Lunar Festival

Lunar Festival
Duration	January 29 – February 11 (2025)
Currency	[Coin of Ancestry]
Boss	Omen
Highlights	Omen; Elders; Fireworks
Other events
Preceded by	Love is in the Air; (concurrent)
Followed by	Noblegarden

The Lunar Festival is a time of celebration. The people of Azeroth celebrate their triumph of many thousands of years ago, when an alliance of good races (the night elves, tauren, furbolgs, and earthen) defeated a terrible evil called the Burning Legion. It is also a time of remembrance for the valor and wisdom of that ancient age.

Today, the Lunar Festival is held by the druids of Nighthaven. Both the Horde and Alliance are welcome to celebrate and shoot fireworks — a symbol of Elune's power. Ancient heroes of the past also appear throughout the land, offering gifts to those who find and honor them.

It is a time of happiness, fortune and celebration, but it has a deeper motive as well.

Omen, defeated so many centuries ago, yet remains in Lake Elune'ara. Although driven insane by the Burning Legion, the demigod still possesses Elune's blessing and thus is immortal. During the Lunar Festival, he stirs...and heroes of the land are called to defeat him once again.

For a list of Elder locations and a guide to visiting them all, see Lunar Festival Elders.

New additions in 2024

[Winding Slitherdrake: Lunar Festival Armor] for 50,000 from Lunar Festival Vendors and Valadar Starsong

Collectables

Toys

There are thirteen Toy Box toys available:

[Elune's Lantern] (from [1-80R] Elune's Blessing)
The following are available from Fariel Starsong
- [Everlasting Alliance Firework] (25 )
- [Everlasting Horde Firework] (25 )
- [Red Dragon Head Costume] (25 )
- [Red Dragon Body Costume] (10 )
- [Red Dragon Tail Costume] (25 )
- [Blue Dragon Head Costume] (25 )
- [Blue Dragon Body Costume] (10 )
- [Blue Dragon Tail Costume] (25 )
- [Green Dragon Head Costume] (25 )
- [Green Dragon Body Costume] (10 )
- [Green Dragon Tail Costume] (25 )
- [Lunar Elder's Hearthstone] (30 )

Note: Learning one faction's firework will learn the other automatically.

Pets

There are two pets available for purchase from Valadar Starsong for 50 each:

Only one pet is visible to individual players, but both factions' pets are not soulbound and can be traded or sold on the auction house.

Achievements

Most of the achievements in the table below are required for the meta-achievement, [To Honor One's Elders], which is itself required for [What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been].

