Stardew Valley — How To Win The Egg Hunt On Even Years: All Egg Locations & Best Route
The Egg Festival in Stardew Valley is a short, frantic minigame that appears every Spring 13 and determines who takes home Mayor Lewis’s giant prize egg. In even years the competition is particularly stiff because Abigail, Fernanda, or another villager may be your rival, and egg spawn patterns differ enough that a repeatable, optimized route makes all the difference. This guide gives you a complete list of every possible egg spawn location used on even years, a recommended fastest route that minimizes backtracking, timing tips, and advanced tactics to consistently win the Egg Hunt and walk away with the prize.
What this guide covers
A clear explanation of Egg Festival mechanics and rules for even years
A full list of all Easter egg locations Stardew uses on even years, organized by map area
A step-by-step Egg Festival route optimized for speed and consistency
Multiple routes for different starting positions and rivals (including tips to beat Abigail egg hunt)
Helpful movement, item, and timing strategies to shave precious seconds off your run
Trouble-shooting, practice drills, and habit-building tips so you can routinely win
Complete FAQ that answers edge cases and common player questions
Egg Festival basics (rules and timing)
The Egg Festival begins at 10:10 AM on Spring 13 in the town square. When the door opens, a bell rings and all players move at normal walking speed; the objective is to pick up more eggs than the NPC rival by the end of the event. Eggs instantly teleport to inventory when collected, and if you pick up the golden egg (rare), it awards bonus points — but in Stardew Valley the main win condition is simply having more eggs than your opponent when the festival ends a short while later. On even years, the egg spawn distribution uses a specific set of pre-defined locations across the map; learning those spots and an efficient path that covers them in order is the key to victory.
Note: In single-player the rival will always be an NPC (most commonly Abigail on even-year festivals), and their route is deterministic enough that knowing where they start can inform your own starting choice and initial direction.
How egg spawns work (what to expect)
Eggs spawn at fixed coordinates on the town map and on adjacent accessible tiles (including bushes and behind stalls). They do not continuously respawn during the event; eggs present at festival start are what you race to collect. The rival NPC does not pick up eggs randomly — they follow scripted movement priorities, so beating them is about covering the highest-density clusters of spawn points before they do.
Key gameplay notes:
Eggs are visible on the ground only when the festival opens; memorize or visually scan as soon as doors open.
Picking the golden egg isn't necessary to win, but it can swing a tight match.
NPCs can sometimes block narrow paths; plan alternate micro-routes to avoid congestion.
You cannot enter buildings or the festival tents; focus on open-spot pickups.
Sprinting with a tool equipped cancels the run; moving with empty hand is fine.
Full list of all egg locations on even years
Below I list every location where eggs can spawn on even-year festivals. Memorize these clusters; the optimized route covers them in logical order.
Town Square (central festival area)
Clock tower steps near the stage
South of the fountain, around the vendor stalls
Along the east-west path that passes Mayor Lewis’s tent
Behind the left (west) vendor tent near the apple tree
East path and community center front
The walkway just east of the square, along the path to the Community Center
Patches near the flowerbeds on the path’s north side
The corner by the bridge entrance toward the beach
South towards Pierre’s and Joja
In front of Pierre’s General Store (left and right sides of the door)
Between Pierre’s and the general shop signpost
The small grassy patch south of the shop near the fountain area
Beach and pier approaches (south-east)
Just before the walkway to the bridge leading to the beach area
Around the pier entrance (some years include one or two likely spawns near boardwalk tiles)
North toward the mine entrance
The path north of the square leading up to the mine entrance may contain 1–2 eggs
Near the stone bridge and benches slightly north-east of the square
Forest and lower-right areas
The small fenced area near the lower right of the festival square
Behind the carriage stalls (occasionally used as spawn points)
Hidden and edge spawns
Beneath low bushes and behind small props near vendor stalls
Inside gaps where the map geometry creates narrow tiles (keep your eyes peeled)
Golden egg (rare)
Can appear in any of the above clusters, but often spawns on a more isolated tile that’s visible early if you scan the map quickly. Prioritize reachable golden eggs only if they don’t take you far off your optimal path.
