Grand Festival Grounds
Can you help us get it done?
- For the Big Run and Tricolor Battle stage, see Grand Splatlands Bowl.
The Grand Festival Grounds[1] is the sole hub accessible during Splatoon 3's Grand Festival special Splatfest. Upon opening the game while the event was ongoing, players were immediately sent to the Grounds and were unable to access other hub areas until the event ends.
The Grand Splatlands Bowl stage is located within the Grounds.
Since the Grand Festival's end, the Grand Festival Grounds is only accessible by scanning any Squid Sisters, Off the Hook, or Deep Cut amiibo. While roaming the Grounds in amiibo mode, opening the menu and selecting Train Station allows the player to skip to the next song's start time, and choose between "Colorful Evenings", "The Night of Unity", and "That Tranquil Dawn". Each of these options respectively refer to the first part, the second part, and the Grounds post-Splatfest. The Recon Guide, mailbox, Spike, Murch, pledge box, and bus are all unable to be interacted with in amiibo mode, and selecting any option in the menu prompts the player to return to the city.
Description
The Grand Festival Grounds is a large music festival venue comprising three stages located within the Crater. Constructed specifically for the Splatfest event,[2] the architectural design is based on themes of harmony, destruction and creation.[3]
The train station encountered in the game's tutorial is outside the Grounds; the train tracks are blocked off for the event and the train does not pass. Along the train tracks, banners featuring the Grand Festival logo and signatures of many band members are hung, alongside banners displaying posts for each team. Behind the station is a large shuttle bus decorated with idol decals, which players may use to go to and from the lobby. The tutorial's exit gate is also visible near the train station.
The Grounds' entrance arch sprays multicolor rainbow ink; players are coated in ink patches of variable colors upon crossing underneath. Players remain coated in ink during their entire stay on the Grounds; they leave multicolored footprints as they walk. Several large sprinkler machines spewing similar rainbow-colored ink can be found installed throughout the Grounds. The mailbox is in front of the arch, next to the train tracks.
Upon crossing the entrance, golden versions of all seven animal statues from the hub areas can be seen within a large decorative sailboat, perched atop the pillared path to the Giant Clam Stage. During the final 24 hours of the Grand Festival, the boat's sails catch fire.
A large amount of jellyfish can be found on the Grounds dancing and cheering before each stage, running the stalls, purchasing merchandise, sitting and eating at the available tables, sitting atop parked vehicles and sightseeing. Several yellow security guard and staff jellyfish are present. Atop each stage are jellyfish band members that provide live music for the idols to sing and dance to. The majority of the jellyfish encountered in the Grounds have been coated in the multicolor ink from the entrance arch.
A large variety of stalls are available at the Grounds, though none of them offer player interactivity:
- A stall operated by DJ Octavio and Craig Cuttlefish selling miscellaneous band merchandise.
- If the player has not completed Return of the Mammalians, a yellow jellyfish will run the stall instead.
- Three stalls selling idol-themed merchandise in the form of plush dolls, fans and headbands, accompanied by cardboard cut-outs of the related idols:
- A Squid Sisters stall operated by a jellyfish on Team Past.
- An Off the Hook stall operated by a jellyfish on Team Present.
- A Deep Cut stall operated by a jellyfish on Team Future.
- A recycling stall.
- A photo booth with the logo "GRAND FESTIVAL" on top of the podium.
- A pledge box.
- A stall selling Marlin Airport mascot plush dolls.
- A stall selling vinyl records.
- Miscellaneous street food stalls are in operation:
- A ramen stall operated by one of the robots from Robo ROM-en. The stall plays Robo ROM-en's theme song.
- A fruit juice and tanghulu stall.
- A gyro stall.
- A dumpling stall.
- An omelette stall.
- A food truck selling burgers, ice cream and lollipops decorated with googly eyes.
- Various other inaccessible stalls.
Within the stalls between the Seashell Stage and the entrance arch, Spike and Murch can be found; The two alternate every time the hub gets reloaded.
North of the Giant Clam Stage, a path leading to the Grand Splatlands Bowl building can be seen. The path is decorated with rainbow ink sprinklers, and signs that map out the Grand Splatlands Bowl building. Splatsville can also be seen in the background.
The burnt remains of the rocket from Alterna, The Spirit Lifter, can be seen outside of the Grounds.
- The wreckage is present regardless of if the player has completed Return of the Mammalians.
The amiibo box and Tableturf Battle dojo are both absent from the Grounds.
