The Festival of Lights event returns in 2023! This time slipping into November, the illuminating celebration will bring a Paldean duo to Pokémon GO. Tadbulb and Bellibolt will be glowing, along with shiny versions of Morelull and Shiinotic. Trainers located in India will get some exclusive perks during the event, including a Collection Challenge. And during this whole celebration, there will be a Raid Day event overlapping on Saturday, November 11th, 2023. (For more details about the Season of Adventures Abound, you can check out our overall Season of Adventures Abound guide hub.)
Now, check out what’s happening during the Festival of Lights event with our guide below:
Pokémon GO’s Season of Adventures Abound – Festival of Lights
Begins: Tuesday, November 7th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
Ends: Sunday, November 12th, 2023 at 8 p.m. your local time.
Pokémon debuts – Tadbulb, Bellibolt, Shiny Morelull, and Shiny Shiinotic
The four debuts during the Festival of Lights event are:
- Tadbulb: This tadpole lightbulb will be available in the wild (if you’re lucky), spawning thanks to Incense, a possible Field Research task encounter, and a reward for the India-exclusive Collection Challenge.
- Bellibolt: To acquire Bellibolt, Trainers will need to catch a Tadbulb and have 50 Tadbulb Candies on hand (so that they can evolve a Tadbulb into a Bellibolt).
- Shiny Morelull: If you’re lucky, Trainers can encounter a Shiny Morelull in the wild, Incense, hatched via 7 km Eggs (increased shiny chances), and in Field Research tasks.
- Shiny Shiinotic: If you’ve been lucky enough to catch a Shiny Morelull, you can evolve that Shiny Morelull into a Shiny Shiinotic with 50 Morelull Candies.
Event Bonuses
- 2× Stardust for hatching Pokémon.
- 2× Candy for hatching Pokémon.
- Incense (excluding Daily Adventure Incense) activated during the event will last twice as long. (Two hours instead of 1 hour.)
- Morelull hatched from Eggs will have a greater chance of being a Shiny Pokémon than Morelull found in the wild.
Trainers located in India will also get the following bonuses:
- 2× Candy when catching Pokémon.
- A special Collection Challenge that awards Stardust, XP, and an encounter with Tadbulb.
Plus, Mega Garchomp Raid Day will be happening on Saturday, November 11th, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. your local time, so the following bonuses will also be active:
- The Remote Raid Pass limit will be increased to 10 on Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time.
- You can receive up to five additional daily Raid Passes from spinning Photo Discs at Gyms during the event.
- You’ll have an increased chance of encountering Shiny Garchomp from Mega Raids.
- Additional bonuses will also be available if the paid event ticket is purchased.
Event Boxes
If any special event boxes or bundles are released during the event, they’ll be listed here once the event is live.
Wild Encounters
- The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild: Pikachu*, Vulpix*, Ponyta*, Magnemite*, Voltorb*, Chinchou*, Mareep*, Slugma*, Electrike*, and Litwick*.
- If you’re lucky, you might encounter the following Pokémon: Morelull* and Tadbulb.
Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
Incense Encounters
- The following Pokémon will appear more frequently when Trainers use Incense: Alolan Geodude*, Hisuian Voltorb, Slugma*, Volbeat*, Illumise*, Blitzle*, Litwick*, Litleo*, Dedenne*, Morelull*, and Tadbulb.
Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
Eggs
The following Pokémon will be hatching from Eggs that are obtained during the event:
- 7 km Eggs
- 1-Egg Rarity: Elekid*, Magby*, Dedenne*, and Morelull*.
Notes:
- Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might hatch a Shiny one!”
- Morelull hatched from Eggs will have a greater chance of being a Shiny Pokémon than Morelull found in the wild.
Raids
Standard and Shadow Raids will be active during the event.
Standard Raids
Curated Raids were not announced, but the following Pokémon will be appearing in Raids:
- One-Star Raids:
- Until Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time: Hisuian Voltorb, Shinx*, Litwick*, Litleo*, and Helioptile* (See Additional Notes).
- Starting on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time: Alolan Vulpix*, Sudowoodo*, Litwick*, Togedemaru, and Smoliv (See Additional Notes).
- Three-Star Raids:
- Until Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time: Ninetales, Parasect, Alolan Marowak*, and Turtonator* (See Additional Notes).
- Starting on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time: Victreebel, Xatu, Wobbuffet*, and Turtonator* (See Additional Notes).
- Five-Star Raids:
- Until Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time: Genesect (Douse Drive)* (See Additional Notes).
- Starting on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time: Virizion* (See Additional Notes).
- Mega Raids:
- Until Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time: Mega Houndoom* (See Additional Notes).
- Starting on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time: Mega Garchomp* (See Additional Notes).
Shadow Raids
The following Pokémon will be appearing in Shadow Raids:
- One-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Meowth*, Shadow Machop*, Shadow Wooper, and Shadow Pineco*.