Tip: Because eggs appear in clustered groups, planning to clear clusters instead of single points reduces wasted movement.
How to use this list: cluster prioritization
To win the Egg Festival on even years, mentally break the map into four clusters:
West vendor cluster (left side of the square, west of fountain)
Central fountain cluster (center and immediate south/north of fountain)
East path cluster (to Community Center and bridge area)
South/Pierre cluster (in front of Pierre’s and towards the beach)
Start by clearing the cluster nearest to your spawn door (more on spawn directions in the next section), then sweep adjacent clusters, finishing with the cluster where the golden egg is most likely to appear if you saw it. This reduces backtracking and keeps your path flowing.
Starting positions and how to choose yours
When the festival starts, your character and the NPC rival spawn at different doors around the square. You may not have control over your spawn, but you can choose an initial facing direction immediately. Observe where the rival is positioned as soon as the doors open. If the rival spawns on the west side, pivot to the east cluster and vice versa. The rival tends to sweep adjacent clusters first, so picking the opposite cluster as your starting point often yields more eggs.
Practical rules:
If rival is on your left, move right into the central/east cluster.
If rival sits on the north side, choose the South/Pierre cluster.
When in doubt, sprint for the central fountain cluster; it usually holds the most eggs.
The optimized fastest route (primary route for average single-player runs)
This route assumes a central spawn and Abigail (or similar rival) starting at the west tent. Adjust the first step if your spawn differs.
Start: Face the fountain immediately and move southeast to clear the central fountain cluster (clock tower, fountain south, vendor outskirts). Clear everything visible in a clean arc around the fountain.
Sweep east: Move right toward the east path cluster — clear the flowerbed tiles and path toward the bridge and community center entry. This captures most east-side eggs before the NPC can get there.
Drop south: Head down to the south/Pierre cluster, passing quickly between stalls; run in a U-shape around Pierre’s front to grab any eggs near the storefront.
Finish west: If time permits, swing back left to the west vendor cluster and mop up remaining eggs behind the west tent and by the apple tree.
Golden egg check: If you spot a golden egg early, detour only if it’s en route — never cross the whole map just for a single golden egg unless you’re ahead on count.
Movement tips for speed:
Use cardinal, small diagonal turns to cut corners — the collision system allows for tight turns if you’re practiced.
Don’t open menus or equip tools during the run; every millisecond counts.
When carrying eggs, keep moving; there’s no slowdown bug, but hesitating allows NPCs to close gaps.
Alternative route: aggressive start for known rival positions
If you know the rival spawns on the east side, flip the primary route:
Sprint west first to grab central and west clusters rapidly.
Leave the east cluster for last only if you can see the rival sweeping it; otherwise scoop the east cluster first if rival slows there.
If the rival routinely targets Pierre’s (some NPC scripts favor town edges), start with the South/Pierre cluster before central — this denies them easy pickups and forces them into more travel time.
Micro-techniques players overlook
Visual scan: The instant doors open, pause for one half-second to visually scan for brightly colored eggs, then commit to the nearest full cluster. Rapid scanning beats aimless sprinting.
Use corners: Move in straight lines and make quick corner cuts; diagonal movement across tiles is faster than hugging edges.
Avoid bottlenecks: NPCs can block narrow stalls. If you see an NPC heading into a narrow path, loop around and take a longer tile path rather than getting stuck.
Golden egg bait: Sometimes letting the NPC take a low-value egg while you sprint for two clustered eggs is the better exchange. Don’t chase a single missed egg if two are within reach nearby.
Minimize turns: Fewer direction changes keep your momentum when using directional keys or thumbstick.
Practice drills to master the route
Turn the festival into a training exercise between runs. Use these drills to internalize movement and improve reaction time.
