Sam from Stardew Valley set against a generic background with friendship hearts above his head.

Stardew Valley: Sam Gifts, Schedule, and Heart Events

Sam is 'topping' the charts for favorite villagers!

Written by:
Avatar photo
Maya is a professional writer currently based in the South of England, with her niche being esports and video games. Having written for several popular websites, Maya thinks she has a trick up her sleeve for most games and is passionate about sharing them!

Reviewed by:
Avatar photo
Reyadh is a writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction who loves to play video games full of monsters and magic. When he's not scribing unique and unrelenting speculative fiction or slaying demons in virtual worlds, he is writing strategy guides to help others reach their gaming goals.

Key Takeaway

The way to Sam’s heart is with Pizza, Maple Bars, Tigerseye, and Cactus Fruit. Sam is most often seen practising the guitar at home, playing pool in the Stardrop Saloon, or skateboarding around Pelican Town.

Sam is Pelican Town’s resident cool kid and one of the 12 available marriage candidates in Stardew Valley. With his skateboard and guitar, he’s a catch for any prospective players looking to make their match. Get a headstart on wooing Sam by knowing his favorite gifts, schedule, and heart events.

Table Of Contents

    Sam Gift Guide

    All of Sam's main Loved Items, including Pizza, Maple Bar, Tigerseye, Maple Bar, and Joja Cola.

    Who doesn’t love a gift? All Stardew Valley villagers have presents they Love, Like, Dislike, Hate, and ones they’re Neutral about. You can give Sam two weekly gifts, and one on his birthday (Summer 17). Here’s everything Sam Loves, Likes, Dislikes, Hates, and is Neutral about.

    Love

    Alongside all the universal Loves, Sam also Loves these items. Since these items are all quite common, Sam is one of the easier characters to befriend first. For example, Pizza can be purchased from the Stardrop Saloon or cooked, Cactus Fruit is foragable from the Calico Desert, and Tigereye is found in the Mines.

    Note
    Loved gifts will give you 80 Friendship Points, Liked gifts earn 40, Neutrals earn 20, Dislikes cost you -20, and Hated gifts are -40.
    • Cactus Fruit
    • Maple Bar
    • Pizza
    • Tigerseye

    Like

    Sam is also impartial to all universally Liked gifts and the two other exceptions below. If you don’t have any of his Loved gifts to hand, you can get him some Joja Cola from a vending machine or trashcan.

    • Joja Cola
    • All Eggs (Except Void Eggs)

    Neutral

    • All Fruit (Except Cactus Fruit, Fruit Tree Fruit, and Salmonberries)
    • All Milk
    • All universally Neutral gifts

    Dislike

    • All Vegetables (Except Hops, Tea Leaves, and Wheat)
    • Foraged Goods (Daffodil, Holly, Hazelnut, Leek, Snow Yam, Seaweed, Wild Horseradish, and Winter Root)
    • Quartz

    Hate

    No one likes getting a gift they don’t like, and the same is true for Stardew Valley characters. With this in mind, you should avoid these and all universally Hated gifts if you want to avoid ruining your bond with Sam.

    • Coal
    • Gold Ore
    • Gold Bar
    • Iridium Ore
    • Iridium Bar
    • Mayonnaise
    • Pickles
    • Refined Quartz

    Sam’s Schedule for Every Season

    Sam, a Stardew Valley NPC, playing the guitar in his bedroom during Winter.

    Like other Stardew Valley residents—and even yourself—Sam has a distinct day-to-day schedule he follows. His schedule can differ from season to season and also depends on certain weather conditions and your relationship. If you’re married, he will also adopt a new schedule around the farm.

    Knowing Sam’s schedule is vital for giving him weekly gifts and having daily conversations with him. He works a part-time job at JojaMart on Mondays and Wednesdays, so bear that in mind if you don’t see him skateboarding around town.

