Strategy Recap:
This event relies on purchasing a LOT of cards from the shop, so stay on top of your 2hr trunks (set a timer if you have to) and manage your Candy Corn wisely. Check in often for trade offers. Avoid the "15 for 50" trades unless you're really in a pinch; the "5 for 20" trades are a better value. Even better are the exchanges for cards you actually need. Remember that the Boys will need to eventually be 3/3/3.
* Don't upgrade Scrilla Villa nor Mr. Green. Once you get to about 175 customers, you should be able to open Mystic Fingers.
* Upgrade Donna to level 2 to automate Mystic Fingers, but don't upgrade the business. Once you get to 400 customers, just wait there until you can open Dirty Burger (~1h:20m).
* You may want to buy a couple of Tom Collins or Dirty Burger cards from the shop, if/when available.
* Upgrade Tom to level 3 to automate, and upgrade Dirty Burger to level 2. (Don't be tempted to upgrade them higher).
* Next, you want DB at 850 customers to open Army Surplus, but it can take a couple of hours to get there.
* Get the Boys to at least 2/2/2 here if you are able, and this part will go faster.
* Leslie Dancer is unlocked via a trunk goal, usually achievable before you have Army Surplus open.
* You may want to buy several Leslie or AS cards from the shop, when available.
* If you see trades that will gain you Leslie or AS cards, accept them (until you have enough).
* Upgrade Leslie to level 4 to automate, and upgrade Army Surplus to level 2 or 3. (3 can save you a couple of hours but is not necessary).
* Once you get Army Surplus to 1100, you hit a wall, so this is a good time to work on getting the Boys to 3/3/3.
* After AS 1100, the next thing you can afford is Dirty Burger 1300 (costs 298.84J), which has a huge multiplier (x5000).
* The real power of Dirty Burger kicks in at 1325, so that is your next goal. DB 1300 to 1325 can be a bit of a wait depending on your levels, but hold tight. (Technically you can buy AS 1200 before DB 1325, but I skip it.)
* Continue to focus on Dirty Burger until 1600. Once there, stop - your next goal is getting Army Surplus to 1500 (costs 80.99N).
* The real power of Army Surplus kicks in at 1520, at which point it becomes the top earner again.
* Continue to focus on Army Surplus until 1580, then wait there until you can open Denture King (50P).
* The Boys should be 3/3/3 by now, if not already. (It's not recommended to upgrade higher, as the candy corn expense is not worth it).
* Sam is unlocked via a trunk goal, usually achievable before you have Denture King open.
* Once Denture King is open, it becomes your top earner for the rest of the event.
* Accept any trades that gain you Sam or DK cards - you will need them!
* Sometimes you'll be able to trade extra Boys cards for candy corn (5 for 50). I highly recommend accepting these, as long as you have all your Boys to 3 first.
* Check the shop every time you collect a 2hr chest. If you see Sam or DK, buy several! I typically buy 5-10 Sam cards and 20+ DK cards. If you know the "card trick," use it.
* Progress will be painful during this time - you'll be stuck around 400-500 customers for Denture King, but that's ok. Your job is mainly to hoard cards.
* Feel free to upgrade Sam & DK while you're hoarding, or not. It won't affect your card chances either way (they are rare no matter what). All it will do is break you free of the DK 500 wall.
* Check the event spreadsheet for the final recommendation, but expect to need a lot of cards for DK (up to 240) and Sam (up to 105). You'll also want as many customers for DK as you can get (usually 1400 - 1500).
* Use the calculator if you are stuck anywhere and need to figure out how to break through a wall. (The "What If" tab has now been implemented and can help with this.)
* Ask any strategy questions in this event thread, and the fine upstanding citizens of this trailer park community will be glad to help.
* ...
* Profit.
Following the above is no guarantee of reaching every reward; Lady Luck is a greasy bitch in this event. The #1 problem people have had is [insert character/business here] cards not showing up in the shop enough. However, you should do fairly well. Huge thanks to everyone who contributed to the discussion over the past couple of weeks so we could have such a solid strategy! I've consolidated several of your tips here.
Bonus tip:
* Do NOT, for the love of Jesus Bartholomew Murphy, spend hash on a golden greasy-ass trunk, unless you like disappointment. (I'm not here to kink-shame; if that's your thing, go for it.)
Good luck!