Pokémon GO: Get Ready to Celebrate the Winter Holiday

By Jason Nieva @jnievaplayerone Published 12/13/22 EST

Ready to have the holiday cheer? Niantic

The season of cheer has finally arrived in Pokémon GO, which means everyone will see new and familiar faces join the holiday fun. This year, the Winter Holiday event is happening in two parts with the first one starting this Thursday, December 15, and lasting until December 23.

This event marks the debut of Mega Glalie in the game, which is also making its presence felt in Mega Raids. Those lucky enough can even meet a Shiny version.

Before we look into the other details of this event, there are two bonuses available and these are:

50% more XP for winning Raid Battles.
Trainers can store up to 40 Gifts until the end of the event.

That said, here are what trainers can look forward to Winter Holiday Part 1:

These Pokémon appear more frequently in the wild:
- Pikachu wearing a winter carnival outfit
- Swinub
- Delibird
- Snorunt
- Spheal wearing a holiday outfit
- Snover
- Vanillite
- Cubchoo
- Bergmite
Those lucky enough may encounter these Pokémon in the wild:
- Alolan Vulpix
- Stantler wearing a holiday outfit
- Cryogonal
These Pokémon hatch from 7 km Eggs:
- Sneasel
- Smoochum
- Amaura
- Bergmite
- Crabrawler
These Pokémon appear in Raids:
- One-Star Raids
  - Pikachu wearing a winter carnival outfit
  - Alolan Vulpix
  - Spheal wearing a holiday outfit
  - Galarian Darumaka
  - Bergmite
- Three-Star Raids
  - Cloyster
  - Lapras
  - Stantler wearing a holiday outfit
  - Glaceon wearing an Undersea Holiday outfit
- Five-Star Raids
  - Cobalion
Pokémon available to encounter after completing Field Research tasks:
- Pikachu wearing a Winter Carnival outfit
- Alolan Vulpix
- Seel
- Shellder
- Jynx
- Stantler wearing a holiday outfit
- Spheal wearing a holiday outfit
- Crabrawler
Lucky trainers may encounter these Pokémon after completing Field Research tasks:
- Sneasel
- Glaceon wearing an Undersea Holiday outfit
Complete certain Field Research tasks can earn Mega Energy for this Pokémon:
- Abomasnow Mega Energy

Timed Research

While there are a lot of free activities during the Winter Holiday Part 1, there's an event-exclusive Timed Research accessible with a ticket priced at $5.

Those able to complete the research tasks get an event-themed avatar pose and these:

Two Incubators
One Incense
Abomasnow Mega Energy
Various event-themed Pokémon encounters

It's important to remember that Timed Research expires and in this one, the tasks associated need to be completed and rewards claimed before December 31. Trainers with some extra cash can buy and gift tickets to their friends in Pokémon GO. To make it possible, the Friendship level must be Great Friends or higher.

Avatar Items and Stickers

There are new avatar items at the in-game shop for everyone to buy. The good news is that they'll continue to be available even after the event ends. These are: