics—feels like it’s working against you. Pro tip: aim for the golden targets. They’re worth more points, obviously, but they also move faster. If you’re playing on a controller, the snap-aim can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on your sensitivity settings. I’ve seen people rage-quit this mini-game more than the mines.
Ice fishing is different. It’s slower. It requires patience that most of us don't have after a long day of grinding for osmium ore. You have to find the ripples in the ice. If you’re just casting randomly into the white void, you’re wasting your time. Look for the shadows.
The Mystery of the Winter Fair Shop
Every night the shop stock shifts slightly. You can find things here that aren't available anywhere else in Starlet Town. We’re talking about high-end winter seeds, rare decor, and those "special" items that help you complete the museum collections.
💡 You might also like: Why the Disney Infinity Star Wars Starter Pack Still Matters for Collectors in 2026
One thing people always miss? The clothing. The Winter Fair has exclusive outfits. If you care about your farmer’s "drip," this is the only time you can snag certain coats and hats. They cost a fair amount of festival tokens, so you can't just buy them with your regular gold. You have to earn your keep at the stalls.
Mastering the Tug of War (The Real Boss Fight)
Forget the giants. Forget the sharks. The Tug of War at the Coral Island winter festival is the real endgame content. You’re teamed up with townspeople against another group. It looks like a simple button masher.
It isn't.
If you mash too fast, you exhaust your stamina bar. If you go too slow, the NPCs on the other side—looking at you, Yuri and Charles—will drag you into the slush. You have to find a rhythm. It’s more like a dance. Watch the tension meter in the middle of the screen. Keep it in the green. If it hits red, back off for a split second.
It’s hilarious to see the town’s doctor suddenly turn into a powerlifter, but that’s the charm of Starlet Town. Everyone takes the Winter Fair way too seriously.
The Strategy for Token Farming
If you want the big prizes, like the Rare Scarecrows or the heavy-duty fertilizers, you need thousands of tokens. You won't get that by playing once.
📖 Related: Grand Theft Auto Games Timeline: Why the Chronology is a Beautiful Mess
Since the festival lasts multiple days, use the first night just to practice. Don't worry about winning. Just learn the timings. On night two, go all in on the Shooting Gallery. It has the highest payout-to-time ratio if you can consistently hit the high-value targets.
- Night 1: Scout the shops.
- Night 2: Grind Shooting Gallery.
- Night 3: Hit the Ice Fishing for rare catches.
- Night 4: Clean out the prize booth.
Does it feel like a job? Sorta. But the rewards are worth it when you’re trying to hit Rank A for your farm.
Common Misconceptions About the Winter Fair
A lot of players think the festival is the only thing happening those nights. Wrong. The rest of the town functions, mostly. You can still gift people items, which is great because everyone is gathered in one spot. It’s the most efficient time to boost your friendship levels with the harder-to-find characters like the Merfolk (if you've progressed that far) or the reclusive types who usually hide in their houses.
Another myth: you need top-tier tools. You don't. The mini-games provide the equipment. Your iridium rod doesn't help you in the ice fishing contest. It’s a level playing field, which is both a blessing and a curse. It means you can't "pay to win" your way through the winter festivities.
What to Do When the Snow Clears
Once the 21st passes, the festival is over. The decorations vanish, and you’re left with whatever loot you managed to grab.
Don't hoard your tokens. They don't carry over to next year in a way that’s useful right now. Spend them. Get the seeds. Get the furniture. Especially the outdoor heaters if they’re in stock—your cows will thank you when the blizzard hits on the 24th.
👉 See also: Among Us Spider-Man: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessed With These Mods
The Coral Island winter festival represents the heartbeat of the game’s community. It’s the moment where the stress of the farm fades into the background, and you just get to be a part of Starlet Town. Even if that means losing a tug-of-war match to a guy who spends all day looking at bugs.
To make the most of your time, focus on the following steps immediately upon reaching Winter 17:
Clear your inventory before heading to the Lake. You’ll be picking up a lot of random rewards and shop items, and there’s nothing worse than having to delete a stack of wood to make room for a limited-edition festival trophy.
Prioritize buying the "Winter Seeds" from the festival booth early. These often have a shorter growth cycle or higher sell price than the standard ones at Sam’s store.
Check the calendar at the pier. Sometimes the timing of the events shifts slightly based on weather. If there’s a blizzard scheduled for the 18th, the festival might feel different, or some NPCs might not show up until later in the evening.
Lastly, make sure you have enough stamina-restoring snacks. While the games themselves use a specific festival stamina bar, running around and interacting with everyone can still drain your main bar if you’re doing farm chores right up until the 19:00 start time. Eat some Sashimi or a Candied Sweet Potato before you go. Be the most prepared farmer in the valley.