Alright, let's talk about the next Pokemon Go event. Seriously, it's the only thing my raid group chats about lately. When is it? What's spawning? What bonuses can we milk this time? I get it - we all want to plan our lives around that sweet, sweet stardust and those elusive shinies. Problem is, finding reliable, detailed info about the next Pokemon Go event feels harder than catching a Noibat in the wild. You scroll through forums, check five different sites, and still end up confused about start times or bonus details. Drives me nuts.

Remember the last Go Fest? I showed up at the park downtown expecting crazy spawns, only to realize the special research didn't activate properly for half the players. Total mess. Niantic eventually fixed it, but man, that burned through my incense and patience. Lesson learned: always double-check event mechanics. That's why I'm digging deep here – so you don't have to waste time or resources figuring out the upcoming Pokemon Go event.

Confirmed Details About the Next Pokemon Go Event

Okay, deep breath. Here's what Niantic has officially dropped about the next Pokemon Go event. We're looking at Pokemon Go Fest 2024: Global, running from Saturday, July 13th, 2024, to Sunday, July 14th, 2024. Times? That depends where you are. Niantic loves their local time zones for these big ones.

Event Schedule Breakdown

This isn't some tiny Community Day. This is the main event. Two full days, split into different habitat hours with rotating spawns and bonuses. Here's the rough outline:

Times are local time. Spawn specifics based on datamines and previous Fest patterns - Niantic could still tweak!

Seriously, Sunday afternoon raid window? That's where you want to grind. Last year's raid bonuses were insane for XL candy. If you're eyeing that perfect IV legendary for Master League, clear your Sunday schedule now.

Bonuses Worth Getting Excited About (And Planning For)

This is the juice. The next Pokemon Go event wouldn't be Fest without stacked bonuses. Brace yourself:

• Increased Shiny Rates: This is THE big draw. During active hours, shiny rates for featured species skyrocket. We're talking potentially 1 in 64 or better for specific spawns. I caught 14 shinies during last year's Sunday session. My feet hurt, but my dex looked glorious.
• Special Research: A multi-step questline rewarding unique items, encounters (often a new mythical or costumed mon), and usually a hefty chunk of XP/stardust. Pray it’s not another Meltan situation requiring 400 candy.
• Bonuses Galore: Expect 8 free raid passes daily from spinning gyms, boosted incense effectiveness (especially while walking!), lure modules lasting 3 hours, double catch XP/Stardust during certain windows, and bonus Candy/XL Candy. Stock up on Pinaps and Silver Pinaps NOW.
• Habitat Spawns: Each time block floods the map with specific types. Use regular Pokeballs on common junk unless it's shiny. Save your Ultras/Greats for the good stuff.

Prepping for the Next Pokemon Go Event: Your Survival Checklist

Want to avoid my past mistakes? Don't just show up. Prepare. Trust me, scrambling for bag space mid-event while a hundo rare spawn stares at you is pure agony. Here’s the non-negotiable list:

Start grinding GBL or catching *everything* a week before. Open gifts religiously for balls/berries.

What trips people up? Storage. You think you have enough space, then BAM, 200 Mareep flood your screen. Clear out low-IV duplicates and useless shinies before the upcoming Pokemon Go event starts. Don't be like me in 2022, frantically deleting Numels while missing a shiny Deino.

Location Strategy: Where to Play Matters

Not all places are created equal for the next Pokemon Go event.

• Parks w/ Multiple Stops/Gyms: Winner. More stops = more items, spawns, and lured areas. Check local Discord/Facebook groups - they often coordinate lure parties.
• Downtown/City Centers: Dense stop/gym clusters. Excellent for walking loops and constant spawns. Can get crowded though.
• Avoid Rural Areas: Seriously. Spawns rely on cellular data density and stops. Fewer stops = fewer spawns = wasted event time. If rural, drive to a better spot.