Urchin Stage
The Urchin Stage can be found to the left immediately after crossing the entrance arch; it is a small outdoor stage featuring a circular design, decorated to resemble a sea urchin via large protruding spikes. This stage features a large amount of light installations. The live music being played upon this stage can be heard from outside the Grounds' entrance.
To the left of the Urchin Stage is a large tent from which Acht can be seen observing the stage performances. If the player has not cleared Floor 30 for the first time, they are absent. Inside the tent is also Marina's laptop as seen in Side Order, covered in the Pearl merchandise sold at the Off the Hook stall nearby.
Seashell Stage
The Seashell Stage can be found to the right after crossing the entrance arch, following a narrow row of vendor stalls, elevated on a hill; it is a medium-size indoor stage within a canopy tent. When performing in this stage, various squid, octopus and star shapes are projected onto the tent walls. The stage's exterior is decorated to resemble a conch sea snail shell.
To the right of the Seashell Stage, a trail of Grizzco flyers and cat pawprints leads to a pet food bowl.
Giant Clam Stage
The Giant Clam Stage can be found straight ahead immediately after crossing the entrance arch; it is the largest stage in the Grand Festival Grounds. A narrow, long pillared path leads to the stage, which rains showers of multicolored ink during the second phase of the festival. To the right of the stage itself is scaffolding players may climb, atop which there is a camera players can use to enter Photo Mode from a unique angle.
The Giant Clam Stage itself features a large stage upon which idols perform, five disconnected screens that display the idol performances from alternate angles, multiple pyrotechnic devices and intricate stage lighting fixtures. Styled after a giant clam, large drapery hangs over the screens. During the final 24 hours of the Grand Festival, the drapery catches fire. In front of the stage are a very large crowd of jellyfish, two open tents where V.I.P. jellyfish sit, as well as where Acht stands during the second half, and a small canopy tent full of technician jellyfish.
During the Splatfest's duration, by using the pledge box, players could take the stage instead of boarding Splatfest floats. This created a platform for the winning team to sit on in front of the Giant Clam Stage, where the player could take pictures with the idol group singing at the time. This behavior is unavailable when accessing the hub via an idol amiibo.
During the second part of the Grand Festival, the large cloth making up the upper half of the clam shape catches fire. By the morning, the entire cloth has burned away.
Grand Festival operations
Set list
Over the course of the Splatfest, the three idol groups performed many songs from their individual discographies live upon the various stages available on the festival grounds. The set list schedule was revealed on 26 August 2024.[4]
The dance choreography performed during the first half of the Splatfest matches the dance choreography seen in certain live concerts.[5]
All songs played live are extended versions, most based on existing real-life live concerts (for songs which had been performed live previously).
First part
The following songs were performed starting on 13 September 2024 at 00:00 UTC until 15 September 2024 at 00:00 UTC:
Second part
The following song was performed starting on 15 September 2024 at 00:00 UTC until 16 September 2024 at 00:00 UTC:
| Stage | ||
|---|---|---|
 Giant Clam Stage
| ||
| Band | Song | |
   |
Now or Never Seven | Three Wishes |
After Splatfest
The following songs were performed starting on 16 September 2024 at 00:00 UTC until 02:00 UTC:
| Stage | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Urchin Stage
|
 Seashell Stage
|
Giant Clam Stage
| |||
| Band | Song | Band | Song | Band | Song |
|
|
Daybreaker Anthem |
|
Into the Light |
|
Maritime Memory |
|
|
Into the Light |
|
Maritime Memory |
|
Daybreaker Anthem |
|
|
Maritime Memory |
|
Daybreaker Anthem |
|
Into the Light |
| Rotation starts at the top again. | |||||
Performances
Costumes
During the first part of the event, the idols wore their usual costumes as they rotated between each one of the three stages, whilst rotating through a set schedule of five songs per group. During the second part, all idols performed "Three Wishes" together on the Giant Clam Stage whilst wearing new costumes, primarily white and chrome-colored, and (besides Big Man) paired with iridescent tentacle tips.
- Callie wore a white, short, sleeveless turtleneck onesie with two loops of small chrome plates surrounding her neck, a beige frilly skirt above and white opera gloves. She wore long spikes in the knot of her tentacles, and beige trekking ankle boots with gray laces and soles.
- Marie wore a onesie with a beige skirt on top that matched Callie's but with long beige sleeves and an off-the-shoulder neckline with chrome plates surrounding it. She had an all-white crown similar to the test of an urchin in place of her usual hat, boots similar to Callie's, and a black ring on the middle finger of her left hand.
- Pearl wore a white peaked cap with silver studs around it and a metal Off the Hook logo at the center atop an oval black plate, a white crop top with a harness on top of a mesh T-shirt, white puffy shorts, and matching combat boots with three buckled beige strips on the sides.
- Marina wore a white plunge bikini top, a multi-tiered chrome necklace with round pendants hanging from a bronze choker, partially unbuttoned white pants with crossed laces on the bare sides and tall white laced boots. Lacking her usual headphones, she wore multiple piercings in her ears, with a small, teal round one on the front and several purple spikes behind. Her fingertips had a gradient to white, matching Shiver and Frye's.
- Shiver wore a white crossed crop top, silver serpentine bracelets on both arms and long chrome bell-bottoms; she also wore a dark, curved horn-shaped ornament on the right side of her head and a dull red Deep Cut logo tattoo on the right side of her midriff. Her eyebrows and tentacles were colored white, with the front one seeming to cover less of her left eye than usual.
- Frye wore a white long-sleeved bolero, a chrome strapless crop top, matching shorts with a thin strip circling each of her hips, and white laceless calf-length boots reminiscent of Order Boot Replicas. Her tentacles had a shorter side bang and were tied up in triangular buns, resembling imp horns, with a holographic X-shaped band; she also wore the same type of band on her left ear.
- Big Man wore white suspenders with large spikes and a black leather underside, white bandages around his tail, and a white flared headpiece reminiscent of a mohawk or a sailfish fin. He additionally had three tips of makeup under his left eye and a tribal-style pattern on his fins.
Choreography
The idols performed choreography similar to that of the live concerts, with brand new choreography for Liquid Sunshine and Three Wishes, as these songs had never previously been performed during a live concert or Splatfest.
At the start of the performance, the stage was smoke-screened as the idols appeared on stage. Once the song started, the smoke disappeared instantly, except for Anarchy Rainbow, Till Depth Do Us Part, and Smeared Canvas, where less thick smoke lingered on stage while the song's intro played out, creating a silhouette of the idols. The same smoke appeared at the end of the song, where the idols left the stage, in which a short break began before the next song was played. On the Giant Clam Stage, the setlist was shown during these breaks, highlighting the next songs on all three stages.
Bands
Each idol group had their own jellyfish band. Except for Marina's keytar and turntables, they were the only ones producing music live for the festival. The band appeared and disappeared off stage with the idols.
The band jellyfish included:
- A drummer, with brown curtained hair and a mustache.
- A bass guitarist, with long blonde hair and sunglasses
- An electric guitarist, with black hair.
- A keyboardist, with a brown mullet.
The band had different colors depending on the group they were playing for. The Squid Sisters had pink jellyfish, Off the Hook's band was blue, and Deep Cut had green jellyfish.
The band nodded and headbanged in beat with the song, and when the drummer played any cymbal or the bass drum, the drum kit was animated to show that it was hit. The bass drum also had the idol's logo on it, depending on which group the drummer played for.
Gallery
Promotional
-
Bus
-
Pledge box
-
The Squid Sisters performing in the Seashell Stage
-
Deep Cut performing in the Giant Clam Stage
-
Early version of the Giant Clam Stage
-
Deep Cut performing
-
The Squid Sisters performing
-
Off the Hook performing
-
-
DJ Octavio and Craig Cuttlefish's stall
-
Stall with Off the Hook merchandise. Smallfry is on the boxes in the background
-
The right side with Spyke sitting in the corner
-
The Squid Sisters performing
-
Off the Hook performing
-
-
Entrance to the Giant Clam Stage during the last day
-
Photo taken at the Giant Clam Stage
-
-
Grand Festival Grounds at the end of the Grand Festival
-
Reports from Deep Cut
-
Grand Festival Grounds concept art
-
Stages reveal
-
Screenshots of the construction company that built the Grounds' website
-
Scaffolding near the Giant Clam Stage
-
Bus reveal
In-game screenshots
-
Photo Mode screenshot demonstrating the Grounds' spot name
-
The exit of the tutorial across from the train station
-
The Grand Splatlands Bowl and Splatsville from the venue
-
The Grand Splatlands Bowl at night
-
Burnt remains of the Spirit Lifter
-
The campsite in front of the venue with the Crater in the background
-
DJ Octavio and Cuttlefish in a merchandise booth
-
A Squid Sisters merchandise booth
-
An Off the Hook merchandise booth
-
A Deep Cut merchandise booth
-
The right side with Murch sitting on a trash bin
-
The Robo ROM-en booth
-
Three jellyfish wearing headbands with their respective teams' idol heads
-
Big security jellyfish
-
Team Present baby jellyfish crying over an ice cream that fell to the ground
-
Jellyfish wearing fans of Off the Hook and Squid Sisters
-
Policeman jellyfish dancing with a glowstick
-
Jellyfish sitting on the quad bikes that match their team colors
-
Setlist view upon the Giant Clam Stage's screens when Deep Cut is up next
-
Setlist view upon the Giant Clam Stage's screens when Off the Hook is up next
-
Setlist view upon the Giant Clam Stage's screens when the Squid Sisters are up next
-
Fireworks atop the Giant Clam Stage during the second half of the Splatfest
-
A screenshot of the Giant Clam Stage's drapery topper, having caught fire on the final day of the Splatfest
-
The giant ship with various statues aboard
-
The ship with the sail burning on the final day of the Splatfest
-
The ship with the sail burnt away after the Splatfest
Trivia
- A sign that mimics the text "ありがとう you いつかまた どこかで", [6] which roughly translates to "Thank you, we'll meet again someday somewhere" can be seen in the station near the Grounds.
