October may well be the most exciting and content packed month in all of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It has been that way since the very start of the series back in 2001, and this year is no exception. From the legendary Halloween event to the final Fishing Tourney of the year, new spooky DIYs, seasonal shop refreshes, and a fresh wave of arriving critters, there is something to log in for every single day. Northern players are stepping deeper into fall as grass turns orange and trees blush red, while Southern players finally welcome cherry blossom season after the last of the snow melts away.
ACNH October 2026 Updates (Events, DIYs, Critters, Birthdays)
Before you plan out your calendar, let's begin with the events and seasonal items in ACNH on offer this October.
ACNH October Events & Seasonal Items
October features one of the biggest holidays in the game plus the last Fishing Tourney of the year, along with themed shop items you cannot get any other time.
Halloween (October 31, 5 PM to Midnight)
Halloween is the flagship event of October and arguably one of the best events in the entire series. From 5:00 PM until midnight on October 31, Jack appears in the Resident Services plaza and hands out spooky rewards for those who play along with the trick or treating theme. Villagers roam the island in costume, and you will need candy (or lollipops) to hand them, or else they will play some rather nasty tricks on you.
Items to Get:
Spooky series furniture items
Lollipop (only obtainable this night)
Jack's face and robe
Spooky costume pieces from Jack
How to Get the Items:
Stockpile candy from Nook's Cranny throughout October (one piece per day) and buy lollipops from the Able Sisters. On October 31, talk to Jack in the plaza, then visit trick or treating villagers and offer them candy for Halloween DIYs or lollipops in exchange for special Jack costume pieces.
Fishing Tourney (October 8)
The final Fishing Tourney of 2026 takes place on Saturday, October 8, hosted by CJ in the plaza. It runs in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and gives you three minute rounds to catch as many fish as possible. Trade in points immediately after each round for fish themed prizes before CJ packs up and leaves.
Items to Get:
Fish pochette
Fish print tee
Fish doorplate
Anchor statue
Bronze, silver, and gold trophies (based on high scores)
How to Get the Items:
Speak with CJ at the plaza on October 8, pay 500 Bells to enter, and start reeling in fish for three minutes. Score 100 points or more in a single round to earn trophies.
Day of the Dead (Marigold Decoration)
October's Nook Shopping seasonal tab is unusually light this month. The one featured piece is the marigold decoration, celebrating Día de los Muertos. It pairs beautifully with any spooky or autumnal setup you have going.
Items to Get:
Marigold decoration
How to Get the Items:
Open the Nook Shopping app, tap Special Goods, and find the marigold decoration under the seasonal category during late October. Order it and check your mailbox the following day.
Cherry Blossom Season (Southern Hemisphere, Early October)
Southern players finally step into spring with the arrival of cherry blossom season. Trees turn a beautiful pink for about ten days, and cherry blossom petals drift through the air for you to catch with your net. This limited window drops the coveted cherry blossom DIY recipes via balloons.
Items to Get:
Cherry blossom petals (net catch)
Sakura wood series recipes
How to Get the Items:
Watch for balloon presents floating across the sky throughout the cherry blossom window and shoot them down with a slingshot. Catch drifting petals with your net until the window closes.
Nook's Cranny & Able Sisters Halloween Refresh
Both shops go full Halloween mode throughout October. Nook's Cranny gets a spooky exterior refresh with carved pumpkins near the front door, and the shelves inside carry Halloween themed furniture on rotation. The Able Sisters starts stocking Halloween costumes, including witch outfits, animal costumes, and other outfits perfect for trick or treating.
Items to Get:
Candy (one per day from Nook's Cranny)
Lollipop (from Able Sisters)
Halloween wands, wigs, and costumes
Assorted spooky furniture on rotation
How to Get the Items:
Visit Nook's Cranny daily to buy candy and check the rotating stock. Head into the Able Sisters to try on and buy Halloween costumes, and remember to stockpile lollipops leading up to October 31.
Libra & Scorpio Zodiac Seasons
October covers two zodiac windows. Libra season continues from the previous month through October 22, and Scorpio season starts October 23 and runs until November 21. Wishing on shooting stars during this period gives you zodiac fragments used to craft themed furniture.
Items to Get:
Libra fragments (through October 22)
Libra scale DIY recipe
Scorpio fragments (starting October 23)
Scorpio lamp DIY recipe
How to Get the Items:
Wait for a starry night and press A with empty hands to wish on shooting stars. Collect the fragments from your beach the next morning. Talk to Celeste when she visits during meteor showers to grab the current zodiac recipe.
Now that you know the events, let's move on to the critters swimming, crawling, and flying around your island this October.
ACNH October Critters: Bugs, Fish & Sea Creatures
October is a heavy transition month. Northern players see summer bugs and fish leaving in droves while a couple of fresh fall arrivals appear. Southern players get a burst of new spring critters as their island wakes up.