Note: This list is up to date as of Patch 11.0.2

Title	Description	Rewards
[Elders of Eastern Kingdoms]	Honor the Elders which are located in Eastern Kingdoms. Goldwell the Elder in Kharanos Bellowrage the Elder in Blasted Lands Stormbrow the Elder in Goldshire Meadowrun the Elder in Western Plaguelands Starglade the Elder in Zul'Gurub Winterhoof the Elder in Booty Bay Silvervein the Elder in Thelsamar Skychaser the Elder in Sentinel Hill Rumblerock the Elder in Burning Steppes Dawnstrider the Elder in Flame Crest Highpeak the Elder in The Hinterlands Ironband the Elder in Searing Gorge Graveborn the Elder in Brill Obsidian the Elder in The Sepulcher Windrun the Elder in Eastern Plaguelands Snowcrown the Elder in Light's Hope Chapel Moonstrike the Elder in Scholomance	10
[Elders of Kalimdor]	Honor the Elders which are located in Kalimdor. Runetotem the Elder in Razor Hill Skygleam the Elder in Azshara Moonwarden the Elder in The Crossroads High Mountain the Elder in Vendetta Point Windtotem the Elder in Ratchet Bladeleaf the Elder in Dolanaar Starweave the Elder in Lor'danel Bloodhoof the Elder in Bloodhoof Village Riversong the Elder in Astranaar Grimtotem the Elder in Feralas Mistwalker the Elder in Dire Maul Nightwind the Elder in Felwood Skyseer the Elder in Freewind Post Morningdew the Elder in Fizzle and Pozzik's Speedbarge Ragetotem the Elder in Tanaris Dreamseer the Elder in Gadgetzan Thunderhorn the Elder in Un'Goro Brightspear the Elder in Winterspring Stonespire the Elder in Everlook Primestone the Elder in Silithus Bladesing the Elder in Cenarion Hold	10
[A Coin of Ancestry]	Receive a [Coin of Ancestry].	10
[5 Coins of Ancestry]	Receive 5 [Coin of Ancestry].	10
[10 Coins of Ancestry]	Receive 10 [Coin of Ancestry].	10
[25 Coins of Ancestry]	Receive 25 [Coin of Ancestry].	10
[50 Coins of Ancestry]	Receive 50 [Coin of Ancestry].	10
[Lunar Festival Finery]	Purchase a festive pant suit or festive dress with Coins of Ancestry.	10
[The Rocket's Red Glare]	Shoot off 10 [Red Rocket Cluster] in 25 seconds or less.	10
[Frenzied Firecracker]	Shoot off 10 Festival Firecrackers in 30 seconds or less.	10
[Elune's Blessing]	Complete the [1-80R] Elune's Blessing quest by defeating Omen.	10
[Elders of Cataclysm]	Honor the Elders in the zones opened by the Cataclysm. Stonebrand the Elder in the Temple of Earth Menkhaf the Elder in Uldum Sekhemi the Elder in Uldum Firebeard the Elder in Twilight Highlands Darkfeather the Elder in Twilight Highlands Windsong the Elder in Hyjal Evershade the Elder in Nordrassil Moonlance the Elder in Vashj'ir Deepforge the Elder in Deepholm	10
[Elders of the Dungeons]	Honor the Elders which are located inside the dungeons. Wildmane the Elder in Zul'Farrak Starsong the Elder in Sunken Temple Splitrock the Elder in Maraudon Stonefort the Elder in Blackrock Spire Morndeep the Elder in Blackrock Depths Farwhisper the Elder in Stratholme Jarten the Elder in Utgarde Keep Igasho the Elder in The Nexus Nurgen the Elder in Azjol-Nerub Kilias the Elder in Drak'Tharon Keep Ohanzee the Elder in Gundrak Yurauk the Elder in the Halls of Stone Chogan'gada the Elder in Utgarde Pinnacle	10
[Elders of the Alliance]	Honor the Elders which are located in the Alliance capital cities. Bladeswift the Elder in Darnassus Bronzebeard the Elder in Ironforge Hammershout the Elder outside Stormwind City	10
[Elders of the Horde]	Honor the Elders which are located in the Horde capital cities. Darkhorn the Elder in Orgrimmar Wheathoof the Elder in Thunder Bluff Darkcore the Elder in Undercity	10
[Elders of the Dragon Isles]	Honor the Elders in the zones opened by the Cataclysm. Iskaara Elder Shomkol in The Waking Shores Shikaar Elder in the Ohn'ahran Plains Iskaara Elder Nemaglek in The Azure Span Iskaara Elder Sik'ek in Thaldraszus Aylaag Elder in The Waking Shores Ohn'ir Elder in the Ohn'ahran Plains Elder Dekidig in The Azure Span Elder Razlok in Thaldraszus	10
[Elders of Northrend]	Honor the Elders which are located in Northrend. Sardis the Elder in Valiance Keep Beldak the Elder in Westfall Brigade Encampment Morthie the Elder in Star's Rest Fargal the Elder in Frosthold Arp the Elder in D.E.H.T.A Northal the Elder in Transitus Shield Sandrene the Elder in Lakeside Landing Wanikaya the Elder in Rainspeaker Rapids Lunaro the Elder in Ruins of Tethys Bluewolf the Elder in Wintergrasp Tauros the Elder in Zim'Torga Thoim the Elder in Moa'ki Harbor Graymane the Elder in K3 Stonebeard the Elder in Bouldercrag's Refuge Pamuya the Elder in Warsong Hold Whurain the Elder in Camp Oneqwah Skywarden the Elder in Agmar's Hammer Muraco the Elder in Camp Tunka'lo	10

Details

Decorations are placed in every capital as well as in the regions of Nighthaven and Moonglade. Revelers celebrating the Lunar New Year will be spread throughout the world (the revelers are concentrated in Moonglade, except for those that show up for the fireworks shows in Stormwind/Thunder Bluff/Booty Bay); the lunar festival specific NPCs can be found in each capital and in Moonglade. There are also other NPCs — spread throughout the world — that are ghost-like elders who players must find and honor, as noted below.

Lunar Festival events focus on the celebration of the inhabitants of Azeroth's ancestors. Quests can be found throughout the world offering holiday-related items such as fireworks and other memorabilia to celebrate one's elders and ancestors. Elder Ghosts are found throughout the world of Azeroth and each time players finds a new Elder, they receive a token that can be redeemed for special holiday-related items.

