How to get a Golden Pumpkin in Stardew Valley

If you’re looking for a gift that’s guaranteed to be loved in Stardew Valley, you have a few options. One of them is a Golden Pumpkin, but there’s only one guaranteed way to get your hands on this Fall item. 

Golden Pumpkins are on the list of universally loved gifts in Stardew Valley, meaning that regardless of who you give it to, it’s guaranteed to get you 80 friendship points with the recipient. For that reason, it’s definitely worth getting a Golden Pumpkin whenever you can. Depending on your level of luck, opportunities to hoard this loved gift may be few and far between.

How to get a Golden Pumpkin in Stardew Valley

The only way you’re guaranteed to get a Golden Pumpkin is by completing the maze at the Spirit’s Eve Festival, which takes place between 10 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. on Fall 27 each year. The Golden Pumpkin will only appear at the end of the maze every other year, starting with year one, so you’ll have to be in an odd year to get your guaranteed prize. 

On odd years, the trick to reaching the end of the maze is via the secret passage. To find it, head towards the signpost marked with a question mark, and then continue to the right and into the cave to the north. Blindly navigate the cave (using a glow ring can make this a little easier) and then you’ll pop out near the treasure chest at the end of the maze, which contains a Golden Pumpkin.

Thankfully, if you have luck on your side, you can find Golden Pumpkins a couple of other ways, although none of them are guaranteed by far. You have a 3.7% chance to find a Golden Pumpkin in Artifact Troves, Mystery Boxes or Golden Mystery Boxes. 

Are Golden Pumpkins used for anything other than gifting?

If you’ve reached maximum friendship with every villager in Pelican Town, there is another good use for a Golden Pumpkin. If you use a Golden Pumpkin in the spool of any Sewing Machine, you’ll end up with a Witch Hat, which is perfect for the season. You can also use a Golden Pumpkin to make yellow dye if you put it in the Dye Pots at Emily and Haley’s house. 

Outside of this, if you’re in a bit of a monetary pinch and need some funds for seeds or the like, you could always just sell your Spirit’s Eve prize for 2,500 Gold. You’ll need to do this via the Shipping Bin on your farm, though, because Pierre won’t purchase it from you outright.

Just make sure you don’t need it for anything else before you choose to sell, because you’ll likely end up waiting two years to get another one.