Drill 1 — Visual scan and first 5 seconds:
Start several festivals and simply practice scanning and reaching the first cluster within 5 seconds. Repeat until you consistently reach the cluster before the rival.
Drill 2 — Cluster sweep timing:
Time how long it takes to clear the central cluster. Your target: under 8–10 seconds depending on your input method.
Drill 3 — Rival prediction:
Observe the NPC for five runs and note their first two target clusters. Create a conditional opening strategy: if rival goes left, go right; if rival goes right, go left.
Drill 4 — Golden egg decisions:
Practice runs where you intentionally pick or ignore golden eggs to see how the tradeoff affects final counts. Build intuition for when the golden egg is worth the detour.
Beating Abigail specifically: behavior and counters
Abigail is a fast, somewhat aggressive NPC rival who tends to take central and west clusters early on. She has a predictable sweep and often charges to the nearest visible clusters. To beat Abigail egg hunt:
Deny the fountain: Because Abigail favors central locations, start with the fountain cluster and clear it completely so she has fewer easy pickups.
Push east: If she starts west, sprint east to clear those eggs while she remains stuck in central. Her deterministic path means you can predict delays.
Block passage: Position yourself so you intercept her path to a cluster — not to block physically (you can’t harm NPCs) but to reach an egg right before she does. Timing is everything.
Use short U-turns: Abigail may overcommit to a cluster; if you see this, loop around behind her to snag eggs she misses when backtracking.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: Chasing a single golden egg across the map.
Fix: Only chase if you can reach it naturally in your current sweep without crossing the map end-to-end.
Mistake: Panic and random sprinting.
Fix: Visual scan → cluster plan → execute. Panic wastes time.
Mistake: Repeatedly trying to collect eggs in the same blocked path.
Fix: If congested, take the long way around. Avoid NPC bottlenecks.
Mistake: Opening menu or equipping tool mid-run.
Fix: Prepare inventory before the festival; keep hands free when doors open.
How to read the scoreboard and adjust mid-run
The scoreboard updates throughout the festival. If you’re ahead after two clusters, switch to conservative sweeping — mop up nearby eggs rather than chasing distant golden eggs. If you’re behind, take intelligent risks: prioritize dense clusters where multiple eggs are visible rather than scattered singles.
Quick rule of thumb:
Ahead: Clean local clusters, avoid risky chases.
Behind: Leap for high-density clusters and the golden egg if it’s not far out of your way.
Multiplayer considerations (local co-op or split-screen)
In multiplayer, the dynamics change: eggs can be scooped by other players, and rivals are human. The strategy becomes denial and coordination.
Agree on an opening split: one player covers west + central while the other handles east + Pierre.
Communicate: call out discovered golden egg locations so the nearest player takes it.
Avoid collision: Don’t crowd the same narrow tile; you’ll both lose time weaving around each other.
If you play online with random players, assume they’ll go for the golden egg; focus on cleaning clusters to earn consistent counts.
Visual aids (how to create quick cheat notes)
If you plan to practice offline or want quick visual aids:
Draw a simple 3x3 grid of the festival square, label clusters W, C, E, S (west, central, east, south).
Map your first 6 steps as numbered pins and drill them until the movement sequence is muscle memory.
Create a one-line checklist: "Scan → Central → East → South → West" and repeat before each festival.
These little habit triggers make your in-game reaction faster.
Advanced tactics for perfectionists
Edge tile optimization:
Use precise tile hugging to cut corners: walking diagonally across exposed tile corners is faster than following curved paths in some map geometries.
NPC behavior exploitation:
Track your rival’s previous festival behavior for seed-style predictability. Over multiple festivals the same NPC tends to favor similar initial directions — exploit that repeatability.
Micro-delay on spawning:
On some platforms, the opening animation and bell generate micro-delays. Time your first step to avoid lag-influenced missteps; this is especially helpful on consoles.