Dates

It appears that Blizzard moves the dates of this event to conform to the real-life Chinese Lunar New Year on which this festival is based.[1]

Year	Lunar New Year date	Lunar Festival dates
2006	January 29	January 27 – February 14
2007	February 18	February 16 – March 8
2008	February 7	February 5 – 23
2009	January 26	January 24 – February 12
2010	February 14	February 14 – March 7
2011	February 3	January 23 – February 12
2012	January 23	January 22 - February 11
2013	February 10	January 27 - February 9
2014	January 31	January 20 - February 3
2015	February 19	February 16 - March 2
2016	February 8	February 1 - February 15
2017	January 29	January 21 - February 4
2018	February 16	February 17 - March 3
2019	February 5	January 28 - February 11

Mini-events

On the date of the actual lunar New Year, celebrations occur in Stormwind, Thunder Bluff, Booty Bay and Moonglade.

On the last day of the festival, one last firework show will be held in Moonglade. This parallels the Chinese "Festival of Lanterns", with extra lanterns spawned around Lake Elune'ara (the firework show occurs over the lake).

Items

Some holiday items that relate to the Chinese New Year include:

Various rockets and fireworks
[Festival Dumplings]
Costumes that depict festive Lunar holiday dresses and suits in a variety of colors besides red
Recipes that will allow players to create red Lunar holiday clothing, and others to create a variety of rockets and launchers.
A special red envelope with a surprise inside (inspired by the red packets that is given during Chinese New Year)
The [Elune's Candle] contains 88 charges, which according to Chinese Tradition would be lucky. This is also related to the red packets.

Vendors

Lunar Festival Vendors in capital cities sell the following items:

Lunar Festival Vendor
Item	Cost	Type
[Winding Slitherdrake: Lunar Festival Armor]	50,000	Drakewatcher manuscript
[Moonglow]	15	Alcohol
[Festival Firecracker]	3	Firework
[Small Blue Rocket]	25	Firework
[Small Green Rocket]	25	Firework
[Small Red Rocket]	25	Firework
[Blue Rocket Cluster]	1	Firework
[Green Rocket Cluster]	1	Firework
[Red Rocket Cluster]	1	Firework

At Nighthaven, Valadar Starsong and Fariel Starsong sell items in exchange for [Coin of Ancestry]. 84 coins can be acquired per-character each year:

Valadar Starsong
Item	Cost	Type
[Lunar Lantern]	50	Pet ( only)
[Festival Lantern]	50	Pet ( only)
[Elune's Candle]	10	Firework launcher
8x [Festival Dumplings]	1	Food
[Festive Green Dress]	5	Cosmetic
[Festive Pink Dress]	5	Cosmetic
[Festive Purple Dress]	5	Cosmetic
[Festive Black Pant Suit]	5	Cosmetic
[Festive Blue Pant Suit]	5	Cosmetic
[Festive Teal Pant Suit]	5	Cosmetic
[Lunar Festival Fireworks Pack]	5	Fireworks
5x [Perky Blaster]	1	Pet toy
[Crown of Courage]	25	Cosmetic
[Crown of Prosperity]	25	Cosmetic
[Crown of Dark Blossoms]	25	Cosmetic
[Crown of Good Fortune]	25	Cosmetic
[Winding Slitherdrake: Lunar Festival Armor]	50,000	Drakewatcher manuscript

Fariel Starsong
Item	Cost	Skill/note
[Pattern: Festival Dress]	5	Classic Tailoring 250
[Pattern: Festival Suit]	5	Classic Tailoring 250
[Small Rocket Recipes]	5	Classic Engineering 125
[Large Rocket Recipes]	5	Classic Engineering 175
[Cluster Rocket Recipes]	5	Classic Engineering 225
[Large Cluster Rocket Recipes]	5	Classic Engineering 275
[Schematic: Firework Launcher]	5	Classic Engineering 225
[Schematic: Cluster Launcher]	5	Classic Engineering 275
[Schematic: Snake Firework]	5	Draenor Engineering 1
[Schematic: Horde Firework]	5	Draenor Engineering 1
[Schematic: Alliance Firework]	5	Draenor Engineering 1
[Everlasting Horde Firework]	25	Toy
[Everlasting Alliance Firework]	25	Toy
[Blue Dragon Head Costume]	25	Toy
[Blue Dragon Body Costume]	10	Toy
[Blue Dragon Tail Costume]	25	Toy
[Green Dragon Head Costume]	25	Toy
[Green Dragon Body Costume]	10	Toy
[Green Dragon Tail Costume]	25	Toy
[Red Dragon Head Costume]	25	Toy
[Red Dragon Body Costume]	10	Toy
[Red Dragon Tail Costume]	25	Toy
[Lunar Elder's Hearthstone]	30	Toy
[Ancient Heirloom Armor Casing]	40	Heirloom upgrade (35)
[Timeworn Heirloom Armor Casing]	75	Heirloom upgrade (40)
[Weathered Heirloom Armor Casing]	75	Heirloom upgrade (45)
[Battle-Hardened Heirloom Armor Casing]	75	Heirloom upgrade (50)
[Eternal Heirloom Armor Casing]	75	Heirloom upgrade (60)
[Awakened Heirloom Armor Casing]	75	Heirloom upgrade (70)
[Winding Slitherdrake: Lunar Festival Armor]	50,000	Drakewatcher manuscript