    Spring

    Regular Schedule 

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AM Wakes up, moves around his bedroom.
    10:40 AMPlay his guitar inside his bedroom.
    1:40 PMLeaves his bedroom, walks into Pelican Town, and stands near Mayor Lewis' house by the river.
    6:30 PMReturns home.
    9:00 PMGoes into his bedroom and goes to bed.

    Rainy Days

    TimeLocation
    9:00 AMWakes up and stands in front of his dresser.
    11:00 AMLeaves his bedroom and walks to the bridge by the Museum.
    4:00 PMLeave the bridge and walks to the tree by Emily and Haley's House at 2 Willow Lane.
    7:00 PMWalks home.
    7:30 PMArrives in his bedroom and stands by his bookshelf.
    9:30 PMGoes to bed.

    Monday and Wednesday

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and stands in the middle of his bedroom.
    11:00 AMLeaves his bedroom to walk to JojaMart (or Museum if the Community Center is restored).
    12:50 PMArrives at JojaMart (or Museum).
    4:00 PMFinishes work at JojaMart (or Museum) and walks home.
    6:00 PMArrives in his bedroom and stands by his bookshelf.
    9:30 PMGoes to bed.

    Thursday

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and stands by his dresser.
    10:40 AMPlays his guitar in his bedroom.
    3:00 PMStands in front of the bush southeast of Lewis' house by the river.
    6:30 PMStarts walking home
    7:50 PMArrives at home and stands by the desk in his bedroom.
    9:00 PMGoes to bed.

    Friday 

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and play guitar in his bedroom.
    11:00 AMLeaves his bedroom and skateboards outside his house.
    3:00 PMWalks to the Stardrop Saloon.
    4:00 PMArrives at the Stardrop Saloon and plays pool near the arcade machines.
    9:20 PMLeaves the Stardrop Saloon and starts walking home.
    10:20 PMArrives home and goes to bed.

    Summer

    Regular Schedule

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and walks around his bedroom.
    11:00 AMPlays the guitar in his bedroom.
    1:40 PMLeaves his house and walks to the beach by the firepit with his brother Vincent.
    7:00 PMReturns home from the beach.
    9:00 PM Goes to bed.

    Birthday and Rainy Days

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and moves around his bedroom.
    11:00 AMStarts playing the guitar.
    3:00 PMLeaves bedroom, stands in the kitchen playing his handheld video game.
    5:00 PMGoes back inside his bedroom and walks around.
    8:00 PMGoes to bed.

    Monday and Wednesday

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and stands in the middle of his bedroom.
    11:00 AMLeaves his bedroom to walk to JojaMart (or Museum if the Community Center is restored).
    12:50 PMArrives at JojaMart (or Museum).
    4:00 PMFinishes work at JojaMart (or Museum) and walks home.
    6:00 PMArrives in his bedroom and stands by his bookshelf.
    9:30 PMGoes to bed.

    Saturday

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and stands in the middle of his bedroom.
    2:00 PMStands with Sebastian in his room.
    6:00 PMLeaves his house with Sebastian and stand by the river in front of his house.
    7:50 PMGoes home and goes to bed.

    Fall

    Regular Schedule

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and moves around his bedroom.
    10:40 AMPlays the guitar.
    1:20 PMLeaves his house and walks to The Cindersap Forest, southwest of Leah's Cottage.
    7:00 PMReturns home.
    9:00 PMGoes to bed.

    Fall 11

    Fall 11 is the most deviation we see from Sam’s steady routine. No guitar-playing or skateboarding for him; it’s his annual medical checkup day!

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and says "I gotta go visit Uncle Doctor today... Great."
    11:30 AMWalks to the clinic for his annual checkup, plays his handheld video game in the waiting room.
    1:30 PMGets his medical checkup at the clinic.
    4:00 PMLeaves the clinic and walks through town, saying, "I just got out of the doctor's office. Completely healthy and vigorous, just as I expected."
    9:00 PMReturns home and goes to bed.

