Introduction
The Stardew Valley Fall Season is the third season in the game, following Summer and leading into Winter, each lasting 28 days. As the hot summer weather fades, Pelican Town undergoes a stunning transformation, with the landscape turning into a beautiful array of autumnal hues. The vibrant orange, red, and yellow leaves replace the lush green of the previous seasons, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.
This is the time when your farm’s potential truly starts to shine, as Fall brings a variety of valuable crops, each with its own unique benefits. Crops like pumpkins, cranberries, and yams become staples of this season, offering high profits and fulfilling key roles in cooking recipes or bundles. For example, cranberries are particularly lucrative due to their ability to produce multiple harvests, making them an excellent choice for maximizing farm income.
Alongside farming, Fall is a prime time for foraging, as many seasonal items become available throughout the town. You can gather wild plums, mushrooms, and acorns, which are not only useful for crafting but also serve as great gifts for the villagers, helping to improve your relationships. This is especially important if you are working toward building friendships with specific townspeople or aiming to complete the bundles at the Community Center. Foraging also offers the opportunity to find rare and valuable items, which can be sold or used for various recipes.
Fishing in the Stardew Valley Fall Season also presents unique opportunities, as different fish become available in the various bodies of water around Pelican Town. The Squid and Red Snapper are notable catches during this season, and both are needed for specific bundles or can be sold for a decent amount of gold. The Midnight Carp, a night-only fish, becomes accessible during Fall as well, giving players a chance to venture into the deeper parts of the waters for a special catch. These fish not only provide opportunities for profit but also play a role in completing the fishing bundles and other in-game achievements.
As Fall progresses, it’s important to focus on preparing for the harsh Winter months. The Stardew Valley Fall Season is an ideal time to stockpile crops, resources, and materials that will carry you through Winter, when farming is not an option. Be sure to harvest and preserve as many crops as possible by using the Preserves Jar or Kegs to ensure a steady supply of goods.
Additionally, it’s a good time to upgrade tools and make necessary repairs or enhancements to your farm, ensuring you’re ready for the challenges Winter will bring. The Stardew Valley Fall Season, with its unique opportunities for farming, foraging, and fishing, is one of the most rewarding times of the year to work on your farm and continue building your legacy in Pelican Town.
Key Events and Festivals
Participating in events and festivals in Stardew Valley is a great way to enhance your overall gameplay experience, providing opportunities to gain unique items, earn rewards, and build meaningful relationships with the villagers. One of the standout festivals in Fall is the Stardew Valley Fair, which takes place on the 16th of the season. During this event, you’ll have the chance to display up to nine of your best items in the Grange Display, where the quality of your offerings plays a significant role.
Items of higher quality, especially those of iridium quality, will earn you more tokens. These tokens can be exchanged for special rewards, including the highly sought-after Stardrop, which increases your maximum energy, helping you on your farming journey. The Stardew Valley Fair is not only a fun way to showcase your progress but also a chance to impress the townspeople, who may be more inclined to become your friends based on your display.
Another exciting festival in Fall is Spirit’s Eve, celebrated on the 27th of the season. This spooky event takes place in the town square, where a maze is set up by the Wizard. The maze offers a unique challenge as you navigate through it to find hidden rewards. If you’re successful, you may receive a Golden Pumpkin, a valuable item that can be displayed in your house or given as a gift, or a Prize Ticket, which can be used to purchase special items.
Spirit’s Eve is not just about the maze, though; it’s also a great time to interact with the townspeople and experience the festive atmosphere. The spooky theme of the event adds a fun, mysterious element to the season, making it a memorable part of your fall activities.
Additionally, Fall in Stardew Valley brings Blackberry Season, which runs from the 8th to the 11th of the season. During these days, blackberry bushes throughout Pelican Town, Cindersap Forest, and the Railroad become abundant with blackberries, which are available for foraging. These berries are a great source of energy, allowing you to stock up on them for those busy farming days when you need a quick energy boost.
They can also be sold for extra gold, making them a valuable resource. Foraging for blackberries is a fun way to explore the different areas of the valley and gather essential items to support your farm. It’s also a great opportunity to meet other villagers and collect enough berries to keep you going through the season.