Outdoor Raid

Finally, there is Omen, a high-level boss that spawns in Moonglade during the festival, giving players a chance to experience a raid-style encounter that only appears during this time of year. Omen is inspired by the tale of "Nian" from Chinese lore. In the Chinese version of WoW, Omen's name is left as Nian.

Quests

Simple quests exist at each major city that provide a 24-hour invitation that allows the bearer to teleport to Moonglade from inside a nearby circle of moonlight. Once in Moonglade, one hill contains a number of similar circles of moonlight, each of which lets a character teleport back (using the invitation) to one of the cities. Though the invitation has a 10-minute cooldown, this provides a convenient way to move from city to city for the duration of the festival (see the Travel Guide). In addition, this provides a flight point to Moonglade, usually accessible only to Druids and high-level characters.

Even if you completed these quests (including the veneration of the elders quests) in a previous year, they will once again be available to you this year.

Lead-in quests

"The Lunar Festival", from the heralds or emissaries in the cities, direct you to your city's harbinger, which rewards five Cenarion Circle reputation. Ever since the Park was destroyed by Deathwing, the location for for Stormwind is outside the front gates.
- [1-80] The Lunar Festival (Orgrimmar)
- [1-80] The Lunar Festival (Thunder Bluff)
- [1-80] The Lunar Festival (Undercity)
- [1-80] The Lunar Festival (Stormwind)
- [1-80] The Lunar Festival (Ironforge)
- [1-80] The Lunar Festival (Darnassus)

[1-80] Lunar Fireworks, from the harbinger in your city, directs you to set off 8 small and 2 cluster fireworks (purchasable from the nearby vendor, made by an engineer, or received from an Elder), and rewards you with 150 Cenarion Circle reputation, and a [Lunar Festival Invitation] allowing you to teleport to Moonglade.

"Valadar Starsong" directs you to teleport to Moonglade and speak with Valadar in the village of Nighthaven. Reward: 1,250 experience (or 75 at max level).
- [1-80] Valadar Starsong

[1-80] Lunar Preservation quest series that will make the flower crowns transmoggable throughout the year.

Gaining Coins of Ancestry

You don't need a prerequisite for these. Just find the Elder, talk to them, and the quest is complete. There are 84 elders in all. The Elders stand in circles of light, and give you tips as to where to find the other nearby Elders. You can complete the quest with any Elder, though some are harder to get to than others, such as those in your opposing faction's capital cities.

All of these quests give 1 [Coin of Ancestry] and 75 (changed from 50) of your faction's reputation. (No Cenarion reputation.) As of 2011, you will gain reputaion with a faction city up to Honored. This means +75 to each of your faction's cities that you have not reached Honored with. If you finished these quests in 2006 you weren't able to repeat them in 2007, but as of 2008 you can complete the quests for Elders you finished in previous years (in other words, the 2008 and 2009 festivals ignore which ones you completed in previous festivals).

Also see the Lunar Festival Elders tour guide.

Lucky Red Envelope

Upon completing the elder's quest, the elder also hands the player a [Lucky Red Envelope], which alternately contains either an [Elder's Moonstone] (summons a circle of light, same as [Elune Stone]) or a [Lucky Rocket Cluster], which gives you and anyone near you a +250 health buff for 30 minutes, when thrown into a [Cluster Launcher]. The odds of either appear to be about even.

A complete list of all the Elder locations including coordinates can be found on the Lunar Festival Elders page.

Spending Coins of Ancestry

During the Lunar Festival, two vendors in Moonglade will redeem Coins of Ancestry for goods:

Valadar Starsong sells festival outfits, a [Lunar Festival Fireworks Pack], [Festival Dumplings], and [Elune's Candle].

