Feasts and Festivals in Your TTRPG Campaign – RPG Blog Carnival

Welcome to the November 2025 RPG Blog Carnival! This month, we’re diving into the vibrant world of “Feasts and Festivals” in tabletop role-playing games.

As the real world heads into a season filled with celebrations and holidays, it’s a perfect time to think about how they can enrich our campaigns. These events are more than just flavor, they can be powerful tools for plot development, character interaction, and world-building.

Why Include Feasts and Festivals?

For starters, they offer a natural rhythm to your campaign world, making it feel more alive and lived-in. They provide opportunities for:

• Plot Hooks: A festival could be the perfect cover for an assassination attempt, a grand heist (royal jewels anyone?), or a meeting of secret societies. A desperate plea for help might come disguised as an innocent request for assistance with festival preparations.
• Character Development: How do your characters behave when they can let their guard down? Do they embrace the revelry, or do they find themselves drawn to the shadows, observing the festivities from afar? Festivals can reveal new aspects of their personalities or challenge their beliefs.
• World-Building: What does a culture celebrate, and how do they celebrate it? The traditions, food, music, and attire of a festival can tell players volumes about the history, values, and social structure of a region. Is it a somber remembrance, a boisterous harvest celebration, or a solemn religious observance?
• Breathers and Downtime: After a grueling dungeon crawl or intense political intrigue, a festival can offer a much-needed change of pace. It allows characters to relax, gather information, or pursue personal goals in a less combative environment.

Incorporating Festive Elements

Consider these elements when designing a feast or festival for your campaign:

• Reason for Celebration: What is the historical or cultural significance of this event? Is it a solstice, a harvest, a founding day, or a victory over a great evil?
• Traditions and Rituals: Does the festival involve specific ceremonies, parades, games, or competitions? Are there unique customs related to food, drink, or dress?
• Key Characters and NPCs: Who are the important figures during this event? The mayor, a religious leader, a festival organizer, or even a mischievous trickster god (Loki!!!!!)? These individuals can be sources of quests or crucial information.
• Atmosphere: Use vivid descriptions to bring the event to life. What does it smell like (roasting meats, sweet pastries, incense)? What sounds fill the air (music, laughter, cheering crowds)? What sights are there (colorful banners, illuminated lanterns, elaborate costumes)?

Examples of Festival Ideas

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• The Harvest Moon Festival: A time of thanksgiving and abundance, where communities gather to share their crops, tell stories, and engage in friendly contests of strength and skill. Perhaps a prized magical artifact is the grand prize for a competition, or a mysterious blight threatens the harvest itself.
• The Day of Whispers: A more somber festival, dedicated to honoring ancestors and forgotten spirits. People light candles, leave offerings, and share tales of the deceased. This could be a perfect opportunity for a ghostly encounter, a puzzle involving ancient prophecies, or a chance to learn long-lost lore.
• The Grand Bazaar of the Four Winds: While not strictly a “festival” in the traditional sense, a massive, annual market event can function similarly. It’s a melting pot of cultures, goods, and information, ripe for espionage, trading, or encountering exotic new characters.

As our own world embraces its festive season, take inspiration from your own experiences and imagine how those joyful (and sometimes chaotic) elements could translate into unforgettable moments at your TTRPG table. Happy adventuring, and happy feasting!

How to Participate:

1. Write a Blog Post: Create an original blog post on your own site that explores the theme of “Feasts and Festivals”. This could include:
   • Descriptions of festivals you’ve created for your games.
   • Ideas for using festivals as plot hooks or for character development.
   • Tips for incorporating sensory details to bring festivals to life.
   • Reflections on how real-world holidays inspire your game designs.
   • Reviews of game supplements or adventures that feature memorable festivals.
2. Link Back to This Post: In your blog post, please include a link back to this kickoff post so others can easily find the carnival and see what it’s all about.
3. Share Your Post: Once your post is live, come back here and leave a comment with a link to your entry. This will help us compile all the fantastic contributions!

The carnival runs throughout November, but don’t wait to share your piece of the pie! I’ll publish a roundup post showcasing all the participants at the end of the month.