My personal take? If weather allows, a park loop is king. Good spawn density, gyms for raids, and usually public restrooms (crucial for 8-hour grinding sessions). Pack snacks and water. Hydration is key, trainers!

Predictions & Rumors: What *Might* Happen

Niantic plays things close to the vest until the last minute. But based on datamines, teasers, and past events, here’s what the rumor mill churns out for this next Pokemon Go event:

• Debuting Shiny: Strong bets include Shiny Rayquaza (finally!), Shiny Hisuian Growlithe/Arcanine, or Shiny Kleavor. Dataminers found new shiny assets recently.
• New Mega Evolution: Mega Rayquaza feels inevitable if the shiny drops. They love pairing those.
• Ultra Beast Surprise: Niantic hinted at "interdimensional rifts." Could Poipole or Naganadel finally appear? Would shake up the meta.
• Special Trade Bonus: Increased special trades or reduced stardust cost during the event is common. Coordinate shiny swaps with friends!

Honestly, the Rayquaza shiny feels overdue. Would they really lock it behind a $15 ticket? Probably. Niantic loves monetizing FOMO. Still, if it drops, raid lobbies will explode.

Maximizing Your Experience: Pro Tips

Been doing these since 2017. Learned some hard lessons:

• Focus on Limited Stuff First: Prioritize new shinies or ultra-rares. Pidgey can wait.
• Fast Catch Like Your Life Depends on It: Master the fast catch trick. YouTube it if you don't know. Doubles or triples your catch rate per hour. Non-negotiable.
• Check IVs Later: During peak spawn times, just shiny check and catch. Appraise after the habitat hour ends or you'll miss spawns. Got burned doing this during Gible CD.
• Raid Smart: Use Pokebattler or Go Hub counters list BEFORE the event. Have teams ready. Don't waste raid pass time figuring out what beats Terrakion.
• Prioritize Bonuses: If double stardust is active, pop a Star Piece and catch EVERYTHING. When XP is boosted, use Lucky Eggs on Excellent throws or evolving.

Remember Go Fest 2023's lag? Brutal. If server issues hit, restart the app immediately. Don't wait. Lost a hundo Axew because I hesitated. Still bitter.

Ticket vs. Free Play: Is the Paid Pass Worth It?

Ah, the eternal question for the next Pokemon Go event. Niantic always offers a paid ticket (usually $14.99 USD). What do you really get?

Historically, the Special Research is the biggest paid perk. If you care about collecting the new mythical or unique costume Pokemon, it's usually worth it. If you just want shinies and raids? Might skip.

My take? If you play hard, the ticket pays for itself in the extra raid passes, lures, and the special research rewards. Casual players? Maybe not essential. That $15 could go towards remote raid passes instead. Your call.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting (Be Prepared!)

Things will go wrong during the next Pokemon Go event. Guaranteed. Based on past chaos:

• "Where Are My Spawns/Incense?!" Fix: Check your device time is set to automatic. Force close and restart the app. Toggle airplane mode. If using incense, ensure you're moving.
• Game Freezing/Lagging: Fix: Lower graphics settings in the app. Close background apps. Restart phone. Avoid super crowded areas if possible.
• Special Research Not Showing: Fix: Check your item bag isn't full. Restart app. Go to settings > Advanced Settings > Refresh Game Data. Still missing? Contact Niantic Support ASAP (screenshot proof helps).
• Raid Lobby Errors: Fix: Don't spam join. Wait 30 seconds after an error. Ensure strong GPS signal. Restart app before joining next lobby. Infuriating, but usually resolves.

Had the special research vanish bug myself during the Sinnoh Tour. Niantic support fixed it... after 3 days. Moral: Screenshot everything when you first log in during the next Pokemon Go event.

Look, the next Pokemon Go event is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself. Take breaks. Eat real food. And for the love of Arceus, charge your batteries. Go Fest burnout is real – I learned that the hard way chasing shiny Unown until 2 AM. See you out there, trainers. Happy hunting!