Complete NPC Birthday Calendar for Stardew Valley
Birthdays are the most important days for building friendships in Stardew Valley. Giving a gift on an NPC’s birthday provides an 8x friendship multiplier, making it the single most efficient way to boost relationships. This guide provides a complete calendar of all NPC birthdays organized by season, along with the best gift recommendations for each character.
The Birthday Gift Bonus
How the 8x Multiplier Works
When you give a gift on an NPC’s birthday, the friendship points are multiplied by 8:
| Gift Tier | Normal Points | Birthday Points |
|---|---|---|
| Loved | +80 | +640 |
| Liked | +45 | +360 |
| Neutral | +20 | +160 |
| Disliked | -20 | -160 |
| Hated | -40 | -320 |
Why Birthdays Matter
A single loved gift on a birthday provides 640 friendship points, which is equivalent to 8 days of daily loved gifting. Missing a birthday means missing the biggest friendship opportunity of the year.
Birthday Rules
- One Gift Only: You can still only give one gift per day, even on birthdays.
- Multiplier Applies Once: The 8x multiplier applies to the single gift you give.
- No Stacking: You cannot give multiple gifts on a birthday for multiple bonuses.
- Gift Quality Matters: Always give a loved gift on birthdays for maximum benefit.
Spring Birthdays
| Date | NPC | Best Loved Gifts | Liked Gifts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 7 | Lewis | Cheese, Crab Cakes, Green Tea, Spaghetti, Wine | Cookies, Bread |
| Spring 18 | Pam | Beer, Iridium Bar, Parsnip, Sandwich | Cookies, Bread |
| Spring 20 | Shane | Beer, Hot Pepper, Pizza, Pepper Poppers | Cookies, Bread |
| Spring 26 | Pierre | Fried Calamari, Spaghetti, Wine | Cookies, Bread |
| Spring 27 | Emily | Aquamarine, Cloth, Emerald, Ruby, Topaz, Wool | Cookies, Chocolate Cake |
Spring Birthday Strategy
- Cheese or Wine for Lewis: Stockpile Cheese or Wine from your animals or kegs for Lewis’s birthday on Spring 7.
- Beer for Pam and Shane: Stockpile Beer from the Saloon or your own Kegs.
- Cloth or Gems for Emily: Save Cloth from your Loom or gems from mining for Emily’s birthday on Spring 27.
Summer Birthdays
| Date | NPC | Best Loved Gifts | Liked Gifts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 4 | Kent | Fiddlehead Risotto, Lobster, Parsnip, Roasted Hazelnut, Sashimi | Cookies, Bread |
| Summer 8 | Gus | Orange, Pumpkin, Spicy Eel, Super Meal, Wine | Cookies, Bread |
| Summer 11 | Jodi | Fiddlehead Risotto, Pancakes, Rabbit’s Foot, Wine | Cookies, Bread |
| Summer 13 | Alex | Complete Breakfast, Salmon Dinner | Cookies, Bread |
| Summer 17 | Sam | Cactus Fruit, Maple Bar, Pizza | Cookies, Bread |
| Summer 19 | Demetrius | Bean Starter, Cauliflower, Melon, Rice Pudding | Cookies, Bread |
| Summer 22 | Dwarf | Earth Crystal, Omni Geode, Snow Yam | Cookies, Bread |
| Summer 24 | Willy | Catfish, Duck Feather, Iridium Bar, Nautilus Shell, Pumpkin, Sashimi | Cookies, Bread |
| Summer 26 | Leo | Duck Feather, Mango, Orchid, Rice Pudding | Cookies, Bread |
Summer Birthday Strategy
- Complete Breakfast for Alex: Cook Complete Breakfast (Hashbrowns, Fried Egg, Pancakes) for Alex’s birthday on Summer 13.
- Cactus Fruit or Maple Bar for Sam: Save a Cactus Fruit from the desert or cook Maple Bars for Sam’s birthday on Summer 17.
- Sashimi for Willy: Cook Sashimi for Willy’s birthday on Summer 24.
Fall Birthdays
| Date | NPC | Best Loved Gifts | Liked Gifts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2 | Penny | Diamond, Emerald, Melon, Poppy, Sandfish, Tom Kha Soup | Cookies, Bread |
| Fall 3 | Abigail | Amethyst, Chocolate, Chocolate Cake, Pufferfish, Pumpkin Pie, Spicy Eel | Cookies, Sandfish |
| Fall 5 | Elliott | Crab Cakes, Duck Feather, Lobster, Pomegranate, Spaghetti | Cookies, Bread |
| Fall 15 | Sandy | Beer, Crocus, Nautilus Shell, Pomegranate, Sunflower | Cookies, Bread |
| Fall 18 | Marnie | Farmer’s Lunch, Pink Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Sashimi | Cookies, Bread |
Fall Birthday Strategy
- Diamond for Penny: Save a Diamond for Penny’s birthday on Fall 2.
