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For API events that can be handled by the UI or addons, see Events.
Darkmoon Faire

The Darkmoon Faire is one of the most iconic events in World of Warcraft.

Events in Azeroth (also known as World Events, Seasonal Events or Holidays when appropriate) run the gamut from small yet ferocious free-for-all skirmishes for loot, to world-wide friendly celebrations, to ongoing military campaigns. An event of this kind is defined, with one exception, by being only available in the game at certain times and not others, ranging from several times a day, to annually, to one-time historical happenings never to be seen again. Below are some of the events, which are fun if you ever get around to them.

Types of environment changes accompanying events include:

Ongoing events[]

Gurubashi Arena

The Gurubashi Arena Booty Run helped to consolidate the popularity of PvP within Stranglethorn.

Over the course of Azeroth's troubled history, the times of celebration have fallen under the shadow of the conflicts that have shaped and scarred the world. Every day, as new challenges surface, new champions answer the call to arms, relishing the glory and the rewards of battles well fought. Below are details of some of the current disturbances warranting investigation - and participation - by the world's most adventurous heroes.

Seasonal events[]

Winter Veil Goldshire

The Feast of Winter Veil was the first seasonal event in World of Warcraft.

To help offset the strain and tension of constant warfare, the leaders of the Horde and the Alliance occasionally organize full-blown festivities for their people, centered around holidays and special events. What better way to celebrate the year's victories and other achievements than in the company of a few thousand of your closest allies?[2]

Hallowsend

Hallow's End decorations in Stormwind City.

Brewfest in Dun Morogh

The Brewfest holds the the Guiness World Record for the Largest Virtual Beer Festival.[3]

Azeroth event Time period Related earth event Additional info
New Year 31st Dec - 1st Jan New Year's Eve Gregorian calendar; added in patch 2.0.1.
Lunar Festival Varies (Spring) Lunar New Year Chinese calendar; added in patch 1.9.0.
Love is in the Air 7th Feb - 20th Feb Valentine's Day Added in patch 1.9.3.
Noblegarden Varies (Easter) Easter Added in patch 1.3.0.
Children's Week 1st May - 7th May Children's Day - Japan
Mother's Day - US (and in most other countries, including: Belgium and the Netherlands)
Added in patch 1.4.0.
Midsummer Fire Festival 21st June - 5th July Midsummer
Canada Day - CAN
Independence Day - US
Added in patch 2.4.3. Also contains the Engineers' Explosive Extravaganza.
Pirates' Day 19th Sept International Talk Like a Pirate Day Added in patch 2.4.3.
Brewfest 20th Sept - 4th Oct Oktoberfest - Germany Added in patch 2.2.2.
Harvest Festival 27th Sept - 4th Oct Roughly Thanksgiving - Canada, US (actually celebrated in October and November in Canada and US, respectively)
Columbus Day - US
US Stress Test ended: September 12, 2004
Added in patch 1.6.0.
Peon Day 30th Sept EU Closed Beta began: September 30, 2004 Observed only in Europe,[4] added in patch 1.12.1.
Hallow's End 18th Oct - 1st Nov Halloween Added in patch 1.8.0.
Day of the Dead 1st Nov - 2nd Nov Day of the Dead Added in patch 3.2.0.
WoW's Anniversary 16th Nov - 30th Nov
Pilgrim's Bounty 22nd Nov - 28th Nov Thanksgiving Added in patch 3.2.0.
Feast of Winter Veil 15th Dec - 2nd Jan Christmas Added in patch 1.2.0.

Micro-holidays[]

Great Gnomeregan Run Starting Line

The Great Gnomeregan Run idea originally came from a player who organized it for charity purposes.

First introduced in patch 7.1.5, these new "micro-holiday" events offer brief holiday-style activities for players to take part in. Unlike the larger holidays like Hallow's End, which run for weeks, these micro-holidays usually only last a day or two, and often involve specific events taking place in the world or celebrate important moments in Azeroth's history. These micro-holidays are only meant for fun and therefore do not offer any significant rewards like permanent pets or mounts, but can still provide some variety and opportunities for hijinks, as well as breathing new life into some of the more static parts of the game world.

Azeroth Event Date Known reason for celebration
Call of the Scarab January 21 - 23 To celebrate the opening of the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj.
Hatching of the Hippogryphs February 19
Un'Goro Madness March 17 - 19
March of the Tadpoles April 5
Volunteer Guard Day April 23
Spring Balloon Festival May 8 - 10
Glowcap Festival May 27
Thousand Boat Bash June 6 - 8
Auction House Dance Party July 22
Trial of Style August 17 - 21
Great Gnomeregan Run October 14 - 15
Moonkin Festival November 12th
Kirin Tor Tavern Crawl December 7

Unique events[]

War of the Thorns

The War of the Thorns was the first of the unique events to feature world quests.

A number of one-time-only World Events have occurred throughout the game's history. Most of these events have either directly resulted in changes to the game world or were pre-cursors to expansion packs. They are distinguished from removed content by the fact that they were planned to last only a short time after release (at most one major patch) rather than being removed due to either considerations for new content or gameplay concerns, updates, and other fixes. Note that simply being introduced and removed quickly (e.g. a quest added in patch 3.3.5 and removed for The Shattering) does not qualify something as a One-Time Event or part of one - it must be related to a unique period or occasion.

Operation Gnomeregan

Operation Gnomeregan is an example of a unique pre-expansion event.

The Dark Portal by Brian Huang

The Dark Portal Opens was the first pre-expansion event in World of Warcraft.

  • Iron Horde Incursion — Taking place with patch 6.0.2, this unique world event preceded the release of Warlords of Draenor. The event featured orcs coming through the Dark Portal, ravaging the Blasted Lands and taking over Blackrock Mountain.[5] An extensive quest line saw players battling the Iron Horde invaders in a phased, level-90 only version of the Blasted Lands.
  • Battlefield: Barrens — Taking place in patch 5.3.0, this event transformed the Northern Barrens, introducing hundreds of new NPCs, new areas and a number of dynamic events, along with a range of rewards for participation. Focusing on the building conflict between Garrosh Hellscream and his loyal Kor'kron and the rebelling forces of Vol'jin's Darkspear Rebellion, adventurers from both the Horde and the Alliance were able to assist the rebels in their preparations for the coming war against the warchief. Players secured supplies for the rebellion by defeating Kor'kron units and their powerful commanders, escorting their faction's supply caravans through the zone and even stealing supplies from overturned Kor'kron caravans.
  • Elemental Unrest — Beginning on 11 November 2010, this event is the precursor to the devastating events of the Cataclysm expansion.
  • Operation: Gnomeregan and Zalazane's Fall — Beginning on 7 September 2010, these world events were the first precursors to the Cataclysm expansion and allowed Alliance and Horde players to assist in the retaking of Gnomeregan's surface and the Echo Isles respectively.
Ahn'Qiraj Gates

The opening of the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj was one of the first unique events in World of Warcraft.

Other events[]

References[]

External links[]

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