LOTRO Events and Festivals form the backbone of community gettogethers in Middle-Earth. With seasonal events, featuring new outfit cosmetics, mounts and tons of other rewards, it’s jam-packed. “Hmm, jam” mutters my inner-Hobbit! And these are the official ones in the Calendar, but keep your eye on the LOTRO Forums and Social Media for player-run events too. Let’s take a look at what the LOTRO Events Schedule 2023 has in store for us!
What Time Do LOTRO Events Start and Finish?
Generally speaking, events and festivals in The Lord of the Rings Online
- Start: 10am EST, 2pm or 3pm UK Time (Depending on British Summer Time changes)
- End: 3am EST, 7am or 8am UK Time
So let's crack on and see what the LOTRO Events Calendar has in store for us in 2023!
Quick Notes
- The Ill Omens Skirmish Event makes a return in the 2023 LOTRO Events Schedule!
- A Treasure Bugan Event takes place between the 20th-25th July 2023. I just didn't have time to put it into the month section.
- After my site's layout recode, some months have "tumbling" event "cards". A redesign/rework of the calendar is in progress, so please bear with the oddities for now.
Options
January 2023
Yule Festival ends on the 2nd January at 3am /servertime
+10% Lootbox Motes/Embers
Earn 10% more 
Motes of Enchantment and 
Embers of Enchantment from Lootboxes
+25% XP Boost
An extra 25% XP on defeating, killing, banishing, humiliating enemies, quest completions etc for everyone!
Gundabad Geode Boost
Given I've not reached Gundabad yet, and won't for some time. But it looks like this is a gathering resource node increase. See the Wiki for node info.
February 2023
Hobnanigans
Care to thwak chickens for Hobnanigans-only rewards? Then this event is for you!
Learn More
Ill Omens Skirmish Event
Ill Omens returns after a year off! Take part in various Skirmishes and fend off particular nasties to get 
Tokens of Ill Omens! With some special items, pets and cosmetics, you may as well Skirmish away!
Ill Omens Guide →
The Curator Returns!
It's good to see when the Curator is coming back in the LOTRO Events Schedule! Cosmetics pets, mounts & more.
Find Out More →
VIP Event Boost
A thank you to VIPs, get double XP, +25% Crafting XP and 25% more 
Marks! XP Event should stack with other XP Boosts and Enhanced XP packs.
25% Skirmish Marks
Get bonus Marks for all your Skirmishes! Remember the LOTRO Ill Omens Event is still on, so it's a bonus on a bonus - enjoy!
March 2023
Looking at March in the LOTRO Events Schedule, you really have a chance to progress your character's stats. Most of the month is Spring Festival, but during it there are five days of 
VXP Boost and another five for a 25% XP Boost! Take part in the Festival and you can level your character, improve your Virtues and progress your LI track all at the same time!
+25% Crafting XP Boost
Get extra XP for your LOTRO Crafting professions! Note: this does not apply to 'processing' professions such as Forester and Prospector.
LOTRO Crafting Guide →
Spring Festival
The first major LOTRO festival of 2023 kicks off: Spring Festival! Get lost in the Hedge Maze, go fishing for rewards and collect Spring Leaves for this year's rewards. And stomp shrews, if squishing defenceless critters is your thing.
Spring Festival Guide →
Myrtle Mint Arrives!
Myrtle Mint is one of the rotating 
Figments of Splendour vendors. So, if you want some of her exclusive cosmetics, get ready for her arrival. Time to cram some deeds in. And Spring Festival wrappers!
10%
Virtue XP
Virtue XP grants boost to key combat stats for your character. Usually advanced through deeds, or completing "wrapper" quests during LOTRO events, you can now get 10% more VXP. Deeding spree in order?
+25% XP Boost
An extra 25% XP on defeating, killing, banishing, humiliating enemies, quest completions etc for everyone!
Hobnanigans
Care to thwak chickens for Hobnanigans-only rewards? Then this event is for you!
Learn More
April 2023
Reminder: Hobnanigans is on until the 3rd April at 3am /servertime
+10% Lootbox Motes/Embers
Earn 10% more Motes of Enchantment and Embers of Enchantment from Lootboxes
Gundabad Geode Boost
Given I've not reached Gundabad yet, and won't for some time. But it looks like this is a gathering resource node increase. See the Wiki for node info.
LOTRO Anniversary Event
2023 is LOTRO's 16th Anniversary! Take part in a wide array of quests and activities around Eriador. The Anniversary Scavenger Hunt goes live, with pets and decorations you can't get anywhere else. Finally, defeating mobs in your normal quests gives 
Steel Tokens you can trade for cosmetics. It's a real celebration, enjoy!
Anniversary Event Guide →
VIP Event Boost
A thank you to VIPs, get double XP, +25% Crafting XP and 25% more Marks! XP Event should stack with other XP Boosts and Enhanced XP packs.
The Curator Returns!
The Curator is back in town once more, with her unique selection of cosmetics pets, mounts & more. Bring your Figments of Splendour!
Find Out More →
25% Skirmish Marks
Get bonus Marks for all your Skirmishes! Take a break from normal questing and experience Skirmishes you've forgotten about. You don't forget them? Just me, then.
May 2023
Reminder: The LOTRO Anniversary Event is still on until 11th May at 3am /servertime
+25% Crafting XP Boost
Get extra XP for your LOTRO Crafting professions! Note: this does not apply to 'processing' professions such as Forester and Prospector.
LOTRO Crafting Guide →
Legendary Item Reward Track Season 6
A new round of the LI reward track kicks off in May 2023. Any 
quests count (so long as you haven LI equipped, I think), which includes festival wrappers and quests! What will LOTRO put into the rewards this time, I wonder?
Get your pick-axes and Cave-Claws and head to Ered Luin to dig for treasure! In the LOTRO Buried Treasure Event, you can collect tokens for mounts, cave-claw pets and decorations. You can even dig up mounts for your character - straight from the ground! Because that's normal.
10%
Virtue XP Virtue XP grants boost to key combat stats for your character. Even if there is no event on, you can now get 10% more VXP from other sources, such as LOTRO deeds.
June 2023
Hobnanigans
More chicken-thwacking so you can earn Hobnanigans-only rewards! If concussing chickens in the name of sport is your 'thing', then this event is for you!
Learn More
Midsummer Festival
Celebrate Aragorn and Arwen's Wedding at the LOTRO Midsummer Festival! Quest around the iconic location of Minas Tirith and earn 
tokens for a huge array of celebratory mounts, cosmetics and pets. Soak in the good feelings and attend the wedding ceremony. There is loads to do, so sit back and enjoy!
Midsummer Festival Guide →
VIP Event Boost
A thank you to VIPs, get double XP, +25% Crafting XP and 25% more Marks! XP Event should stack with other XP Boosts and Enhanced XP packs.
+25% XP Boost
An extra 25% XP on defeating, killing, banishing, humiliating enemies, quest completions etc for everyone!
July 2023
July is one of those in-between months, so is a quiet one for the LOTRO Events Schedule. It's a time I focus on actually questing, head of Farmers Faire in August!
Filbert Fig Arrives
Move over Myrtle, Filbert Fig is in town! The rotating Figments of Splendour vendor changes, so head over to browse wares you cannot get any-ware else! (bah-dum-tss).
Filbert Fig's Goods →
+10% Lootbox Motes/Embers
Earn 10% more Motes of Enchantment and Embers of Enchantment from Lootboxes
25% Skirmish Marks
Get bonus Marks for all your Skirmishes! So, if you've been putting off those Skirmishes, or your Epic progress depends on them, go and get some extra rewards!
August 2023
Season 6 of the Legendary Item Reward Track ends at 9:59am /servertime on the 16th August!
Hobnanigans
Do you enjoy hitting chickens upside the head and being rewarded for doing it? Then Hobnanigans is the event for you!
Learn More
The Curator Returns!
Get out your Figments of Splendour as the Curator is back. With a wide selection of outfit cosmetics, housing decorations, pets, mounts & more, you'll want to stock up on Figments ahead of time!
More on the Curator →
Gundabad Geode Boost
Given I've not reached Gundabad yet, and won't for some time. But it looks like this is a gathering resource node increase. See the Wiki for node info.
Legendary Item Reward Track Season 7
For those of us who suck at getting even near to the end of the LI reward track, a new season starting just puts us further from the fun rewards! But as Farmers Faire and Fall Festival are in this season, there's plenty of LI XP up for grabs!
Celebrate all things food, throw stuff at the Mayor, fight the heat and spray water on groups of Hobbits! Oh and there's plenty of relaxing fishing to do, tons of rewards and much, much food! Did I mention food? Tuck in!
Farmers Faire Guide →
+25% Crafting XP Boost
Get extra XP for your LOTRO Crafting professions! Note: this does not apply to 'processing' professions such as Forester and Prospector.
LOTRO Crafting Guide →
September 2023
Farmers Faire ends on the 7th September at 3am /servertime
20%
Virtue XPVirtue XP grants boost to key combat stats for your character. Usually advanced through deeds, or completing "wrapper" quests during LOTRO events, you can now get 20% more VXP. Deeding spree in order? NB: yes this starts in August, but it looked neater to put it first thing in September 2023!
+10% Lootbox Motes/Embers
Earn 10% more Motes of Enchantment and Embers of Enchantment from Lootboxes
Tale of the Shipwrecked Mariners
A ship has run aground along the Brandywine towards Evendim! Can you help them out, and get fab pirate-themed rewards? Arrr, that ye can! Get swimmin' tha' waters, scrag. (Also changes are coming for 2023)
See more here →
Combe Forester Event
It's the re-launch of the Combe Forester event. This first-of-a-kind crafting event, sees you race against other players and earn Ribbons, crafting tool upgrades, titles and more.Forester Event Guide →
Bilbo Baggins' Birthday
Baggins' Birthday is a week of celebrating the birthday of the (in)famous Hobbit! Collect people's favourite stories about Bilbo, then go and give him the gift of those memories. There is also a separate Frodo's birthday quest during the event.