Practice with controller vs. keyboard:
Controller users should practice diagonal tilt and quick micro-turns; keyboard users should work on rolling multiple key presses smoothly to change direction with minimal wasted frames.
Troubleshooting common edge cases
Egg not collectible (visual but unpickable):
This is usually a collision or display quirk; re-walk over the tile and try again. If persistent, reposition and approach from a different angle.
Festival cut short / NPC stuck:
Rarely, an NPC will glitch. If this happens, don’t waste time — continue collecting eggs and let the glitch resolve if possible.
Golden egg hidden behind stall:
Approach from an angled tile to avoid stall collision; sometimes the egg is on a tile that requires you to be on the adjacent diagonal to pick it up.
Practice schedule to guarantee wins (30-day plan)
Week 1 — Familiarization
Play the Egg Festival every even-year Spring for seven in-game years (or use the festival repeatedly in sandbox saves). Focus on visual scans and reaching the central cluster first.
Week 2 — Route timing
Time your sweeps for each cluster and improve your clearance speed by 10% each day. Use drills in the previous section.
Week 3 — Rival prediction and golden egg choices
For every festival, note where the rival goes first and which clusters they prioritize. Practice golden-egg risk assessments (take it vs. ignore it).
Week 4 — Perfection and stress runs
Simulate stressful runs: intentionally spawn on the opposite side of your ideal route and practice the route reversals and detours until they feel natural.
By the end of the month you’ll have routine routes and the reflexes to consistently beat NPCs like Abigail.
Quick-reference cheat sheet (one-paragraph summary)
Scan the square immediately, clear the central fountain cluster first, sweep east to the Community Center path, drop south to Pierre’s, finish west behind the vendor tent, avoid long golden-egg detours unless en route, and always adapt your opening direction to where your rival spawns; small corner cuts and cluster-first thinking win you the festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many eggs do you need to win the Egg Festival?
Win condition is having more eggs than your opponent at the end of the festival. The exact number required varies by run — focus on maximizing pickups, not a fixed count.
Does the golden egg guarantee a win?
No. The golden egg can be decisive in a tight match, but it doesn’t guarantee victory if your opponent collects more common eggs.
Can eggs respawn during the festival?
No. Eggs spawn at the opening and do not respawn during the event. Collect what’s available early.
Does rival NPC behavior change between playthroughs?
NPC movement patterns are largely deterministic but can appear to vary. Observe them across multiple festivals to learn tendencies.
Is there any difference between even and odd years for the Egg Festival?
Yes. Egg spawn sets and rival behavior can differ depending on the year parity. This guide specifically targets even years — odd-year layouts require a slightly different spawn map.
Should I pick up every single egg I see?
Prioritize clusters of eggs and avoid wasting time on isolated eggs if they make you cross the whole map. Smart selection beats greedy chasing.
Does character speed or luck affect the event?
Character speed is constant during the festival. Luck doesn’t alter egg locations in the event itself, but your overall game luck stat doesn’t change the festival layout.
What if multiple players go for the same egg in multiplayer?
Coordinate before the festival or call out golden egg locations. If players collide, try to pivot to a nearby cluster to compensate.
Can I practice the route in a private save?
Yes. Use a separate save to practice repeated festivals. That’s an excellent way to experiment without affecting your main save.
Final checklist before festival day
Inventory cleared, hands empty for sprinting and smooth movement.
Familiarize yourself with the four clusters on the map.
Decide primary route based on your past rival behavior.
Commit to the visual-scan-first rule as the doors open.
Practice corner-cutting movement to shave off seconds.
Closing notes
Winning the Egg Festival on even years is a satisfying mix of map knowledge, quick decision-making, and practiced movement. By internalizing the Easter egg locations Stardew uses, committing the optimized route to muscle memory, and running the practice drills above, you’ll go from occasional victor to festival champion. The difference between winning and losing often comes down to the first few seconds after doors open — make them count.
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