Chasing XP in Stardew?
Sprint to Marcello’s nook, wallet in tow!
This article has been updated to reflect the Desert Festival activities more accurately.
When Is The Desert Festival?
The Desert Festival is a Spring event.
you might stay until you pass out at 2:00 a.m. ## How Do You Unlock The Desert Festival?
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
There are two ways to do this.
You cancomplete The Vault Bundle in the town’s Community Center.
This means giving the Junimos living in the Community Center a total of42,500g.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
Alternatively, you could go the Joja Route.
This meansbuying a Joja membershipfrom Morris, which costs5,000g.
Then youpurchase the Bus Repair,which is40,000g.
If you’re looking to save money,it’s cheaper to fix The Vault in the Community Center.
What Is The Desert Festival?
However, some of them will keep a handful of the same items each day.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
The booths include:
One important note,you won’t be spending gold at most of these places.
Instead,you will have to collect and spend Calico Eggs.
What Are Calico Eggs?
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
Calico Eggsare a punch in ofcollectible and currencyused for the Desert Festival.
There are many ways to collect these, both in The Desert and in the Skull Cavern.
Theteleportation service costs 250g, but you’re free to alwaystake the bus back home for free.
This can be some of their favorite things or items that make sense to their character.
Like Evelyn selling a Cookie Wallpaper and Marnie selling an Egg Wallpaper.
What fun prizes await when you use Stardew Valley’s Prize Machine?
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
The Chef
The Chef is an interesting character who runs a booth during the Festival.
He will ask if he can make a dish for you and ask you topick two ingredients.
It may be Defense, Attack, Luck, or Speed.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
Like with other food dishes,these changes aren’t indefinite.
But they can help you in the Skull Cavern, or you might use the Luck while fishing.
This may revolve around killing a certain bang out of monster or getting down a certain number of floors.
However,you might only pick one of them.
Depending on which one you take, your Calico Egg reward will differ.
When you complete your reward, you are gifted the Calico Eggs immediately.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
Youdon’t have to return to Marlon.
you’ve got the option to then head into theSkull Cavernanddescend as you normally do.
The floors, monsters, and rewards are all the same as when you usually visit the Skull Cavern.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
The big difference is theCalico Cat Statues.
These are not just decorations.
If youclick on them, they will gift you something in return.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
This may be apositive rewardor buff, anegative consequenceor debuff, orno effect.
Positive rewardscan be a bounty of Calico Eggs, even 100 of them at a time.
And buffs can be something like giving you additional Speed.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
Negative rewards and debuffscan increase the number of monsters and how much damage they can do to you.
Even when the Statue says no effect,you will still receive an additional point to your Egg Rating.
Once you leave the Skull Cavern,talk to Gil.
Mods Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel and Anime Portraits by OhoDavi
He will assess your Egg Rating.
Depending on what it is, he willgift you Calico Eggs, but may give you other rewards.
Even the powerful Magic Rock Candy can be given to you if Gil is truly impressed.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
Harvey’s Medical Station
There isn’t anything you’re free to buy from Harvey.
He asks youfour questions.
If you answer them all correctly, he willgift you 50 Calico Eggs.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
Some of theiritems are available every dayof the festival.
Abatwing-based headband, a stock often Mystery Boxes, aCalico Cat Statueand more.
There will also be new items each day, including furniture and decorations that are all desert-themed.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
They also havean unlimited stock of Woodcutter’s Weekly.
This book can be read to give you250 experience pointsin yourForaging Skill.
Books of Power are unique books used to gain new abilities.
He doesn’t ask for Calico Eggs for any of his items.
Instead, it’s the same payments you normally give him when you visit.
Jadesforstaircases,bat wingsfor abutterfly hutchand so on.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
The Races
Place your bets!
Then, the race will begin shortly after.
If you were right in your choice,he will gift you 20 Calico Eggs.
There are five possible racers, but there will only be three at a time.
Thelast raceis held at11 pm in-game.
The Suspicious Guy
Want to tip the scales in your favor?
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
you could talk to the Suspicious Guyin the bottom left of The Desert,sitting next toThe Oasis shop.
Forone Calico Egg,he’ll helprig the race in your favor.
You choose a racer you want to lose.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
He offers a free cactus to you, no strings attached.
He onlygives one out a year.
There is a wide array of options, making itworth returning to the salesmanyear after year.
Mod Used In This Image: Vintage Interface V2 by ManaKirel
Each cactus counts as a decor item and they can be placedboth inside and outdoors.
To claim a cactus,you have to have a free spot in your inventoryto collect it.
If you don’t, you could return at any point during the festival once you do.
