Alternate years
Parents trade holiday assignments each year so both parents get major holidays over time.
Holiday parenting-time planner
Holiday Visitation Schedule
Plan holiday parenting time for major holidays, school breaks, and special days. Enter parent names, choose a year and rotation style, then preview which parent is assigned each holiday.
Planner
Build a holiday visitation schedule
Parent A
4
assigned holidays
Parent B
4
assigned holidays
Preview
2026 holiday schedule
Balanced schedule
| Holiday | Date | Assigned Parent |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1, 2026 | Parent A |
| Spring Break | March 17, 2026 | Parent B |
| Memorial Day | May 26, 2026 | Parent A |
| July 4th | July 4, 2026 | Parent B |
| Labor Day | September 1, 2026 | Parent A |
| Thanksgiving | November 27, 2026 | Parent B |
| Christmas Eve | December 24, 2026 | Parent A |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2026 | Parent B |
What is a holiday visitation schedule?
A holiday visitation schedule is a parenting-time plan for holidays and school breaks that may override the regular weekly schedule. It helps parents decide where children spend Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, spring break, and other important days.
Use it alongside a custody calendar template so regular parenting days and holiday exceptions are easy to review together.
Common holiday parenting-time arrangements
Alternate holidays
Parents divide the holiday list within the same year, often alternating down the calendar.
Fixed assignment
Certain holidays stay with one parent every year, which can help with family traditions or travel.
Alternating holiday schedules
Alternating holiday schedules are common when parents want a balanced long-term arrangement. Some plans alternate every holiday by year, while others alternate individual holidays within the same year.
If you also need to estimate annual parenting-time percentages, pair the holiday plan with the custody percentage calculator.
Fixed holiday schedules
A fixed holiday schedule assigns the same holiday to the same parent each year. This may work when one parent has a recurring family event, travel tradition, or religious observance.
Fixed holidays can still fit into a broader 50/50 custody schedule if the regular calendar balances parenting time elsewhere.
Examples
Holiday schedule examples
Common examples include splitting Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, alternating Thanksgiving each year, and assigning spring break in full-week blocks. For visitation-specific percentage planning, use the visitation calculator.
| Holiday | Common option | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Alternate by year | Often includes the long weekend. |
| Christmas | Split Eve and Day | Some families alternate the full winter break. |
| Spring Break | Full week assignment | Can alternate yearly or follow travel plans. |
FAQ
What is a holiday visitation schedule? +
A holiday visitation schedule explains which parent has parenting time for major holidays, school breaks, and special days that may override the regular custody calendar.
How do alternating holiday schedules work? +
Many parents alternate major holidays by year or by holiday. For example, one parent may have Thanksgiving in even years while the other parent has it in odd years.
Can a holiday schedule override a regular custody schedule? +
Yes. Many parenting plans say that holiday parenting time takes priority over the regular weekly or monthly schedule.
What holidays should be included? +
Common schedules include Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, spring break, Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th, school breaks, birthdays, and religious holidays.
Is this the same as a visitation calculator? +
No. A holiday visitation schedule shows holiday assignments, while a visitation calculator estimates parenting time percentages from overnight totals.
Does this replace legal advice? +
No. This planner is for education and organization only. Holiday custody rules and parenting plan requirements vary by jurisdiction.