- Amethyst or Chocolate for Abigail: Save Amethyst from mining or Chocolate for Abigail’s birthday on Fall 3.
- Crab Cakes for Elliott: Save Crab Cakes from fishing or cooking for Elliott’s birthday on Fall 5.
- Desert Trip for Sandy: Plan a desert trip for Sandy’s birthday on Fall 15.
Winter Birthdays
| Date | NPC | Best Loved Gifts | Liked Gifts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 1 | Krobus | Diamond, Iridium Bar, Pumpkin, Void Egg | Cookies, Bread |
| Winter 3 | Linus | Coconut, Dandelion, Fiber, Yam | Cookies, Bread |
| Winter 7 | Caroline | Blue Jazz, Fiddlehead Risotto, Green Tea, Rabbit’s Foot, Salad | Cookies, Bread |
| Winter 10 | Sebastian | Frozen Tear, Obsidian, Pumpkin Soup, Sashimi, Void Egg | Cookies, Bread |
| Winter 14 | Harvey | Coffee, Pickles, Super Meal, Truffle Oil, Wine | Cookies, Bread |
| Winter 17 | Wizard | Purple Mushroom, Solar Essence, Super Cucumber, Void Essence | Cookies, Bread |
| Winter 20 | Evelyn | Chocolate Cake, Cookies, Fancy Ribbon, Fish Taco, Tomato | Bread, Fruits |
| Winter 26 | Clint | Omni Geode, Gold Bar, Iridium Bar | Cookies, Bread |
Winter Birthday Strategy
- Diamond for Krobus: Save a Diamond for Krobus’s birthday on Winter 1.
- Coconut or Yam for Linus: Save a Coconut or Yam for Linus’s birthday on Winter 3.
- Coffee for Harvey: Have Coffee ready for Harvey’s birthday on Winter 14.
- Frozen Tear or Void Egg for Sebastian: Save a Frozen Tear from the mines or a Void Egg for Sebastian’s birthday on Winter 10.
Complete Birthday Quick Reference
All Birthdays at a Glance
| Date | NPC | Season |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Spring | Lewis | Spring |
| 18 Spring | Pam | Spring |
| 20 Spring | Shane | Spring |
| 26 Spring | Pierre | Spring |
| 27 Spring | Emily | Spring |
| 4 Summer | Kent | Summer |
| 8 Summer | Gus | Summer |
| 11 Summer | Jodi | Summer |
| 13 Summer | Alex | Summer |
| 17 Summer | Sam | Summer |
| 19 Summer | Demetrius | Summer |
| 22 Summer | Dwarf | Summer |
| 24 Summer | Willy | Summer |
| 26 Summer | Leo | Summer |
| 2 Fall | Penny | Fall |
| 3 Fall | Abigail | Fall |
| 5 Fall | Elliott | Fall |
| 15 Fall | Sandy | Fall |
| 18 Fall | Marnie | Fall |
| 1 Winter | Krobus | Winter |
| 3 Winter | Linus | Winter |
| 7 Winter | Caroline | Winter |
| 10 Winter | Sebastian | Winter |
| 14 Winter | Harvey | Winter |
| 17 Winter | Wizard | Winter |
| 20 Winter | Evelyn | Winter |
| 26 Winter | Clint | Winter |
Note on Non-Giftable NPCs
Marlon and Gunther are non-giftable NPCs and do not have birthdays. They should not appear on any birthday calendar.
Secret Santa Recommendations (Feast of the Winter Star)
During the Feast of the Winter Star on Winter 25, you are assigned a villager to give a gift to. Here are the best loved gifts for each possible recipient:
| NPC | Loved Gifts |
|---|---|
| Abigail | Amethyst, Chocolate, Chocolate Cake, Pufferfish, Pumpkin Pie, Spicy Eel |
| Alex | Complete Breakfast, Salmon Dinner |
| Caroline | Blue Jazz, Fiddlehead Risotto, Green Tea, Rabbit’s Foot, Salad |
| Clint | Omni Geode, Gold Bar, Iridium Bar |
| Demetrius | Bean Starter, Cauliflower, Melon, Rice Pudding |
| Elliott | Crab Cakes, Duck Feather, Lobster, Pomegranate, Spaghetti |
| Emily | Aquamarine, Cloth, Emerald, Ruby, Topaz, Wool |
| Evelyn | Chocolate Cake, Cookies, Fancy Ribbon, Fish Taco, Tomato |
| George | Fried Mushroom, Iridium Bar, Parsnip |
| Gus | Orange, Pumpkin, Spicy Eel, Super Meal, Wine |
| Haley | Coconut, Fruit Salad, Pink Cake, Sunflower |
| Harvey | Coffee, Pickles, Super Meal, Truffle Oil, Wine |
| Jodi | Fiddlehead Risotto, Pancakes, Rabbit’s Foot, Wine |
| Jas | Fairy Rose, Rabbit’s Foot, Stuffing |
| Kent | Fiddlehead Risotto, Lobster, Parsnip, Roasted Hazelnut, Sashimi |
| Krobus | Diamond, Iridium Bar, Pumpkin, Void Egg |
| Leah | Goat Cheese, Salad, Truffle, Wine, Poppyseed Muffin |
| Leo | Duck Feather, Mango, Orchid, Rice Pudding |
| Lewis | Cheese, Crab Cakes, Green Tea, Spaghetti, Wine |
| Linus | Coconut, Dandelion, Fiber, Yam |