- This is the only hub in the series where the Great Zapfish is not present after rescuing it.
- Outside of the Festival Grounds is a line of colored banners containing the signatures of the bands of the Now or Never Seven, similar to the ones located outside of Hotlantis. One banner is white while the others are colored after the team chosen by each band. Each of the seven's signatures can also be seen on their respective cardboard cut-outs.
- There are two posters, one in Octavio's booth, the other in a food stand near Murch and Spyke's location, that bears a set list containing the band names of all the previous turf war bands, implying they are all performing in the venue. Curiously, Ink Theory is the only band not present on the list.
- There are seven Octotrooper plushies hidden around the Festival Grounds.
- One is sitting on a chair at the train station.
- One is sitting in the booth with Craig Cuttlefish and DJ Octavio.
- One is sitting on the cabin of the spotlight truck besides the Urchin stage.
- One is sitting on an electricity generator besides the ramp leading up to the Seashell stage.
- One is sitting behind the Seashell stage on the path to the Giant clam stage.
- One is sitting on the scaffolding leading up to the Photo mode camera facing the Giant clam stage.
- One is sitting behind the A of the Grand Festival statue.
- Smallfry appears in the Festival Grounds in random locations, namely:
- In a tent behind where you first spawn.
- On top of a truck in front of the Seashell Stage.
- On top of a broken rocket piece that can be seen to the right of the Giant Clam Stage.
- On the Eiffel Tower.
- In the Off the Hook stall.
- On the origami swan's left wing at the giant boat.
- On the F of the Grand Festival statue.
- On the scaffolding next to the cameras.
- Front row of the Seashell stage.
- At the train station.
- Figurines of C-Side's shrimpets are scattered around the venue, specifically:
- On a table in the eating area near the Seashell Stage. During the final night of Splatfest, all three figurines appear gathered together.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 Japanese |
グランドフェスティバル会場 Gurando Festibaru Kaijou |
Grand Festival Venue |
 Dutch |
Grand Festival-terrein | Grand Festival terrain |
 French |
Site du Grand Festival | Grand Festival site |
 German |
Grand Festival Platz | Grand Festival site |
 Italian |
Sede del Grand Festival | Venue of the Grand Festival |
 Russian |
Площадка Гранд-фестиваля Ploshchadka Grand-festivalya |
Grand Festival grounds |
 Chinese (Simplified) |
大型祭典会场 Dàxíng jìdiǎn huìchǎng |
Grand Festival Venue |
 Chinese (Traditional) |
大型祭典會場 Dàxíng jìdiǎn huìchǎng |
Grand Festival Venue |
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch |
Zee-egelpodium [7] | Sea Urchin Stage |
| French |
Scène de l'Oursin | |
| Italian |
Palco Riccio | Urchin Stage |
 Spanish (NOE) |
Escenario del erizo de mar | Sea urchin stage |
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch |
Zeeschelppodium [7] | Seashell Stage |
| French |
Scène du Coquillage | |
| Italian |
Palco Conchiglia | Shell Stage |
| Spanish (NOE) |
Escenario de la caracola | The shell stage |
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch |
Reuzenpodium [7] | Giant Stage |
| French |
Scène de la Palourde géante | |
| Italian |
Palco Vongola gigante | Giant Clam stage |
| Spanish (NOE) |
Escenario de la almeja gigante | The giant clam stage |
