Pokemon GO details summer/fourth anniversary events leading up to Pokemon GO Fest 2020
Niantic has shared a ton of details regarding its upcoming plans for Pokemon GO. Players will be able to partake in various activities during the summer and in celebration of the game’s fourth anniversary, leading up to Pokemon GO Fest 2020.
Three weekly challenges are planned with Timed Research lines. When completed, players can unlock additional species of Pokemon that will appear during Pokemon GO Fest 2020.
Here’s what’s in store for the mobile title:
Week 1: Skill challenge and Pokémon GO’s fourth-anniversary celebration event
The first Pokémon GO Fest weekly challenge will coincide with Pokémon GO’s fourth-anniversary celebration! In the four years since Pokémon GO was released, how have your skills improved, Trainers? Have you been keeping up with your basics? It’s time to put you to the test! This first weekly challenge will focus on catching Pokémon, so be sure to perfect your throwing technique ahead of July 3!
During the fourth-anniversary event, special Pokémon will be appearing in the wild, hatching from Eggs, and appearing in raids—notably Flying Pikachu! If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Flying Pikachu!
Date + Time Friday, July 3, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time
GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Skill
- Complete all three sets of tasks in the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Skill Timed Research to earn an encounter with Ducklett, an encounter with Flying Pikachu, a Star Piece, and more!
- If the following numbers of Trainers from the same team complete this Timed Research, the corresponding Pokémon will appear during Pokémon GO Fest 2020.
- One million Team Instinct Trainers: Chimecho
- One million Team Mystic Trainers: Alomomola
- One million Team Valor Trainers: Chansey
- If you complete the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Skill Timed Research, you’ll earn access to the GO Fest Elite Skill Challenge, a set of difficult tasks that you can complete to earn personal bragging rights! You don’t need to complete these tasks for your Timed Research to count toward the Pokémon GO Fest 2020 unlock goals.
Fourth-anniversary event features
- Flying-type Pokémon and Pokémon wearing party hats will be appearing in the wild, hatching from Eggs, and appearing in raids. If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Pidove!
- Ducklett will be making its Pokémon GO debut! It’ll be appearing in the wild and hatching from 5 km Eggs.
- Flying Pikachu will be appearing in the wild and in raids. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!
- The Jump-Start Special Research will also be available this week for any Trainers who missed out on it during last year’s anniversary celebration, so be sure to open the app during this period to claim it. This Special Research is designed to help you catch up with other Trainers, with a ton of Stardust and XP rewards, as well as some exciting Pokémon encounters.
- Be sure to take a snapshot during this event for a surprise.
Ho-Oh Special Raid Weekend
Ho-Oh will be joining in on the festivities! You can challenge it in five-star raids from Friday, July 3, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Monday, July 6, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time. Be sure to have your Remote Raid Passes stocked—you can purchase them in the shop.
Week 2: Battle-based challenge
Get your Pokémon ready for battle before July 10, Trainers—the second Pokémon GO Fest weekly challenge will test your battle skills!
Date + Time
Friday, July 10, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time
GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle
- Complete all three sets of tasks in the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle Timed Research to earn an encounter with Hitmonlee, an encounter with Absol, a Super Rocket Radar, and more!
- If the following numbers of Trainers from the same team complete their Timed Research this week, the corresponding Pokémon will appear during Pokémon GO Fest 2020.
- One million Team Instinct Trainers: Ferroseed
- One million Team Mystic Trainers: Alolan Grimer
- One million Team Valor Trainers: Alolan Marowak
- If you complete the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle Timed Research, you’ll earn access to the GO Fest Elite Battle Challenge, a set of difficult tasks that you can complete for personal bragging rights! You don’t need to complete these tasks for your Timed Research to count toward the Pokémon GO Fest 2020 unlock goals.
Battle-themed event
Have your Pokémon ready for battle, Trainers! On Sunday, July 12, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time, there will be a battle-themed event! Hopefully it won’t take over too much of your time.
Week 3: Friendship-based challenge
In the third Pokémon GO Fest weekly challenge, it’ll be time to celebrate what Pokémon GO is really all about: friendship. This challenge will ask you to take a moment to appreciate your pals, like your Buddy Pokémon and fellow Trainers! Send Gifts to friends, and don’t forget to attach a Gift sticker, too—it might make your friends’ day. This challenge’s Timed Research will be available until July 22—just a few days before Pokémon GO Fest 2020 starts!
The Timed Research will be accompanied by an event that celebrates summer! Summer Style Pikachu will be appearing in the wild and hatching from Eggs, and Petilil, the Bulb Pokémon, will be making its Pokémon GO debut.
Date + Time
Friday, July 17, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time
GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Friendship
- Complete all three sets of tasks in the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Friendship Timed Research to earn an encounter with Alolan Raichu, an encounter with Petilil, a Lucky Egg, and more!
- If the following numbers of Trainers from the same team complete their Timed Research this week, the corresponding Pokémon will appear during Pokémon GO Fest 2020.
- One million Team Instinct Trainers: Togetic
- One million Team Mystic Trainers: Dratini
- One million Team Valor Trainers: Litwick
- If you complete the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Friendship Timed Research, you’ll earn access to the GO Fest Elite Friendship Challenge, a set of difficult tasks that you can complete for personal bragging rights! You don’t need to complete these tasks for your Timed Research to count toward the Pokémon GO Fest 2020 unlock goals!
Summer-themed event features
- Summer-themed Pokémon will be appearing in the wild, hatching from Eggs, and appearing in raids. If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Bellsprout!
- Petilil will be making its Pokémon GO debut! It’ll be appearing in the wild when the weather is sunny and hatching from 5 km Eggs.
- Summer Style Pikachu will also be appearing in the wild!
- Be sure to take a snapshot during this event for a surprise.