These events and festivals not only add variety and excitement to the gameplay but also provide you with valuable resources and rewards that will benefit your farm and your relationships with the villagers. Engaging in these activities during the Fall Season can make your Stardew Valley experience even more enjoyable and rewarding.
Profitable Fall Crops
Strategic crop selection is key to maximizing profits during the Fall season in Stardew Valley. Cranberries are one of the best choices for this purpose due to their high gold-per-day ratio. They have an initial 7-day growth period, followed by regrowth every 5 days. Each cranberry plant yields at least two berries per harvest, and the seeds cost 240g, making them a highly profitable option for players looking to optimize their farm’s earnings.
Grapes are another solid crop, particularly for those planning to establish a winery. Although their base sell price is modest at 80g, the true value of grapes lies in their potential to be turned into high-quality wines. Grape starters cost 60g, with an initial growth period of 10 days and regrowth every 3 days, offering excellent long-term returns when processed into wine.
For those seeking the highest possible profit, the Sweet Gem Berry is the ultimate Fall crop, although it’s challenging to cultivate. Rare Seeds can be purchased for 1,000g from the Traveling Cart, and the crop takes 24 days to mature. However, each Sweet Gem Berry can be sold for a substantial 3,000g, making it the most profitable Fall crop. Pumpkins, a quintessential Fall crop, are also highly profitable. Pumpkin Seeds cost 100g and take 13 days to grow. Each pumpkin sells for 320g, and pumpkins have the potential to grow into giant crops, yielding up to 21 standard pumpkins per harvest, further boosting their value.
Artichokes, available starting in year two, are another good choice for Fall farming. Artichoke Seeds cost 30g and take 8 days to grow. They sell for 160g, making them a relatively easy crop to profit from. Other crops to consider include Amaranth, which costs 70g for seeds and takes 7 days to grow, selling for 150g, and Bok Choy, which costs 50g, takes only 4 days to grow, and sells for 80g.
Fairy Roses, which are available in Fall with a 12-day growth period, cost 200g for seeds and sell for 290g, making them a profitable yet slightly longer-term option. Corn, which grows in both Summer and Fall, costs 150g for seeds and takes 14 days to grow initially, with a 4-day regrowth period. It sells for 50g per crop and can be harvested multiple times in Fall. Wheat, also available in both Summer and Fall, is a low-cost crop, with seeds priced at 10g and a 4-day growth period, selling for 25g.
However, some crops are less profitable and should be avoided for the best returns. Sunflowers, while they can be grown in both Summer and Fall, are not as profitable as other crops. Despite their aesthetic appeal, their lower selling price makes them a less optimal choice for maximizing profits. By focusing on high-value crops like cranberries, pumpkins, and Sweet Gem Berries, players can ensure a successful and profitable Fall season.
Foraging Opportunities
Fall in Stardew Valley offers a variety of foraging opportunities that allow players to gather valuable resources while exploring the different areas of the valley. One of the most significant foraging events during the season is Blackberry Season, which occurs from Fall 8-11. During this period, players can find Blackberries in several locations, including Pelican Town (100%), Cindersap Forest (50%), and the Railroad (38%). The Blackberries are an excellent source of energy and can also be sold for a decent profit, making them a valuable find during the season.
Another key foraged item is the Chanterelle mushroom, which can be found in the Secret Woods (38%) and the Forest Farm (25%). The Chanterelle is an important item for both cooking recipes and crafting, and it can also be given as a gift to certain villagers, making it a versatile addition to your foraging collection. Similarly, the Common Mushroom is widely available throughout Fall, with chances of finding it in multiple locations such as Cindersap Forest (50%), Secret Woods (46%), Forest Farm (25%), the Mountain (24%), and Backwoods (24%). This mushroom is commonly used in recipes and as a gift, so gathering it from these locations can be quite useful for completing various tasks.
Hazelnuts, another valuable foraged item, can be found in several places, including the Backwoods (53%), Mountain (53%), Bus Stop (40%), and Railroad (25%). These nuts are essential for some recipes and can be gifted to villagers as well. Additionally, Wild Plums are abundant during the Fall season and can be foraged from the Bus Stop (60%), Railroad (38%), Backwoods (24%), and Mountain (24%). Wild Plums are a great source of energy and are favored by certain villagers, making them a useful and profitable find.