    Winter

    Regular Schedule

    TimeSchedule
    10:00 AMWakes up and moves around his bedroom.
    10:40 AMPlays the guitar in his bedroom.
    1:20 PMLeaves his bedroom and walks to the Stardrop Saloon.
    7:00 PMReturns home from the Stardrop Saloon.
    9:00 PMGoes to bed.

    Winter 17 

    Due to the Night Market, Sam’s schedule is slightly different on this particular day. Check the Stardew Valley in-game calendar to see what the current date is.

    TimeLocation
    10:00 AMWakes up and moves around his bedroom.
    10:40 AMPlays the guitar inside his bedroom.
    5:00 PMAttends the Night Market at the Beach Docks.
    12:00 AMArrives home and goes to bed.

    Married

    Who says marriage changes a person? Once you’ve put a ring on it, Sam will remain a creature of habit, still spotted around Pelican Town skateboarding and gaming.

    If the Community Center is restored, Sam will only ever leave the farmhouse on Monday and Friday to visit his family. On Saturdays, he spends his time doing skateboarding tricks behind the house.

    Monday

    TimeLocation
    6:00 AMAwake at the farmhouse.
    8:00 AMLeaves the farm and goes to Pelican Town.
    9:30 AMArrives at his old house, 1 Willow Lane, and stands in the kitchen.
    11:00 AMMoves into the living room.
    3:00 PMLeaves 1 Willow Lane and walks back to the farm.
    4:00 PMArrives at the farm.
    10:00 PMGoes to bed.

    Friday

    TimeLocation
    6:00 AMAwake on the farm.
    8:00 AMLeaves the farm and walks to Pelican Town.
    9:30 AMArrives at his old home, 1 Willow Lane, and stands in the kitchen.
    11:00 AMLeaves 1 Willow Lane.
    11:50 AMSkateboards south of the Stardrop Saloon, by the benches.
    3:00 PMHeads inside the Stardrop Saloon.
    3:30 PMPlays pool inside the Stardrop Saloon.
    9:00 PMLeaves the Saloon and walks to the farm.
    11:00 PMArrives at the farm and goes to bed.

    Sam’s Heart Events

    Sam's 8 Heart Event, where he's playing a gig with his band.

    In essence, Heart Events are cutscenes that occur upon reaching a certain number of Friendship Hearts with a resident of Pelican Town. They are often milestones for friendship and reveal tidbits of lore about their character while deepening your friendship. Because Sam is an available bachelor and marriage candidate, he has a 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Heart Event. If you marry him, there will also be a 14 Heart Event.

    To guarantee you see the Heart Event, you’ll need to be in the right place at the right time.

    HeartsLocation
    2 HeartsEnter Sam's House at 1 Willow Lane whenever he's there.
    3 HeartsEnter the Beach on a sunny day between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM in any season except Winter in Year 1.
    4 HeartsEnter Sam's House at 1 Willow Lane whenever he's there.
    6 HeartsEnter the Town Square between noon and 4:00 PM.
    8 HeartsSam will appear on your farm's doorstep between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM.
    10 HeartsYou'll receive a letter from Sam saying you need to enter Pelican Town on a sunny day between 8:00 AM and midnight.
    14 Hearts Enter your twice-upgraded farmhouse between 6:10 AM and 5:00 PM. You'll need to do this four times, three days apart.

    With his schedule and Loved gifts in mind, befriending the guitar-playing blond bombshell should be easy! And why stop there? The more, the merrier when it comes to friends; try building a bond with the town’s athlete, Alex, or even the aspiring writer, Elliott!

    Read Next
    Stardew Valley: “Favorite Thing”, Explained
    Marshall Gunnell | 2 years ago
    Stardew Valley: How to Get Every Stardrop
    Marshall Gunnell | 2 years ago
    Stardew Valley: Where to Find the Flower Dance
    Carley Garcia | 2 years ago