October Bugs
Bugs Arriving
Northern Hemisphere: Ladybug returns as autumn deepens.
Southern Hemisphere: Common bluebottle, agrias butterfly, Rajah Brooke's birdwing, Atlas moth, Madagascan sunset moth, long locust, darner dragonfly, giant water bug, jewel beetle, and flea.
Bugs Leaving
Northern Hemisphere: Yellow butterfly, bell cricket, red dragonfly, darner dragonfly, banded dragonfly, stinkbug, man faced stink bug, ladybug (spotted variant), tiger beetle, and scorpion.
Southern Hemisphere: Just the tarantula.
Prioritize catching the tiger beetle and scorpion in the north before they disappear, and get every rare butterfly in the south while spring is fresh.
October Fish
Fish Arriving
Northern Hemisphere: Yellow perch and dab.
Southern Hemisphere: Killifish, crawfish, snapping turtle, guppy, neon tetra, seahorse, clownfish, surgeonfish, butterfly fish, and zebra turkeyfish.
Fish Leaving
Northern Hemisphere: Snapping turtle, catfish, tilapia, angelfish, betta, rainbowfish, moray eel, ribbon eel, giant trevally, and mahi mahi.
Southern Hemisphere: Dab, tuna, and blue marlin.
Ten fish are exiting the north this month, so donate the rare tropical species like the angelfish, betta, and mahi mahi to Blathers before they head out of season.
October Sea Creatures
Sea Creatures Arriving
Northern Hemisphere: Seaweed, spiny lobster, and Venus' flower basket.
Southern Hemisphere: Sea pineapple.
Sea Creatures Leaving
Northern Hemisphere: Giant isopod and spotted garden eel.
Southern Hemisphere: Sea cucumber, snow crab, and spider crab.
With your critter checklist sorted, let's move on to the DIYs and crafting materials popping up this October.
ACNH October DIYs & Items To Craft
October layers three DIY sets on top of the ongoing zodiac recipes. Northern players get the biggest crafting month of the fall thanks to spooky pumpkins and mushroom recipes, while southern players enjoy a soft pastel run of cherry blossom items.
Spooky Series (Northern Hemisphere, October 1 to 31)
The Spooky Series is October's signature crafting set. Once you start growing pumpkins in Leif's new patches, you can harvest orange, yellow, white, and green pumpkin varieties to build the entire spooky lineup. These DIYs are gifted throughout the month from balloons, villagers crafting at home, and Jack himself on Halloween night.
DIYs to Get:
Spooky lantern
Spooky arch
Spooky carriage
Spooky fence
Spooky scarecrow
Spooky tower
Spooky candy set
Spooky garland
Spooky table setting
Spooky standing lamp
How to Get the DIYs:
Buy pumpkin starts from Leif or Nook's Cranny, plant them in tilled soil, water them daily, and harvest pumpkins in about four days. Shoot down October balloons for recipes, and visit villagers crafting in their homes. On October 31, trade candy and lollipops with Jack for the rarest recipes and finished spooky items.
Items to Craft:
Spooky lantern (1 orange pumpkin)
Spooky arch (3 orange pumpkins, 3 yellow pumpkins)
Spooky carriage (30 orange pumpkins, 10 iron nuggets, 10 hardwood)
Spooky scarecrow (2 orange pumpkins, 2 wood, 1 old newspaper)
Spooky tower (12 orange pumpkins)
Spooky fence (2 orange pumpkins per 10 fence pieces)
Mushroom Series (Northern Hemisphere, All Month)
Mushrooms sprout in full force near trees throughout October in the north. You can find flat, round, skinny, and rare elegant mushrooms scattered around your island every morning. The full mushroom crafting set becomes available with balloon drops and villager gifts.
DIYs to Get:
Mushroom wand
Mushroom lamp
Forest wall
Forest floor
Mushroom parasol
Mushroom umbrella
Round mushroom
Skinny mushroom
Flat mushroom
Mush partition
How to Get the DIYs:
Walk your island each morning to gather mushrooms near trees. Shoot down balloons for mushroom themed recipes and check villager homes for crafting sessions.
Items to Craft:
Mushroom wand (3 elegant mushrooms, 1 star fragment)
Mushroom lamp (1 flat mushroom, 1 round mushroom, 1 skinny mushroom, 3 clay)
Forest wall (2 elegant mushrooms, 8 wood, 8 softwood)
Mushroom parasol (3 round mushrooms)
Round mushroom (3 round mushrooms)
Maple Leaf Series (Northern Hemisphere, Late October Preview)
Toward the end of October, maple trees start showing color changes across the north, and some early maple leaf DIYs may drop from balloons ahead of the official November window.
DIYs to Get:
Maple leaf umbrella
Maple leaf pochette
Maple leaf pond stone
How to Get the DIYs:
Shoot down balloon presents in the last week of October for a chance at early maple leaf recipes.