Fariel Starsong sells tailor patterns for red festival clothes and engineering schematics for various fireworks and launchers.

See the NPCs' pages for a list of the items each sells. All of these items are Bind on Pickup (except [Elune's Candle], which is sold for silver, not Coins of Ancestry.)

An engineer who wants all the fireworks schematics will need thirty Coins of Ancestry.

A tailor who wants both red festival clothes patterns will need ten Coins of Ancestry.

In 2012, two faction-specific companions were released, the [Lunar Lantern] for the Alliance and [Festival Lantern] for the Horde.

The coins don't have a limited duration, so you can save your excess for the next festival.

Other quests

[1-80R] Elune's Blessing from Valadar Starsong - Summon Omen (boss), defeat him and gain his blessing. The blessing itself is a buff giving +10% to all stats for one hour. Rewards: [Elune's Lantern], 3 solid stone and a box of fireworks (100 Cenarion Circle reputation).

Official Summary

Lunar Festival

Every year the druids of Moonglade hold a celebration of their city's great triumph over an ancient evil. During the Lunar Festival, citizens of Azeroth have the opportunity to honor their elders by celebrating their sage wisdom, sharing in magnificent feasts, and of course...shooting fireworks!

Features

Type: Holiday Event

Location: All Major Cities, Booty Bay, Moonglade

Omen

The beast of Omen was once a hero of this world. A wolf of great strength and fortune, Omen fought beside the heroes of the War of the Ancients until he succumbed to demonic magics. Turning against his allies, he raged across Azeroth and carried death and terror in his wake. Finally defeated in Moonglade, Omen now sleeps among the silt of Lake Elune'ara. But each new year, during the festival, he stirs...

Elders

During the Lunar Festival, adventurers will have the opportunity to honor many of their elders, and by doing so, they will also honor their culture and their people. For this, the Coins of Ancestry serve as a tangible means to recognize those who have chosen the venerable path of respect. Those who are recognized thus will have their diligence rewarded with a selection of unique items.

Fireworks

The innovative and artistic engineers of Undermine have been slaving away since their display of pyrotechnics in July. Their latest and greatest - not to mention highly dangerous to operate - creations will be on display in the cities of the world every hour after sunset. Keep your eyes to the skies, and be sure to stick around for the finale!

Revelers, All

Many soldiers formerly abroad have come home to engage in the festivities. Share in the merriment and dance with the revelers, or, if you're so inclined, blow a kiss to one that catches your eye. It's all in fun, after all; they appreciate the attention!

Festival Outfits To help celebrate the festivities, a selection of unique clothing become available to adventurers. Such outfits have been worn in times past during the Lunar Festival and each is hand-crafted with only the finest soft fabrics and other quality components.

History

The Lunar Festival is a time of celebration. The peoples of Azeroth celebrate their triumph of many thousands of years ago, when an alliance of good races (Night Elves, Tauren, and Earthen - a proto-dwarven race) defeated a terrible evil. It is also a time of remembrance for the valor and wisdom of that ancient age.

The demi-god Omen was a being of great strength and knowledge. Blessed by Elune, Omen wandered primordial Kalimdor, guiding hunters and gatherers and offering luck and advice to all he met. When the Burning Legion launched their attack, Omen allied with Azeroth's defenders. He fought bravely but after many battles his wounds from demonic forces plunged Omen into a deep, dreaming sleep...where fel-inspired nightmares slowly consumed him. When he finally awoke, centuries later, he had fallen to madness.

The transformed Omen rampaged. No longer a creature of wisdom - but still possessing the strength of Elune's blessing - he tore through the land, killing and devouring. Terror rode before him, and death trailed in his wake.

Omen's spree of horror ended when a coterie of ancient heroes gathered in the village of Nighthaven and faced the beast. They called down the moon's wrath and Omen, blinded and stunned by the power of the moon goddess, fled into the deep waters of Lake Elune'ara. That day marked the end of his rampage, and symbolized a new beginning for the people of Azeroth and the followers of Elune.

Today, the Lunar Festival is held by the druids of Nighthaven. Both the Horde and Alliance are welcomed to celebrate and shoot fireworks - a symbol of Elune's power. Ancient heroes of the past also appear throughout the land, offering gifts to those who find and honor them.

It is a time of happiness and fortune and celebration, but it has a deeper motive as well...

Omen, defeated so many centuries ago, yet remains in Lake Elune'ara. Although driven insane by the Burning Legion, the demi-god still possesses Elune's blessing and is, hence, immortal. During the Lunar Festival, he stirs...and heroes of the land are called to defeat him once again.