The Purple Mushroom, though rarer, can be found in the Forest Farm (25%). While not as common as some of the other foraged items, the Purple Mushroom is highly valuable due to its use in cooking recipes, its energy-restoring properties, and its value when given as a gift to specific townspeople.
In addition to the specific items available during Fall, foraging in general adds to the overall experience of the season by encouraging exploration of the various regions of Stardew Valley. These foraged goods are not only important for completing bundles, recipes, and quests, but they can also be sold for gold, making them a profitable aspect of the game. Whether you’re stocking up for the winter months, crafting items, or simply enhancing your relationships with the villagers by gifting foraged goods, the Fall foraging season provides numerous opportunities to make the most of your time in the valley.
Fishing in Fall
Fall is a unique season for fishing in Stardew Valley, as several fish become available only during this time. One of the notable fish is the Salmon, which can be caught in the river (both in Pelican Town and the Forest) and the Forest Waterfall from 6 AM to 7 PM. This fish is important for both cooking recipes and bundles, making it a key catch during Fall.
The Walleye, another seasonal fish, can be found in the river (town and forest), the forest pond, and the mountain lake, but only during rainy weather. Walleye can be caught between 12 PM and 2 AM, making it a valuable catch for players looking to complete their fishing collection or prepare for specific quests.
For those with a higher fishing skill, the Angler is a special catch requiring level 3 fishing. It can be found north of JojaMart on the wooden plank bridge at any time of day, offering a unique opportunity for players to test their fishing abilities. In addition to these specific fish, a variety of other fish are also available during the Fall season.
These include Anchovy, Sardine, Smallmouth Bass, Catfish, Eel, Red Snapper, Sea Cucumber, Super Cucumber, Tiger Trout, Tilapia, Albacore, Midnight Carp, and Shad. Many of these fish are essential for completing bundles, cooking recipes, or earning profits through sale. Fall provides diverse fishing opportunities, giving players a chance to catch fish that are both seasonal and valuable for various aspects of the game.
Preparing for Winter
Preparing for Winter during Fall is a critical aspect of maintaining steady progress and income in Stardew Valley. As the weather turns colder and farming slows down, taking the right steps in Fall will ensure that you’re ready for the challenges of Winter. A crucial task is farm cleanup.
This includes clearing out any remaining crops that won’t survive the freezing temperatures, such as Summer or Fall crops, and making space for Winter preparations. Taking time to clear debris and weeds will also make your farm look tidier and help maximize your available land for Winter crops or animal care. This is a great opportunity to rethink your farm layout, rearranging structures and crops to optimize space for the upcoming seasons.
Another essential task is crafting artisan equipment like kegs and preserves jars. These pieces of equipment are vital for processing Fall crops into valuable goods. For example, using a keg to turn grapes into wine or a preserves jar to turn vegetables into pickles can significantly increase the value of your crops. As you’ll have fewer farming tasks to focus on in Winter, creating and stocking these products can provide a steady income during the season. Investing in artisan goods early will ensure that you can sell valuable items and keep your profit margin high when other farming activities are on pause.
Fall is also an ideal time to focus on upgrading or constructing farm buildings. If you’ve been putting off expanding your farm’s infrastructure, this is the season to do so. Barns and coops are essential for housing animals, and upgrading them will allow you to keep more livestock during Winter, which will continue to provide valuable resources like milk, eggs, and wool. If you haven’t yet built a silo, this is the time to do so, as it’s essential for storing hay for your animals. As grass will no longer grow in Winter, making sure you have a well-stocked hay supply is critical to ensure your animals are fed and happy.
Stockpiling hay should be a top priority as Fall progresses. Harvesting hay from your farm’s grass and storing it in a silo ensures that your animals will have enough food throughout Winter when there’s no fresh grass to graze. You can also buy hay from Marnie’s shop, but it’s far more cost-effective to harvest it yourself. With animals being a reliable source of income through the Winter, it’s important to have a sufficient stockpile to keep them well-fed and productive. If you have the space, consider growing a variety of crops like wheat or grasses that can be harvested and turned into hay, ensuring you’re fully prepared.
Finally, take this time to start planning for the upcoming seasons, particularly Spring. Consider what crops you’ll want to plant once Winter ends and make sure you have the seeds and resources ready. Fall is the perfect opportunity to invest in future farming ventures, ensuring that when Winter ends, you’ll be able to hit the ground running with a strong start in Spring.
