RuneScape 3 Christmas Event 2025 Guide: AFK XP, Snowverload Boss & Black Partyhat

The Land of Snow has opened its gates once again! The RuneScape 3 Christmas Event 2025 is officially live, bringing with it a blizzard of AFK XP methods, the arrival of the formidable Snowverload boss, and of course another chance to snag the ultra-rare Black Partyhat.

Running from December 1st, 2025, to January 4th, 2026, this event is the perfect time to catch up on skilling gains while soaking in the holiday spirit. Whether you are looking for free construction XP or a main account hunting for rare cosmetics, this guide covers everything you need to know to maximize your gains.

Watch the full video guide below for a visual walkthrough of the new Snow Arena and skilling stations.

Event Overview & Dates

• Start Date: December 1st, 2025

• End Date: January 4th, 2026

• Location: The Christmas Village (Land of Snow)

To get started, simply head to the Christmas Village. You can usually teleport there directly via the holiday portal in the Burthorpe lodestone area or through the "Events" tab in your interface. But the easiest way is just to loadstone there. Using this icon below:

☃️ The Snowverload Boss Guide

The massive snowman boss, Snowverload, has arrived! This year features a new Snow Arena, but you must have completed the new quest Cold Front to access this new boss. Actually I just found out you can access the boss in the new arena without doing the new quest. The quest gives you access to the snowmen in there for some free combat XP by throwing your snowballs at them. 

Mechanics Breakdown:

Note: This giant snowman spawns every hour at the 45-minute mark. e.g: 1:45, 2:45, 12:45.. etc Game Time Its a bit like the claudia boss from the beach event. 

Bauble Mechanic: 
If he turns you into a bauble, run directly in front of him to free yourself.

Stocking Mechanic:
If you get stuck in a stocking, run around to shake it off.

Giant Present:
When a giant present appears, hide inside it to avoid his big attack!

Defeating Snowverload can be a good way to earn Christmas Spirit, the event currency used to purchase rewards.

Note for newer players: Even if you haven't unlocked the boss yet, you can participate in the event activities to build up your levels!

Here is a quick run example i did, shows a couple of the mechanics and what to do.

💤 Best AFK Skilling Methods (XP Guide)

One of the biggest draws of the Christmas event is the highly AFK skilling stations. These are fantastic for getting consistent XP gains while you are working or studying on the side.

Locations of all Skill Methods:

Here are the stations available in 2025:

1. Construction (Decoration Making)

Location:

Requirement: Complete the 'It's Snow Bother' quest.

• Activity: Building decorations for the village.

• Benefit: Free Construction XP without the need for planks or gold.

This one is a bit more hands on, as you have to keep clicking the table.

2. Cooking (Hot Chocolate)

If you want additional XP from this event, you can click the sparkling ingredients and add them to the pot when requested. 

• Activity: Stirring the massive pot of hot chocolate.

• Benefit: A very chill AFK cooking method. Great for mid-level cooking gains.

3. Fishing (Ice Fishing)

Just head to the fishing spot, you can also use the shark outfit here. Wait until your inventory fills up and then click one of the barrels to empty it and repeat. Its not quite as AFK as some of the areas here, so only do this one if you are actively fishing, as you do have to click the barrel to empty every few minutes or so. 

Barrel Click Location

• Activity: Fishing at the frozen spots.

• Bonus: There is a chance of getting the Bubbles Pet, which can be unlocked while fishing here! If you have not obtained it yet. 

4. Fletching

Fletching: Creating Snowballs. Just click on the snow mount and AFK until your timer limit pretty much. Its Low effort and low XP but you do gain spirit and snowballs, which you can disassemble for various components or you can pelt them at other players if you equip them or at the smokey the coal as mentioned below. 

You will also find "Smokey the Coal" here. You can throw three snowballs at him and get 75 spirit from doing this, which is kinda the non AFK bonus. I think only one person can click on him with the snowballs so it might be a speed thing. 

5. Woodcutting

Chop any trees here, also the inventory still fills up so its not really that AFK. 

• Activity: Chopping Fir Trees.

• Benefit: Standard AFK woodcutting XP.

6. Crafting

Toy Production station. Useful for getting those crafting levels up without the cost of dragonhide or gems.

Take items and craft them on the bench here for crafting XP. Its ok,... but not amazing. 

📜 Quests & Requirements

To get the most out of the event, you should look into the holiday quests.

• New/Featured Quest: Cold Front

• Returning Quests: It's Snow Bother and A Christmas Reunion.

If you need help with the prerequisite quests, check out these guides:

• It's Snow Bother Guide

• A Christmas Reunion Guide

🎁 Rewards: The Black Partyhat Chance

It wouldn't be a RuneScape Christmas without the wrapping paper grind.

• Christmas Spirit: Earned by skilling and killing the boss. Use this to buy cosmetic overrides and titles from the event shop. You can earn it just by basically doing any skilling in the game or combat. So basically anything. 

• Ironmen: There is a specific note regarding Ironmen accounts at 0:59 in the video—be sure to check that out if you play this mode. Ironmen cant gain any XP from the skilling stations during the event. 

• Wrapping Paper: Collect paper while playing the game (skilling, PvM, or daily logins) and turn it in to Santa.

• Letters to Santa: Every now and then you will get a Letter to Santa Drop you just have to go and hand that in at santas slay area there is a mail box there and you can hand them in. 

• The Big Prize: Every turn-in gives you a roll at the legendary Black Partyhat. Good luck!

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