Pokemon Go Festival of Colors 2023 event: Mega Medicham & Bruxish debut, Raids, bonuses, more

Ezequiel Leis
Mega Medicham and a Trainer in a Pokemon Go event

Pokemon Go brought back the popular Festival of Colors event for 2023. This year’s celebrations include new debuts in the mobile game so here’s everything you need to know, including dates, bonuses, Raids, and more.

Pokemon Go players are ready for a full event schedule in March thanks to the new season, Rising Heroes, and the return of Festival of Colors in 2023. This new edition will have first-time Pokemon in the mobile game and many things to look forward to.

In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about the 2023’s edition of Festival of Colors, including dates, debuts, encounters, bonuses, and more.

Pokemon Go Festival of Colors 2023 dates & times

Festival of Colors 2023 will take place in Pokemon Go from Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 10 AM to Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 8 PM local time.

During that time, trainers will find a colorful surprise around PokeStops as they walk close to them.

Pokemon Go Festival of Colors 2023 debuts

The Pokemon Go Festival of Colors will feature the in-game debuts of Mega Medicham and Bruxish.

While Medicham will headline Mega Raids during the event, Bruxish will be out in the wild for trainers to catch.

Pokemon Go Festival of Colors 2023 bonuses

These bonuses will be active during the Pokemon Go Festival of Colors 2023 event:

  • Lure Modules activated during the event will last for three hours.
  • Friendship levels will increase twice as fast.
  • Take a few snapshots every day during the event for a surprise!

That surprise is, of course, Smeargle, but lucky players might encounter a shiny Smeargle during the Festival of Colors event. “While Shiny Smeargle will no longer appear after the event concludes, you may encounter one during future events,” states the official blog post.

Pokemon Go Festival of Colors 2023 Collection Challenge

There will be a Collection Challenge during the Festival of Colors event in Pokemon Go. Players will need to complete the following tasks to earn the rewards:

  • Catch a Koffing
  • Catch a Stunky
  • Catch a Wobbuffet
  • Catch a Natu
  • Catch a Shuckle
  • Catch a Paras
  • Catch a Krabby
  • Catch a Bruxish
  • Catch a Burmy (Sandy Cloak)
  • Catch a Burmy (Trash Cloak)
  • Catch a Burmy (Plant Cloak)
  • Evolve a Burmy into Mothim

Players that complete this challenge before the end of the event will earn 20,000 XP and a Lure Module.

The new Color Throw Pose will remain available in the in-game shop after the event ends.

Pokemon Go Festival of Colors 2023 wild encounters

During the Festival of Colors 2023 event in Pokemon Go, the following Pokemon will appear more frequently in the wild:

  • Paras
  • Krabby
  • Koffing
  • Natu
  • Wobbuffet
  • Shuckle
  • Wingull
  • Plant Cloak Burmy
  • Sand Cloak Burmy
  • Trash Cloak Burmy
  • Stunky
  • Bruxish
  • Lickitung
  • Galarian Zigzagoon

Stunky and Bruxish are the only two Pokemon that won’t appear shiny during the event. Lickitung and Galarian Zigzagoon, on the other hand, will be harder to find.

Pokemon Go Festival of Colors 2023 Field Research encounters

The Pokemon Go Festival of Colors will have event-themed Field Research tasks for players to enjoy. Fulfilling the following tasks will trigger an encounter with one of these Pokemon:

TaskReward
Catch 5 different species of Pokemon
Castform, Sunny Form Castform, Rainy Form Castform, or Snowy Form Castform
Catch 8 different species of PokemonPlant Cloak Burmy, Sand Cloak Burmy, or Trash Cloak Burmy
Catch 10 different species of PokemonBaile Style Oricorio, Pom-Pom Style Oricorio, Pa’u Style Oricorio, or Sensu Style Oricorio
Catch 15 PokemonAlolan Grimer

The Oricorio players encounter will be of different Styles depending on where they were caught in the world.

Pokemon Go Festival of Colors 2023 Raid bosses

The Festival of Colors 2023 event will feature these Raid Bosses in Pokemon Go:

1-Star Raids

  • Espurr
  • Rockruff
  • Mareanie
  • Bruxish

3-Star Raids

  • Exeggutor
  • Alolan Exeggutor
  • Cryogonal
  • Druddigon

5-Star Raids

Mega Raids


And that’s all you need to know about the 2023’s edition of the Festival of Colors event in Pokemon Go. Make sure you stock up on Poke Balls and items to catch Bruxish and defeat Mega Medicham.

For more Pokemon content, you can check our other useful guides:

How to connect Pokemon Go to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet | How to heal Pokemon in Pokemon Go | How many Pokemon are there? | Best Pokemon for PvP battles in Pokemon Go | How to get revives in Pokemon Go | Pokemon Go best attackers ranked | All Pokemon Go free rewards | How to get Master Ball in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet | Everything we know about Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC | How many Pokemon types are in Scarlet & Violet?

Image Credits: Niantic / The Pokemon Company