By tackling these important tasks in Fall—farm cleanup, crafting artisan goods, upgrading buildings, and stockpiling hay—you’ll ensure that your farm runs smoothly during Winter, keeping your income flowing and allowing you to focus on more long-term goals as the new year approaches.
Villager Birthdays
Fall is a lively and bustling time for gift-giving in Stardew Valley, as eight villagers celebrate their birthdays during the season. This provides a great opportunity to strengthen your relationships with the townspeople by offering them their favorite gifts. Penny, who celebrates on the 2nd of Fall, has a fondness for melons, sandfish, and emeralds.
Melons can be harvested in Summer, but sandfish and emeralds are often easy to find with a little effort, making them ideal gifts for improving your connection with Penny. Elliot, celebrating on the 5th of Fall, is particularly fond of lobsters, duck feathers, and pomegranates. Lobsters can be caught during Fall through fishing, and duck feathers are obtained after getting ducks, so it may take a little more time to gather his favorite gifts. Pomegranates are typically available in the Fall and are great for giving him a gift he truly loves.
Jodi, whose birthday falls on the 11th of Fall, enjoys fried eel, pancakes, and diamonds. These items are not only favorites but also fairly easy to make or obtain, with fried eel being a dish you can cook if you have access to an eel caught in the river. Abigail, born on the 13th of Fall, is a fan of pumpkins, amethysts, and chocolate cake. Since pumpkins are grown during Fall, this is a perfect time to prepare a gift for her. Amethysts are commonly found while mining, and chocolate cake is a simple dish that can be made with ingredients you might already have on hand, making Abigail’s gifts easy to gather throughout the season.
Sandy, whose birthday is on the 15th, loves daffodils, crocus, and sweet peas. Daffodils and crocus are often found in the desert and on the outskirts of Pelican Town, while sweet peas can be found in various foraging spots. Sandy’s preferences make her birthday easy to prepare for if you’ve been collecting flowers from around the valley. Marnie, who celebrates on the 18th of Fall, adores diamonds, pumpkin pie, and pink cake.
Diamonds are always a surefire gift, and pumpkin pie is a great treat to make using your Fall harvest, making it an ideal option for Marnie’s special day. Robin, whose birthday is on the 21st, enjoys goat cheese, spaghetti, and peaches. Goat cheese comes from goats, which you’ll need to have a barn for, while spaghetti is an easy-to-make dish, and peaches can be harvested from fruit trees, making Robin’s favorite gifts accessible with the right preparation.
Finally, George, born on the 24th, has a particular fondness for fried mushrooms and leeks. Fried mushrooms are made by cooking a mushroom with oil, and leeks can be found by foraging, making it easy to provide George with gifts he enjoys. Remembering these birthdays and giving the villagers their favorite items can significantly improve your relationships with them, unlocking valuable rewards like recipes, new heart events, and unique dialogue. This will help you deepen your connections and gain advantages as you continue your journey in Stardew Valley.
Conclusion
By strategically planning crops, foraging, fishing, and preparing for Winter, you can maximize profits and make the most of everything Stardew Valley’s Fall season has to offer. Choosing high-yield crops like cranberries, pumpkins, and grapes ensures a steady income, while artisan equipment such as kegs and preserves jars can further increase profits by processing raw crops into more valuable goods.
Foraging is another way to take advantage of Fall, with seasonal items like blackberries, wild plums, and hazelnuts found throughout the valley. These can be sold, gifted, or used in recipes to provide energy for farming and mining activities. Fishing during Fall offers a chance to catch seasonal fish like salmon, walleye, and angler, many of which are required for bundles or can be sold for extra income.
As the season progresses, preparing for Winter becomes essential. Stockpiling hay by harvesting grass and filling silos ensures animals remain fed when fresh grass is no longer available. Upgrading barns and coops before Winter allows for increased livestock capacity, ensuring a steady supply of animal products. Crafting and placing artisan equipment before Winter arrives helps maintain income when farming is no longer possible. Clearing the farm of debris and reorganizing structures can also help set up an efficient layout for future planting seasons. By making the most of Fall’s opportunities, you can secure resources, build relationships, and ensure a successful transition into Winter, keeping your farm productive and profitable year-round.