| Marnie | Farmer’s Lunch, Pink Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Sashimi |
| Maru | Cauliflower, Cheese, Coffee, Miner’s Treat |
| Pam | Beer, Iridium Bar, Parsnip, Sandwich |
| Penny | Diamond, Emerald, Melon, Poppy, Sandfish, Tom Kha Soup |
| Pierre | Fried Calamari, Spaghetti, Wine |
| Sam | Cactus Fruit, Maple Bar, Pizza |
| Sandy | Beer, Crocus, Nautilus Shell, Pomegranate, Sunflower |
| Sebastian | Frozen Tear, Obsidian, Pumpkin Soup, Sashimi, Void Egg |
| Shane | Beer, Hot Pepper, Pepper Poppers, Pizza |
| Vincent | Pizza, Spaghetti |
| Willy | Catfish, Duck Feather, Iridium Bar, Nautilus Shell, Pumpkin, Sashimi |
| Wizard | Purple Mushroom, Solar Essence, Super Cucumber, Void Essence |
Best Universal Birthday Gifts
Gifts That Work for Almost Any Birthday
If you want to prepare a few versatile gifts that will be loved by most NPCs on their birthday:
| Gift | NPCs Who Love It | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit’s Foot | Several NPCs | Raise rabbits in Deluxe Coop |
| Pumpkin | Several NPCs | Grow in Fall |
| Diamond | Several NPCs | Mine in Skull Cavern |
| Chocolate Cake | Several NPCs | Cook with Chocolate |
| Cookies | Evelyn (loves), most others (like) | Cook with Sugar + Flour |
| Pizza | Several NPCs | Cook or buy from Saloon |
| Spaghetti | Several NPCs | Cook or buy from Saloon |
| Coffee | Several NPCs | Grow coffee beans or buy from Saloon |
| Wine | Several NPCs | Brew from fruit in Kegs |
| Cheese | Several NPCs | Make from milk in Cheese Press |
Monthly Preparation Checklist
| Month | Preparation Tasks |
|---|---|
| January (Spring prep) | Stockpile Rabbit’s Foot, Chocolate Cake, Cookies |
| April (Summer prep) | Cook Complete Breakfast, save Crab Cakes |
| July (Fall prep) | Collect Purple Mushrooms, Omni Geodes, Diamonds |
| October (Winter prep) | Save Fairy Roses, Coffee, Diamonds |
Advanced Birthday Strategies
Year 1 Birthday Planning
In Year 1, resources are limited. Focus on:
- Spring Birthdays: Use foraged items and simple cooked dishes.
- Summer Birthdays: Cook with early crops.
- Fall Birthdays: Use fall crops and foraged items.
- Winter Birthdays: Use saved items from previous seasons.
Multi-Year Optimization
Over multiple years, you can optimize your birthday gift-giving:
- Rabbit’s Foot Production: Set up a Deluxe Coop with rabbits for consistent Rabbit’s Foot production.
- Pumpkin Storage: Grow extra pumpkins in Fall and store them for year-round birthday gifts.
- Diamond Mining: Mine diamonds in the Skull Cavern for high-value birthday gifts.
- Cooked Dishes: Prepare loved dishes in bulk and store them for birthday use.
Tracking Birthdays
Use this guide or an external tracker to remember upcoming birthdays:
- TV Forecast: The TV does not announce birthdays, so you need to track them yourself.
- Calendar Mod: Consider using a calendar mod if you frequently forget birthdays.
- Save Scumming: If you forget a birthday, you can reload a previous day’s save to give the gift.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss an NPC’s birthday? You simply miss the 8x bonus for that year. The NPC does not get upset about missing their birthday, but you lose a significant friendship opportunity.
Can I give a birthday gift at any time during the day? Yes, you can give a birthday gift at any time during the day, as long as the NPC is accessible. However, some NPCs may be hard to find on their birthdays due to special schedules.
Does the Secret Santa gift on Winter 25 count as a birthday gift? No, the Secret Santa gift is a separate event and does not provide the birthday bonus. It follows normal gift-giving rules.
Do children (Jas, Vincent) have the same birthday bonus? Yes, children have the same 8x birthday multiplier as adult NPCs. However, their gift preferences are more limited.
Can I give a birthday gift during a festival? If an NPC’s birthday falls on a festival day, you can give them a gift at the festival. The birthday bonus still applies.