As a dedicated gamer who's been racing through the vibrant world of Forza Horizon 5 since its launch, I'm thrilled to share that the 2025 holiday season has brought back the beloved festive challenges, including the iconic Snowman Smash event. This annual tradition, now in its fourth year, continues to spread joy across Mexico with players like myself diving into Series 2 of the Festival Playlist. The core of this event revolves around finding and destroying jolly Snowmen scattered throughout the map, all from the comfort of our cars—no need to step out, just rev up and smash through them as if they were those pesky Fast Travel boards we all remember from earlier adventures. It's a blast of nostalgia mixed with fresh excitement, and I've spent hours this week perfecting my approach to earn those sweet rewards.

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Now, let's dive into the specifics. The Evolving World tab in the Accolades menu features 13 temporary challenges for this limited-time event, running only through the holiday season. Among these, two key rewards stand out from smashing Snowmen. First, by destroying 15 Snowmen, players unlock the adorable Snowman costume for their avatar—a must-have for any festive photo op in the game. 🎮 But wait, there's more! This ties into the 'Mazda of All Trades' challenge, which requires smashing 25 Snowmen, 25 Christmas Trees, and 25 Candy Canes using any Mazda vehicle. Completing this nets you 250 Accolades and the Silent Night horn, a cheerful addition to your car's sound arsenal that I've been honking non-stop in multiplayer races. However, be warned: some players, including myself, have encountered minor bugs where progress doesn't track properly. If that happens, my go-to fix is restarting the game or simply hunting down another Snowman—there are plenty to go around!

So, where exactly do you find these festive foes? In my experience this year, Snowmen are sprinkled all over Mexico, but they're densely packed in the charming town of Mulege. Why? It's a winter wonderland hub with decorations galore in a compact area, making it super efficient for grinding the challenge. Picture this: each Snowman sports a festive hat, a cozy holiday scarf, a carrot nose, and coal eyes—they're impossible to miss once you're cruising through. 🚗 Before you start, I highly recommend grabbing a Mazda MX-5; it's affordable at just 35,000 CR from the Auction House or direct purchase. Trust me, this little beast handles the smashing like a dream.

To make things even smoother, here's my top tip: activate the rewind feature in your settings. I've used this trick countless times in 2025—smash a Snowman, rewind, watch it magically rebuild, then smash it again for double the progress! This not only speeds up the challenge but adds a fun, almost comedic element to the gameplay. Just be cautious of those pesky bugs; to avoid frustration, I always complete the entire challenge in one session. Below is a quick cheat sheet I put together based on my recent runs:

  • Rewards Breakdown 🏆

  • Snowman costume: Smash 15 Snowmen

  • Silent Night horn + 250 Accolades: Complete 'Mazda of All Trades' (25 of each item)

  • Best Locations ❄️

  • Mulege: High density of Snowmen, Trees, and Candy Canes

  • Urban areas: Easy to spot in decorated zones

  • Pro Tips 💡

  • Use Mazda vehicles for efficiency

  • Enable rewind for repeat smashes

  • If bugged, restart or move to a new spot

This event isn't just about rewards—it's about immersing in the holiday spirit. As I raced through Mulege last night, the twinkling lights and festive music made the whole experience magical. And with Forza Horizon 5 still going strong on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2025, this challenge is a perfect way to cap off the year. So gear up, grab your Mazda, and join the smash fest—it's a snowy delight you won't want to miss!