- Three-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Magmar, Shadow Electabuzz, and Shadow Gligar*.
- Five-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Articuno* (See Additional Notes).
Additional Notes:
- Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
- Standard Raids:
- One- and Three-Star Raids:
- Lineups for One- and Three-Star Raids will change on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
- Five-Star Raids:
- Genesect (Douse Drive)* will be available during the event (in Five-Star Raids), until Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
- Virizion* will be…
- … available (in Five-Star Raids) starting on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
- … available after the event (in Five-Star Raids), until Thursday, November 16th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
- Mega Raids:
- Mega Houndoom* will be available during the event (in Mega Raids), until Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
- Mega Gardchomp* will be…
- … available (in Mega Raids) starting on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
- … available after the event (in Mega Raids), until Thursday, November 16th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
- … featured in the Mega Garchomp Raid Day event taking place on Saturday, November 11th, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. your local time.
- One- and Three-Star Raids:
- Shadow Raids:
- One- and Three-Star Shadow Raids will be available daily.
- Five-Star Shadow Raids will be available on weekends (Saturday and Sunday), unless otherwise stated by Niantic. (If announced at all.)
Timed Research – Festival of Lights
A Timed Research quest will be active during the event. Rewards include an event-exclusive Avatar Item (shirt) and encounters with Pokémon featured in this event. Please keep in mind that all tasks must be completed (and rewards claimed) before Sunday, November 12th, 2023 at 8 p.m. your local time. A complete list of tasks for all routes and the rewards will be shared here once the event is live.
- Task: Spin 30 PokéStops
- Reward: 1 Incense
- Task: Catch 30 Electric-type Pokémon
- Reward: Hisuian Voltorb Encounter
- Task: Catch 30 Fire-type Pokémon
- Reward: Hisuian Growlithe* Encounter
- Task: Explore 5 km
- Reward: Tadbulb Encounter
- Task: Use an Incense
- Reward: Morelull* Encounter
- Task: Catch 15 different species of Pokémon
- Reward: Magmar* Encounter
- Task: Hatch 4 Eggs
- Reward: Dedenne* Encounter
- Completion Rewards: Alolan Raichu* Encounter, 3,000 XP, and exclusive Festival of Lights T-Shirt
Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
Field Research Tasks
There will be event-exclusive Field Research Tasks available and the rewards include the following Pokémon encounters: Darumaka*, Morelull*, and Tadbulb. These Field Research Tasks can be found when spinning PokéStops (and acquired if you have an open slot in your Field Research menu) when the event is active.
A complete list of tasks and rewards will be shared here once the event is live.
- Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
- Reward: 5 Poké Balls OR 3 Great Balls OR 3 Razz Berries OR 2 Pinap Berries
- Task: Walk 1 km
- Reward: Morelull* Encounter
- Task: Hatch 2 Eggs
- Reward: Tadbulb Encounter
- Task: Spin 10 PokéStops or Gyms
- Rewards: Morelull* OR Tadbulb Encounter
- Task: Send a Gift with a Sticker
- Reward: Darumaka* Encounter
Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
PokéStop Showcase
During the event, PokéStop Showcases will be active. The theme of these contests is to submit the biggest Litwick or Tadbulb.
- Tuesday, November 7th, 2023 at 10 a.m. to Friday, November 10th, 2023 at 8 p.m. your local time: Litwick
- Saturday, November 11th, 2023 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, November 12th, 2023 at 8 p.m. your local time: Tadbulb
Collection Challenge – Festival of Lights Challenge
A special, event-exclusive Collection Challenge will be available only for Trainers in India. According to Niantic, this Collection Challenge will reward Trainers with Stardust, XP, Tadbulb encounter, and an addition to the Elite Collector medal. A complete list of what Pokémon must be caught/traded/evolved and the associated rewards will be added here once the event is live.
- Catch: Magnemite, Voltorb, Mareep, Electrike, Morelull, Chinchou, and Ponyta.
- Evolve: Magnemite into Magneton, Voltorb into Electrode, Mareep into Flaffy, and Electrike into Manectric.
- Completion Rewards: 3,000 Stardust, 3,000 XP, and Tadbulb Encounter.
Avatar Items
New avatar items themed after this year’s event will be released. They will be available for purchase (with PokéCoins) via the in-game shop. These avatar items will still be available to purchase after the conclusion of this event.
The new avatar items are the following: Festival of Lights T-shirt (Black) (100 PokéCoins).
More Pokémon GO guides
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Pokémon GO’s Season of World of Wonders’ 2024 Pokémon Europe International Championships event guide
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Written by Jennifer Burch
Illustrator, designer, writer and big Nintendo geek, you can find Jennifer with an N3DS within reach 24/7. As the oldest of three, she has survived many Mario Party, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart sessions intact in addition to getting her brothers hooked on some really weird games. (Cubivore anyone?)
