Potterfests

Fest Name: HP Christmas in July: Rare Pair Edition
Links: Bluesky | Announcement | AO3 & Rules | Sign-up
Type of Challenge: Anonymous exchange
Description: A HP rare pair fic exchange. Rare pair is defined as having less than 5000 fics on AO3. Sign-up is open till March 21. You can also sign up as a pinch hitter.
Ratings Restrictions: All ratings allowed
Length Restrictions: Minimum 1000 words; no maximum
Timeline:
Sign-up: March 10 - 21
Assignments given: March 28
Works due: July 5
Anon posting: July 18
Author reveals: July 25

Fest Name: 2024 Yuletide & Mulled Wine: Rare Pair Edition
Origin: Yuletide and Mulled Wine Facebook (Discord)
Links: AO3 | Rules | Prompts | Submit a Prompt on AO3
Type of Challenge: Anonymous prompt fest
Description: A HP winter holiday fic fest for any rare pairings with 1,000 fics or less on AO3. You don't have to be a member of the Facebook group to participate. Prompting is open on AO3 till October 4.
Ratings Restrictions: All ratings allowed
Length Restrictions: No minimum or maximum word count
Timeline:
Prompting closes: October 4, 11:59am EST
Claiming: October 5 - December 14
Stories due: December 14, 11:59pm EST
Work revealed: December 15, 09:00am EST
Creators revealed: December 21, 11:59am EST
Shout Outs & Story Time: TBD

HP Secret Santa Rare Pairs, an anonymous all-medium gift exchange for HP rare pairings, has closed sign-up for the 2024 run. The fest is currently looking for pinch-hitters. For more information, see here.

Origin: HP Rare Pairs Discord | HP Saffics Discord

Links: Tumblr | AO3 | Pinned Post | Rules | FAQ (with a list of excluded ships)

Timeline:
Gift Submissions Due: November 15
Gift Giving: December 1 - December 25
Creator Reveals: December 30

Fest Name: Rarepair Shorts Summer Wistlist 2024
Links: Dreamwidth | Tumblr | AO3 | Banned Pairings | Posting Instructions | Wishlists
Type of Challenge: Wishlist event
Description: A HP rare pair wishlist event hosted by HP Rarepair Shorts community. Wish granting is open till August 31. To grant a wish, post your works to the AO3 Collection. Posting to Dreamwidth is optional. Anyone can grant a wish.
Ratings Restrictions: All ratings allowed
Length Restrictions:
Fic: 200 - 2000 words
Art: None
Timeline:
Post your wishlist: May 8 - May 30
Fulfil a wish: June 1 - August 31

Fest Name: Rarepair Shorts Summer Wistlist 2024
Links: Dreamwidth | Tumblr | AO3 | Post Your Wishlist | Banned Pairings
Type of Challenge: Wishlist event
Description: A HP rare pair wishlist event hosted by HP Rarepair Shorts community. To submit your wishlist, leave a comment on the Make a Wish post on Dreamwidth. You can post your wishlist anonymously. Any rare pairing is allowed as long as it's not on the banned pairing list. Wishlists will be accepted till May 30. Wishlists will remain hidden till May 31.
Ratings Restrictions: All ratings allowed
Length Restrictions:
Fic: 200 - 2000 words
Art: None
Timeline:
Post your wishlist: May 8 - May 30
Wishlists reveal: May 31
Fulfil a wish: June 1 - August 31

Fest Name: Marauders Rarepair Microfics
Links: Tumblr | AO3 Collection Info | Rules | May Prompts
Type of Challenge: Monthly prompt challenge
Description: A monthly prompt challenge for Marauders era rare pairings. Any pairing involving at least one Marauders era character will be accepted as long as it's not one of the banned pairings listed below. You can also submit non-prompt challenge related fics to the appropriate AO3 collection. For more information, see AO3 Collection Info.
Ratings Restrictions: All ratings allowed
Length Restrictions: Ideally under 2000 words. Also accept art and other medium.
Timeline: No official deadline; first challenge begins on May 1.

According to the Community Rules, the following ships will not be accepted:
• Remus/Sirius (Wolfstar)
• James/Lily (Jily)
• James/Regulus (Jegulus)
• Dorcas Meadows/Marlene McKinnon (Dorlene)
• Mary McDonald/Lily (Marylily)
• Evan Rosier/Barty Crouch Jr. (Rosekiller)
• Pandora Lovegood/Lily (Pandalily)

Fest Name: Hat-tastic!
Origin: HP Rare Pairs Discord server
Links: AO3 & Rules | List of Prompts
Type of Challenge: Anonymous prompt fest & competition
Description: For HP Rare Pairs Discord members only. A hat-themed flashfic competition focusing on HP rare pairings. Also open to gen works. AI-generated content not allowed. Each prompt can be claimed once.
Ratings Restrictions: All ratings allowed
Length Restrictions: Minimum 400 words; maximum 2000 words
Timeline:
Claims Open: March 4
Submissions Due: March 13
Fics Revealed: March 13
Votes Due: March 16
Authors Revealed: March 16
Awards: March 17

Fest Name: Rare Pair Shorts Winter Prompt Extravaganza
Origin: Rare Pair Shorts (Dreamwidth | Tumblr)
Links: AO3 | Banned Ships | Info & January Prompts (also on Tumblr)
Type of Challenge: Prompt challenge
Description: A HP rare pair daily prompt challenge. A list of daily prompts will be posted for December, January and February. You can create works for any rare pair that is not on the Banned Ships list.
Ratings Restrictions: All ratings allowed
Length Restrictions: Maximum 2000 words
Timeline:
December Challenge: December 1 - 31
January Challenge: January 1 - 31
February Challenge: February 1 - 29

Fest Name: Harry Potter Rare Pair Fest IV
Links: Tumblr | Discord | Fest Rules | Claiming Post
Type of Challenge: Non-anonymous prompt fest
Description: For this fest, a HP rare pair is defined as any ship with less than 1000 completed works on an AO3 search. AI-generated content not allowed. Claiming will close on October 30.
Ratings Restrictions: All ratings allowed
Length Restrictions: Minimum 500 words. No maximum. Also welcome art and podfic.
Timeline:
Prompting: August 1 - August 15
Claiming: August 20 - October 30
Works Due: November 1
Posting Begins: November 2

Fest Name: Unleashed! Fest 2023
Links: Tumblr | AO3 | Rules | Claiming Post
Type of Challenge: Anonymous prompt fest
Description: A Drarry and HP rare pair fest that welcomes works in which pets, animals, magical beasts, an animagus or a patronus play a significant role. Accepts fic, art, podfic and craft. AI-generated works are not permitted. Self-prompt is allowed.
Length Restrictions:
Fic: Minimum 1000 words. No maximum.
Art: None
Craft: None
Podfic: Minimum 1000 words. No maximum.
Timeline:
Prompting opens: May 15th
Prompting closes: May 31st
Claiming opens: June 1st
Claiming closes: September 14th
Works due: September 15th
Posting begins: October 1st