Free planning tool
Restaurant email marketing calendar
Twelve months of the dates restaurant guests plan meals around, with the day to send each email and a template ready for it. It always starts with the current month, October 2026 to September 2027.
Add it to your calendar
Every send date as an all-day event, with the template link inside. Works with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook.
Download .ics fileMonth by month
The send-by date is when the first email should go out. Dates are US holidays, worked out from the rule that sets them each year.
October
2026Holiday party bookings open
Oct 1
Private dining and catering for December parties book in early fall.
Halloween
Oct 31
Themed specials, costume night or a kids' menu.
Send now · Event invitation email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
November
2026Thanksgiving
Nov 26
Dine-in reservations or pre-order takeout, plus holiday hours.
Send by Oct 29 · Thanksgiving email template
Small Business Saturday
Nov 28
Gift cards and a thank-you to regulars.
Send by Nov 23 · Gift card email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
December
2026Gift card season
Dec 1
Gift cards are an easy last-minute present. Send a reminder each week in December.
Christmas Day
Dec 25
Holiday hours, Christmas Eve dinner, closure notices.
Send by Dec 11 · Holiday hours email template
New Year's Eve
Dec 31
A set menu or party with limited seats.
Send by Dec 3 · New Year's Eve email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
January
2027New Year's Day
Jan 1
Holiday hours, then a fresh-start menu or a January lunch special.
Send by Dec 25 · Holiday hours email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
February
2027Valentine's Day
Feb 14
Open reservations early: set menu, two seatings, gift cards for those who can't book.
Send by Jan 17 · Valentine's Day email template
Big game Sunday (Super Bowl)
Feb 14
Party trays, wings and pizza: take pre-orders for pickup and delivery.
Send by Jan 31 · Takeout and delivery email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
March
2027Spring menu launch (suggested)
Mar 15
A good week to launch the spring menu or reopen the patio.
Send by Mar 8 · Seasonal menu email template
St. Patrick's Day
Mar 17
Specials, live music or a weekend event if it suits your room.
Send by Mar 7 · Event invitation email template
Easter Sunday
Mar 28
Brunch reservations, family-style takeout or holiday hours.
Send by Mar 7 · Event invitation email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
April
2027- Plus your monthly newsletter.
May
2027Cinco de Mayo
May 5
A fit for Mexican and Tex-Mex kitchens: specials and a happy hour.
Send by Apr 25 · Happy hour email template
Mother's Day
May 9
Brunch bookings fill fast. Offer a way to skip these emails.
Send by Apr 11 · Mother's Day email template
Memorial Day
May 31
Long-weekend hours, patio season, cookout-style takeout.
Send by May 24 · Holiday hours email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
June
2027Summer menu launch (suggested)
Jun 14
Summer menu, patio hours, happy hour.
Send by Jun 7 · Seasonal menu email template
Father's Day
Jun 20
Brunch, a grill menu or gift cards.
Send by May 30 · Event invitation email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
July
2027Independence Day
Jul 4
Holiday hours and party-size takeout or catering.
Send by Jun 24 · Holiday hours email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
August
2027- Plus your monthly newsletter.
September
2027Labor Day
Sep 6
Holiday hours and an end-of-summer special.
Send by Aug 30 · Holiday hours email template
Fall menu launch (suggested)
Sep 20
Fall menu launch, once the kids are back at school.
Send by Sep 13 · Seasonal menu email template
- Plus your monthly newsletter.
The emails that run all year
Holidays are the peaks. These are the steady emails that keep a restaurant in the inbox between them. Set the first two up once as automations in your email platform.
- Welcome emailAutomatically, the minute someone joins
- Birthday emailAutomatically, a week before the birthday
- Monthly newsletterSame week every month
- Win-back emailOnce a quarter, to guests who haven't opened or visited in a while
- Thank-you after a visitThe day after, if your system knows who visited
Next step
Pick the next date and write the email now.
The generator turns any of these occasions into a finished email, with your details, in a few minutes.
Open the email generatorFAQ
Planning questions
How far ahead should a restaurant send holiday emails?
For holidays where tables sell out, such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, send the first email about four weeks ahead and a reminder in the final week. For smaller moments, one to two weeks is enough.
How many emails should a restaurant send per month?
Start with what your team can keep up with: one newsletter a month plus your automated welcome and birthday emails. Add holiday campaigns on top. Watch unsubscribes and replies, and send more only when you have real news.
Can I import this calendar into Google Calendar or Outlook?
Yes. Download the .ics file and import it into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook. Each event lands on the day you should send, with the template link in the description.
Which holidays matter most for restaurant email marketing?
The ones your guests already plan meals around: Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Thanksgiving, the December holidays and New Year's Eve. Pick the ones that fit your concept rather than sending for every holiday.