Here’s the bad news: we still don't know the exact date of Fortnite's Winterfest 2021. But, we can make an educated guess based on a number of factors. Chapter 2 Season 8, is slated to end on December 4 at 4pm EST. However, it's not just the season that's ending, but Apollo Island as we know it. The End event will see the destruction of Apollo Island and, supposedly, the rise of Artemis Island. This new map will arrive just in time for the start of the next Chapter and the annual Winterfest.

Chapter 3 should be released a few days after The End, on December 7. It's unlikely that Winterfest will take place before Chapter 3 starts. Historically, the event has begun around mid-December. In 2020 it didn’t kick off until December 18. Given that updates for the game typically release on Tuesdays at 4am EST, Winterfest 2021 should start on either December 14 or 21. However, there is always the possibility the event begins sooner, potentially even coinciding with the release of Chapter 3.

Like any event, there's going to be a ton of challenges for players to complete and HYPEX has posted the full challlenges list, along with all the rewards players will be able to earn via completing these challenges.

• Warm yourself up at the Vule Log in the Cozy Lodge
• Deal Damage to opponents with the Snowball Launcher
  • 50
• Collect Toy Biplanes at Condo Canyon, Greasy Groove, or Sleepy Sound
  • 3
• Travel while having Icy feet
  • 200
• Fly with a Chicken
  • 200
• Dance for three seconds at Crackshot's Cabin and Sgt. Winter's Workshop
  • 3
• Ram a snowman with a vehicle
  • 1
• Use a Holiday Presents Item
  • 1
• Search a treasure chest under a holiday tree
  • 1
• Eat food in a single match
  • 5
• Hide for 10 seconds as a Sneaky Snowman within 25m of an enemy
  • 10
• Light a campfire while having icy feet
  • 1
• Travel 1000m on a Crackshot Quadcrasher
  • 1000
• Destroy Holiday decorations
  • 10
• Give an opponent icy feet with a Chiller Grenade
  • 1

Traditionally, Winterfest runs like many other events in Fortnite. There are limited-time game modes that appear daily for players to try out alongside daily challenges. Each of these challenges typically rewards players with cosmetics, back bling, emoticons, harvesting tools, and gliders.

There's also a Winterfest Lodge, which players can visit on a daily basis. This is typically stuffed with other similar goodies. Much like previous Winterfests, this year's event will most likely feature the lodge and challenges.

Epic put out a call for creators at the beginning of November to start making Winterfest-themed content. They specifically requested maps, hubs, and games for their Winter creator callout. Creators were asked to use the hashtag "#Winterfest" when posting on social media, suggesting that these creations will be somehow tied to the event.

Outside what has occurred in the last few years and this callout, there isn't much to go on about the actual content of Winterfest 2021. However, leakers and data miners have been hard at work uncovering what could potentially be in the event.