On what date does Will Byers disappear at the start of Stranger Things?

Will Byers disappears on November 6, 1983, at the start of Stranger Things. The date is the story’s key starting point: after leaving Mike Wheeler’s house, Will encounters the Demogorgon and vanishes into the Upside Down.

His disappearance launches the first season’s central mystery. Joyce Byers refuses to accept the apparent loss of her son, while Police Chief Jim Hopper investigates the case and Will’s friends search for clues. The arrival of Eleven and the discovery of Hawkins National Laboratory gradually reveal that Will’s disappearance is connected to secret experiments and a dimensional gateway.

November 6 is also celebrated by fans as Stranger Things Day. It is easy to confuse the date with later major events: July 4, 1985, is associated with the season 3 climax, while March 21, 1986, appears in the series’ timeline as another important date. Will’s vanishing remains specifically tied to November 6, 1983.