Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist: Every challenge and reward for Autumn (April 6-12, 2023)

Screenshot of Forza Horizon 5 depicting a group of various cars and drivers.
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Forza Horizon 5 launched as one of the greatest racing games available to play, but Playground Games refuses to rest on its laurels and consider its masterpiece "finished." The Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist brings new challenges, events, and rewards to the game every single week, with larger Series updates introducing even greater changes and additions over time. With the Festival Playlist, FH5 promises years of constant post-launch support and new content for players to explore.

Forza Horizon 5 has solidified its place as one of the best Xbox racing games, and it's only getting better. Here's what you need to know about the FH5 Festival Playlist, and all the challenges and rewards this season.

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Forza Horizon 5

Playground Games has delivered its latest masterpiece with Forza Horizon 5, which features the series' most diverse map and largest car list yet. The Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist constantly adds content to this ever-growing racing gem.

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Forza Horizon 5 current Festival Playlist: Summer, Series 19 (March 30-April 5, 2023)

Screenshot of Forza Horizon 5 depicting various cars racing.

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

The Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist updates every week as the in-game season changes, with larger updates slated for every month as a new Series begins. It can be difficult to keep track of everything there is to do in Forza Horizon 5's Festival Playlist and decide whether it's worth it to tackle the challenges. Fortunately, that's what we're here for.

Series 19 “Midnights at Horizon” (March 30-April 26, 2023)

(Image credit: Windows Central)

Forza Horizon 5 Series 19 "Midnights at Horizon" sees the open-world racing game embrace its inner darkness with extended night times, a bevy of flashy neon worldly decorations, and a host of new races, events, and challenges with an after dark theme. This is also the Festival Playlist that ushers in Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure, the game's latest DLC expansion.

  • Series 19 rewards. Series 19 of Forza Horizon 5's Festival Playlist has a total of 280 Playlist Points across all Seasons. The Series rewards include:
    • 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 for 80 Playlist Points. This is an Epic rarity car and is hard to find
    • 2012 Lamborghini Aventador J for 160 Playlist Points. This is an Epic rarity car and is hard to find
  • Monthly Events. There are two monthly events.
    • Bola Ocho Circuit: Post a clean lap in the Monthly Rivals Event. Rewards 4 Playlist Points
    • Bahía de Plano Circuit: Post a clean lap in the Forza EV Event. Rewards 4 Playlist Points

Autumn “Storm Season” (April 6-12, 2023)

(Image credit: Windows Central)

This is the Autumn Season of Forza Horizon 5's Series 19 Festival Playlist, and is available from April 6 until April 12, 2023.

  • Season rewards. The Autumn Season of Series 19 has a total of 70 Playlist Points across all Challenges. The main rewards include:
    • 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing for 20 Playlist Points. This is a Rare rarity car and is exclusive to this Festival Playlist
    • 2013 Audi R8 Coupé V10 plus 5.2 FSI Quattro for 40 Playlist Points. This is an Epic rarity car and is hard to find
  • Weekly Challenge. "Corvette Racing" — The Weekly Challenge has four Chapters. Rewards 5 Playlist Points and 80 Forzathon Points.
    • Fifth Generation: Own and drive a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
    • New York Auto Show: Take a photograph of a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 at the Horizon Street Scene Outpost
    • V8 Monster: Win a Drag Race Event with a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
    • Shelby Showdown: Earn 9 Stars at Speed Trap PR Stunts with a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
  • Daily Challenges. There are seven Daily Challenges. Each reward 1 Playlist Point and 10 Forzathon Points.
    • Barrel of Laughs: Earn 3 Bonus Board Skills at Aerodromo en la Salva
    • Full Moon: Complete the Canyon Expedition
    • Half Moon: Earn 3 Stars at the Pyramid of the Moon Speed Zone PR Stunt
    • Total Eclipse: Take a photograph of a 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
    • It's a Trap!: Earn 5 Stars from Speed Trap PR Stunts
    • Make a Scene: Gain 6 Drift or E-Drift Skills at the Horizon Street Scene Outpost
    • Not So Silent Night: Beep your horn 4 times during a Street Race Event
  • Season Events. There are nine Season Events.
    • Stock Showdown — 2016 Vauxhall Corsa VXR: Win The Trial Championship with a stock, C-Class 2016 Vauxhall Corsa VXR. Rewards 10 Playlist Points and a 2013 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S
    • Slippery When Wet: Complete the EventLab Event with an S1-Class Rally Monsters vehicle. Rewards 3 Playlist Points and a 2013 Audi RS 7 Sportback
    • Horizon — Midnight Scene: Complete the EventLab Event with any A-Class vehicle. Rewards 3 Playlist Points and a Horizon Super Wheelspin
    • Hotel: Complete the Danger Sign PR Stunt challenge with any S2-Class vehicle. Rewards 2 Playlist Points and a Horizon Super Wheelspin
    • Giro Encorvado: Complete the Drafit Zone PR Stunt challenge with any S2-Class vehicle. Rewards 2 Playlist Points and a Horizon Super Wheelspin
    • Océano Azul: Complete the Speed Trap PR Stunt challenge with any S2-Class vehicle. Rewards 2 Playlist Points and a Horizon Super Wheelspin
    • Racing in the Moonlight: Win the Seasonal Championship with a B-Class Retro Sports Cars vehicle. Rewards 5 Playlist Points and a 2015 Porsche Cayman GTS
    • Twinkle Twinkle Little Porsche: Win the Seasonal Championship with an A-Class Porsche vehicle. Rewards 5 Playlist Points and a 2015 Infiniti Q60 Concept
    • In the Air Tonight: Win the Seasonal Championship with an A-Class Unlimited Offroad vehicle. Rewards 5 Playlist Points and a 1974 Holden Sandman HQ Panel Van
  • Challenges. There are two Challenges.
    • #NeonCity: Photograph any Track Toy vehicle with the Neon Tank at Guanajuato University. Rewards 2 Playlist Points and the Porter Robinson "Language" Song
    • Lights Out: Smash 10 Horizon Neon Cubes at Valle de las Ranas. Rewards 3 Playlist Points and the Festival Sombrero Vanity Item
  • Hot Wheels Events. There are two Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels Events.
    • Ice Crash: Complete the Danger Sign PR Stunt with any S2-Class vehicle. Rewards 2 Playlist Points and a Horizon Super Wheelspin
    • Night Swift: Win the Seasonal Championship with an A-Class Super Saloons vehicle. Rewards 5 Playlist Points and a 1995 Audi RS 2 Avant
  • Rally Adventure Events. There are two Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure Events.
    • Reservoir View: Complete the Speed Zone PR Stunt challenge with any S2-Class vehicle. Rewards 2 Playlist Points and a Horizon Super Wheelspin
    • Mini-utes to Midnight: Win the Seasonal Championship with a B-Class Mini vehicle. Rewards 5 Playlist Points and the Grit Reapers Cap Vanity Item
  • Forzathon Shop. The Forzathon Shop offers the following items this Season:
    • 2003 Porsche Carrera GT for 500 Forzathon Points
    • 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T for 300 Forzathon Points
    • Walkie Talkie Car Horn for 75 Forzathon Points
    • Apex Predators Hoodie Vanity Item for 75 Forzathon Points
    • Horizon Wheelspin for 60 Forzathon Points
    • Horizon Super Wheelspin for 150 Forzathon Points

Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist: How to complete challenges

Screenshot of Forza Horizon 5 depicting cars off-roading during a storm.

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

The Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist is always packed with unique challenges and events, and the majority of them are relatively easy or simple to complete. However, some challenges may require additional effort to earn its sweet rewards, such as enigmatic Treasure Hunts, Collectible challenges, and more. Here, we'll quickly detail how to complete any more difficult challenges that appear during the current Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist.

How do I complete the "Shelby Coming Down the Mountain" Treasure Hunt Challenge?

Midnights at Horizon is bringing lots of new events and challenges to players in Forza Horizon 5, including a fresh Treasure Hunt and an accompanying riddle. "Shelby Coming Down the Mountain" is a clever name for a Treasure Hunt that may pose a sizeable challenge to some players. It comes with the clue "She's a beauty to behold, you must drift sideways to win gold!" If you complete it, you'll earn 3 Playlist Points and 100 Forzathon Points.

In order to complete this Treasure Hunt, you'll need to own a 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C. This may disqualify some players, as this car costs a hefty 2.1 million Credits in the Autoshow if you don't already have it in your collection. Those who can acquire or already own a 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C can race to La Gran Caldera, where your goal is to earn 3 Stars at the Cara Este Drift Zone PR Stunt.

This Drift Zone is understandably intimidating given its size, but the 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C is unstable out the gate to be a suitable drifting machine. Start from the top and drift down the mountain for a much easier time, and don't rush things! Once you've earned 3 Stars (500,000 or more points), the search area for the Treasure Chest will be revealed.

The area may indicate the Treasure Chest can be found anywhere within or surrounding the El Estadio area, but it couldn't be easier to spot. Simply drive to the center of the stadium and the "Shelby Coming Down the Mountain" Treasure Chest will be waiting for you. Smash it with your vehicle, and you'll complete the Treasure Hunt and earn your rewards.

Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist: What you need to know

Screenshot of Forza Horizon 5 depicting two cars racing.

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

What is the Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist?

The Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist is what incentivizes players to continually return to the world of Mexico in FH5. The Festival Playlist is an ever-changing list of events, races, challenges, and missions for players to explore and complete in exchange for exclusive rewards such as new cars, cosmetic items, in-game currency, and even fresh music.

The Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist is divided into Series. Each Series is four Seasons long, and each Season lasts exactly one week. These Series typically have a theme that decides what kind of challenges and rewards players can expect throughout the Series, such as holiday-themed events or collaborations with other brands.

The Festival Playlist is always 100% free, and will continue to add brand-new content to Forza Horizon 5 over time. Some of that content will only last for the duration of the Series in which it's introduced, but some of it will be permanently added to Forza Horizon 5, such as new Horizon Stories and PR Stunts.

When does the Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist begin?

The Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist is always active, which means there's never a shortage of things to do whenever you're racing around Mexico. The four-weeks long Series release in a continuous, uninterrupted stream, with developer Playground Games typically announcing the details for each Series in the days before its release.

The Series are divided into week-long Seasons, modeled after the very real seasons of the world, with each Season featuring a fresh array of challenges and unique rewards. A new Season always arrives every single Thursday, so you never have to wonder when to log onto Forza Horizon 5 to check for fresh content. We also update this space every Thursday with all the new information on each Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist Season.

How do I access the Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist?

There's no secret to gaining access to the Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist — All you have to do is start the game! Once you complete the short introduction to Forza Horizon 5, the entire world (including the Festival Playlist) is immediately available to you. Festival Playlist events and challenges will appear on the map for you to find, and you may even complete sections of the Festival Playlist just by playing the game.

Every time you start Forza Horizon 5, you'll be presented with the latest Festival Playlist (as long as you're connected to the internet, of course). You can also find the Festival Playlist in the "Campaign" tab of the Pause Menu. Here, you can scroll through the entire current Series and each of its Seasons, and find the Season that's active right now. The Festival Playlist makes it easy to discover how to complete missions and challenges, what rewards you can earn, and what you've already completed.

Zachary Boddy
Staff Writer

Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.