Cherry Blossom Series (Southern Hemisphere, October)
Southern players welcome spring with the cherry blossom season, and the sakura wood DIYs are among the prettiest crafting items in the game. You will only have about ten days to gather materials, so log in daily during the pink tree window.
DIYs to Get:
Sakura wood floor
Sakura wood flooring
Sakura wall
Outdoor picnic set
Cherry blossom clock
Cherry blossom bonsai
Cherry blossom pond stone
Cherry blossom pochette
Cherry blossom branches
Cherry blossom umbrella
Blossom viewing lantern
Sakura wand
How to Get the DIYs:
Catch petals drifting through the air with your net, then shoot down balloons for recipes throughout the pink tree window. Villager crafting sessions also offer sakura themed recipes.
Items to Craft:
Cherry blossom branches (4 cherry blossom petals)
Cherry blossom bonsai (6 cherry blossom petals, 3 softwood, 1 clay)
Cherry blossom pochette (3 cherry blossom petals, 4 wood)
Sakura wand (3 cherry blossom petals, 1 star fragment)
Blossom viewing lantern (4 cherry blossom petals, 3 wood)
Zodiac Furniture (Libra through Oct 22, Scorpio from Oct 23)
October covers two zodiac pieces if you wish on stars diligently during both halves of the month.
DIYs to Get:
Libra scale recipe (through October 22)
Scorpio lamp recipe (from October 23)
How to Get the DIYs:
Talk to Celeste on her next visit during a meteor shower to receive the recipe for whichever zodiac sign is currently active.
Items to Craft:
Libra scale (5 Libra fragments, 3 iron nuggets, 3 gold nuggets)
Scorpio lamp (5 Scorpio fragments, 3 star fragments, 1 large star fragment)
Once your workbench is busy, take a moment to see which of your neighbors are celebrating birthdays this month.
ACNH October Villager Birthdays
Thirty one villagers blow out their candles across October. Attend their parties for cake, presents, and unique dialogue, and remember to grab their icons through the Nintendo Switch Online app while their birthday is active.
October 1 – Rocco
October 2 – Marina
October 3 – Zell
October 4 – Broccolo
October 5 – Cousteau
October 6 – Ken
October 7 – Puddles
October 8 – Blanche
October 9 – Pate
October 10 – Del
October 11 – Renée
October 12 – Clay
October 13 – Cyd
October 14 – Sherb
October 15 – Bea
October 16 – Katt
October 17 – Rowan
October 18 – Static
October 19 – Cleo
October 20 – Sylvia
October 21 – Rosie
October 22 – Rhonda
October 23 – Chief
October 24 – Hopkins
October 25 – Frita
October 26 – Al
October 27 – Zucker
October 28 – Punchy
October 29 – Rasher
October 30 – Sprocket
October 31 – Jack (Czar of Halloween)
Beyond the villager parties, your entire island transforms visually this month, so let's look at the scene changes rolling out in October.
ACNH October Island Scene Changes
October is when the fall aesthetic really sets in for northern players and the pastel spring look takes over for the south. Even if you skip the events entirely, the atmosphere alone gives you plenty of reasons to log in daily.
Grass & Tree Color (Northern Hemisphere)
The lighter green grass from September fades into an orange autumn tone throughout October. Trees start showing warmer hues as well, easing your island into full fall mode ahead of the maple leaf window in November.
Buildings Get Spooky
Nook's Cranny gets a Halloween exterior treatment complete with carved pumpkins near the door. Resident Services also picks up subtle spooky decorations, and the whole plaza feels dressed for the season by late October.
Characters Wear Costumes
Later in the month, the town regulars start showing off their Halloween outfits. Isabelle wears a little witch's hat during her morning announcements, Tom Nook shows up with devil horns, and Timmy and Tommy dress up too. Walk around your island in the last week of October to spot every character's outfit change.
Cherry Blossom Trees (Southern Hemisphere)
Cherry trees turn a soft pink for about ten days in the south, and petals drift through the air. This is one of the prettiest looks in the entire game, and it only appears once per year.
Mushroom Sprouts (Northern Hemisphere)
Small mushrooms appear near trees each morning. Some players love the aesthetic of leaving them around trees for a natural woodland vibe, while others clear them daily to build up crafting reserves.
Alien TV Broadcast (October 31, 3:33 AM)
A quirky detail worth trying on Halloween night is turning on your in game TV at exactly 3:33 AM. You will receive a strange transmission from alien life forms, a perfect nod to the spooky season.
October packs an incredible amount of variety into 31 days, from the legendary Halloween event and the final Fishing Tourney to spooky DIYs, mushroom crafting, cherry blossom season, and dozens of critter changes. Log in daily, stockpile candy at Nook's Cranny, grow those pumpkins, and get ready for the biggest trick or treat night of the year. November brings maple leaves, Turkey Day, and even more fall content, so use October to get your island into full seasonal shape.
