Summer in Waterdeep is hot and humid. The sweltering heat is offset by breezes coming in out of the harbor. Summer rains can make the cobblestones slick, and the muddy streets of the poorer quarters a quagmire… impassible to carts and carriages.

SUMMER FESTIVALS

Month of Kythorn
Kythorn 1st

Trolltide: Civic. A day commemorating Watcrdeep’s victory in the Second Trollwar. Children run through the city acting Like trolls, banging on doors and growling. from highsun till dusk. Occupants are expected to give the children candies, fruits, or other small items “to keep the trolls away from my door,” and those who do not are generally subject to pranks upon sundown.

Kythorn 6th

The Steel Revels: Society. The Steel Revels are a celebration of the military ability possessed by the nobles of Waterdeep. The end of the day sees the Highsteel Bouts, one-on-one conflicts between nobles with a good hand at the sword. 

Kythorn 14th

Guildhall Day: Civic. Most shops are closed, and street sales are suspended. Guildhall Day celebrates the fruits of everyone’s labor with revelations of new products, innovations, fashions, and signage.

Kythorn 20th

Dragondown: Civic. This day is celebrated with bonfires and rituals to “tame” or “drive down” dragons. The celebrations take the form of parades that center around effigies, each named and with a traditional depiction, for they represent dragons the city has faced in its history. The height of the celebration comes when the effigy of Kistarianth the Red is burned on the slopes of Mount Waterdeep.

Month of Flamerule
Flamerule 1st

Founders’ Day: Civic. Founders’ Day commemorates the Free City of Waterdeep’s founding. The Field of Triumph is the site of illusory shows of the history of the city as well as martial exhibitions by the guard and other noted warriors of the city. Several mages come together to produce the effect, which seemingly transforms the castle into the ancient log fortress of Nimoar.

Society. Some civic-minded nobles throw small “Founders’ Day Viewing Parties” in the very stands of the Field of Triumph, using their influence and coin to lay claim to one of the viewing boxes and inviting important city officials and other nobles to the festivities they host there. It’s considered an old-fashioned event, however, even if the alliances created and influence garnered with various city officials makes it worth it.
Flamerule 3rd-5th

Sornyn: A festival of both Waukeen and Lathander, and is used for planning business, making treaties and agreements, and receiving envoys from unknown lands and traditional foes. Much wine is drunk over this threeday occasion when, as the saying goes, “My enemy is like family to me.”

Society. At the end of the Waukeenar festival a ball is thrown by the Open Lord as a welcome to the new diplomats to the city, and a welcome back to those who’ve been here for years. It is an opportunity for the noble Houses to get to know the ambassadors, and they do so with gusto, seeking the best possible opportunities for their families (and the city, of course).

Flamerule 7th

Lliira’s Night: This nightlong festival honors the Lady of joy with dances and balls throughout the city. It has received a recent boost in popularity from the custom started in Baldur’s Gate of lighting celebratory smokepowder fireworks.

Flamerule 11th-20th

Theater Season: Society. It is during this week that the myriad actors and performers unveil their latest works, hoping to earn an avid following among the nobles who expect the season’s newest entertainments during this tenday. Theaters, festhalls, even courtyards in town all play host to bands of players. Among those who prefer to take their lovers from among actors and other players, this tenday is usually a time of excitement..

Midsummer (Festival)

Called Midsummer Night or the Long Night, this a time of feasting and music and love. Betrothals are traditionally made upon this night. It is very rare indeed for the weather to be bad during the night–such is considered a very bad omen, usually thought to foretell famine or plague. Most temples in Waterdeep consider this a feast day, and have services. Chants, songs, and the sound of revelry can be heard blocks away from most temples all day (and deep into the night).

Midsummer Ball: Society. The Midsummer Ball is an all-night affair that starts at dawn of Midsummer eve, and lasts until the dawn of the following day. This event is thrown in the Heroes’ Garden, the Sea Ward park, and features an elevated dance floor, dozens of elaborate pavilions (sponsored by various Houses) with plenty of delicacies and ever-flowing drinks and music aplenty.

Shieldmeet (Once every four years)

This day is part of no month, and follows Midsummer Night. It is known as the Shieldmeet. It is a day of open council between nobles and people; a day for the making and renewing of pacts, oaths, and agreements; tournaments, tests and trials for those wishing to advance in battle fame or clerical standing; for entertainment of all types, particularly theatrical; and for dueling.

Shieldmeet Years: 1488, 1492, 1496, 1500 DR.

Shieldmeet Ball: Society. Every Shieldmeet, the Open Lord throws a grand ball for Waterdeep, with the interiors of the Palace laid open for nobles and the wealthy, and a grand festival air in the courtyard in front of the palace. Room within is limited, and the guests within are always influential and important, so the jockeying to achieve a place within is intense.

The Gilding: Deneir. A high holy day of the Deneiran church, wherein copies of old contracts are taken out for public viewing, and anyone may ask to see a copy of any nonmagical writing in any temple of Deneir. Such records and writings must be specifically requested, and must not violate the vows of confidentiality of the temple.

Month of Eleasias

Eleasias 1st

Ahghairon’s Day: Civic. Ahghairon’s Day commemorates the life of Ahghairon, the first Open Lord, and is celebrated on the first day of Eleasias in honor of the Old Mage’s birth date. The Open Lord visits taverns and inns throughout Waterdeep to wish the people well- giving short speeches, offering toasts to Ahghairon’s memory, buying rounds of drinks, or paying for meals or accommodation. While not a holiday that affects the city’s operation (aside from closing the Lord’s Court), it is honored in small ways, with many toasts to the Lords of the city in tavern talk, and bards performing some of the locally written songs in honor of the much-loved Old Mage.

Eleasias 24th-28th

The Gathering of Harps: Society. An undertaking by several Houses concerned with music (notably Houses Crommor, Estelmer, Majarra, Melshimber and Thann), as well as the Council of Musiciant, Instrument Makers and Choristers, the Gathering is held at the Field of Triumph. It is a day full of entertainment and enjoyment, with merry-makers and performers of all kinds turning out to demonstrate their talents.