Baggins' Birthday Guide →
October 2023
Hobnanigans
Care to thwak chickens for Hobnanigans-only rewards? Then this event is for you!
Learn More
+25% XP Boost
An extra 25% XP on defeating, killing, banishing, humiliating enemies, quest completions etc for everyone!
Fall / Harvestmath Festival
Relax in all things Autumn, food and spookiness, it's Fall / Harvest Festival again! Run riot in the Haunted Burrow and get lost in Wistmead! Seasonal cosmetics, pets, mounts and tons more. It also has various name: Fall, Harvest, Harvestmath etc!
Fall Festival Guide →
Durin's Day
Celebrate a key moment from Tolkien's works, Durin's Day. If you're a fairly low level, speak to someone in World Chat for tips on how to safely get to the event, or even to hitch a lift. (I still don't have a guide to this, so the link goes to the Wiki!)
Durin's Day header by Valkyrique
VIP Event Boost
A thank you to VIPs, get double XP, +25% Crafting XP and 25% more Marks! XP Event should stack with other XP Boosts and Enhanced XP packs.
+25% Crafting XP Boost
Get extra XP for your LOTRO Crafting professions! Note: this does not apply to 'processing' professions such as Forester and Prospector.
LOTRO Crafting Guide →
November 2023
→ Fall Festival and 25% Crafting XP Boost end on the 2nd November 2023 at 3am /servertime
→ Legendary Item Reward Track Season 7 ends at 9:59am /servertime on the 15th November!
25% Skirmish MarksGet bonus Marks for all your Skirmishes! Take a break from normal questing and experience Skirmishes you've forgotten about. You don't forget them? Just me, then.
Legendary Item Reward Track Season 8
A new round of the LI reward track kicks off in November 2023. Any quests count (so long as you haven LI equipped, I think), which includes festival wrappers and regular quests! This one takes us into 2024, which is kinda bonkers. Especially as I'm writing this at the end of 2022!
Rowan Raspberry Arrives
The final change of the Rotating Figments of Splendour vendors for 2023 brings Rowan Raspberry. As they all have exclusive outfits, mounts, pets and decorations, make sure you've banked up your Figments ahead of time!
More on Rowan Raspberry →
Buried Treasure Event
Get your pick-axes and Cave-Claws and head to Ered Luin to dig for treasure! In the LOTRO Buried Treasure Event, you can collect tokens for mounts, cave-claw pets and decorations. You can even dig up mounts for your character - straight from the ground! Because that's normal.
Hobnanigans
Care to thwak chickens for rewards? Love seeing feathers fly everywhere as you prove your superior wit over them? Head to Hobnanigans!
Learn More
December 2023
Hobnanigans finishes on the 4th December at 3am /servertime
20%
Virtue XPVirtue XP grants boost to key combat stats for your character. Usually advanced through deeds, or completing "wrapper" quests during LOTRO events, you can now get 20% more VXP. Deeding spree in order?
Yule Festival
It's holiday season! Head to Winter-home in Frostbluff for the LOTRO Yule Festival! Build Snowmen, throw snowballs, help the poor, cause mayhem for the Mayor and try to ungrumpify the Snow-Beasts! Relax and enjoy a festive end to 2023!
Yule Festival Guide →
+10% Lootbox Motes/Embers
Earn 10% more Motes of Enchantment and Embers of Enchantment from Lootboxes
The Curator Returns!
The Curator's last visit to Middle-Earth for 2024. So get those Figments of Splendour ready to spend-our! (bah-dum-tss).
More on the LOTRO Curator →
VIP Event Boost
A thank you to VIPs, get double XP, +25% Crafting XP and 25% more Marks! XP Event should stack with other XP Boosts and Enhanced XP packs.
+25% XP Boost
An extra 25% XP on defeating, killing, banishing, humiliating enemies, quest completions etc for everyone!
2024 Notes
- The Legendary Item Reward Track, Season 8 ends on the 14th February 2024 at 9:59am /servertime.
- Yule Festival 2023 ends on the 3rd January 2024 at 3am /servertime.
- 25% XP Boost ends on the 2nd January 2024 at 3am /servertime.
- The Curator departs 2nd January 2024 at 3am /servertime.
- 2nd January - 5th January 2024: Hobnanigans
- 4th January - 8th January 2024: 25% Skirmish Marks
TL;DR A Crammed 2023 LOTRO Events Calendar
Hmm, Cram. LOTRO Events range from boosting XP through to the fantastic story and quest-rich festivals. There really is something for everyone! I hope you can find some things in the LOTRO Events Schedule you can enjoy.
Whether you come for the rewards, or the character and Legendary Weapon boosts, LOTRO festivals and Events have a way of bringing the Community together, so come along and belong. Here's to a great 2023 in The Lord of the Rings Online!
