World of Warcraftisn’t only about combat and optimization. Sometimes there’s time for having fun and dressing up, which is why the land of Azeroth hosts a special event or holiday at least every few weeks. This isn’t the same as weekly or monthly events, such as the fishing contests or the Darkmoon Faire. These are the annual holidays that only come once a year and include special items, quests, and prizes.
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Not all of the following events include special titles, bosses, or quests. Some are included in the various meta-Achievments required for the elusive and rareWhat A Long Strange Trip It’s BeenAchievment, which rewards the player with aViolet Proto-Drake, one ofWoW’s rarest mounts. Others are just fun and unusual.
13Lunar Festival, January 20th - February 10th
As the name implies, this holiday is based on the real-life Lunar New Year festival. It also includes special food, clothing, andmost impressive of all, fireworks. It’s one of the longer festivals that includes a lot of extra perks for those that participate.
There are 11 meta-Achievements to complete to get the holiday title of Elder, and they’re some of the hardest in the game. Obtaining the title is one of the Achievements required for the Proto-Drake.
12Love Is In The Air, February 6th - 20th
It’s Valentine’s Day, except it’s in Azeroth and kicked up a few notches. Eat delicious chocolates, put on the best cologne or perfume that the holiday currency can buy, and don’t forget to kiss the cockroach vendor. Slay the seasonal boss, Apothecary Hummel, for a chance at one of therarest and most distinctive mountsin the game.
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This is another big holiday with a lot to do. Complete the 12 meta-Achievments for “Love Is In The Air” to get the Love Fool title and one step closer to the Proto-Drake.
11Noblegarden, Sunday April 9th - 15th
It takes place at generally the same time as Easter, and players will notice a lot of similarities. Bunny ears, painted eggs, and fancy clothes are all common springtime pastimes, and the only thing missing is Sunday brunch.
There are eight meta-Achievements for this holiday, which is fewer than most, but some involve infiltrating deep into enemy-faction territory. The title for the Noblegarden Achievements is The Noble, and it’s required for What A Long Strange Trip It’s Been.
10Children’s Week, May 1st - 8th
Visit the orphanage in one of each faction’s major cities to foster a lonely child for the week. Take them on some wacky adventures to get a title, Matron or Patron, and a non-combat pet as a reward for daily quests involving the wayward child.
Children’s Week is a shorter holiday compared to the others, lasting only seven days, so there are only five Achievements needed for another step closer to the Violet Proto-Drake.
9Midsummer Fire Festival, June 21st - July 5th
It’s only six Achievements for the title of Flame Keeper, but some traveling is involved, and a lot of it is into hostile territory. Players have to either travel to put the flames of enemies out or restore the friendly ones.
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Six in total are needed, making it one of the easier Achievements to get, especially if the character has a mount and guildmates to help. It’s also needed for What A Long Strange Trip It’s Been.
8Fireworks Spectacular - July 4th
One of the few yearly holidays that only last a day or two, this fireworks party is held in honor of the real-life event known as Independence Day. It takes place on the last evening of the Midsummer Fire Festival, the fourth of July, but includes no achievements or unique tasks.
The fireworks start in Booty Bay, then continue in various locations for the rest of the night. All players need to do is sit back and enjoy the show.
7Pirates Day - September 19th
A single day in Booty Bay, with a fancy hat and a mug of grog, is all thatplayers need on Pirate’s Day. This is also the date of a real-life event, Talk Like a Pirate Day.
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One Achievement is involved, The Captain’s Booty, and it requires a character to emote “/drink” to Dread Captain Demeza. She’s standing across from the Horde flight path with the rest of her scurvy crew.
6Brewfest, September 20th - October 5th
Pirates Day might be part of the initiation into Brewfest, and what with all of the boozing and brawling, it would be the perfect holiday for a pirate. Brewfest is basedon the European holiday of Octoberfest, which means pretzels, sausages, and beer.
The holiday boss is Corin Direbrew, and he’s located in the Grim Guzzler, Azeoth’s most notorious tavern, found in the heart of Blackrock Depths. One of the meta-Achievements for the holiday title is to slay him, and he also drops a rare mount. There are nine achievements available for this holiday but only six are needed to be a Brewmaster.
5Harvest Festival, September 26th - October 2nd
Not to be confused with the November holiday that has a similar theme, this festival is based more on the Korean holiday of Choesuk than Thanksgiving. Canadians, on the other hand, also celebrate the harvest festival in October so it makes sense for a northern country with a shorter growing season.
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The event only lasts a few days and includes visits to the ancestors and historic locations like Moonglade, but no Achievements are included. The kimchi and mandu, which are traditional Korean dishes, are found in Moonglade and are available all year round.
4Hallow’s End, October 18th - 31st
A popular holiday that seems to resonate with everyone, Hallow’s End has all of the proper items, activities, and even NPCs that a player would expect for a festival based on Halloween.
The special boss is a Headless Horseman, there’s candy and costumes everywhere, and there are no less than 12 Achievements included in one of Azeroth’s biggest holidays. Obtaining the title of the Hallowed is required for the Proto-Drake.
