Daycare Holiday Schedules: Planning for Closures

Updated November 2026, with 2027 holiday dates.

Most daycare centers close on major national holidays, often including New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and many also close the day after Thanksgiving or around Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Some close a day or two a year for staff training. Ask for the full calendar at enrollment and plan backup care for those days early.

Common daycare closure days

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day, and often the day after
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, or a short winter break
• New Year's Eve, sometimes a half day
• One or two staff training days

Some centers also close for Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Presidents' Day. Every center sets its own list, so check yours.

2027 holiday dates to put on your calendar

When a holiday falls on a weekend, many employers and centers close on the nearest weekday instead. Check which day your center uses.

• New Year's Day: Friday, January 1, 2027
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 18
• Presidents' Day: Monday, February 15
• Memorial Day: Monday, May 31
• Juneteenth: Saturday, June 19, often observed Friday, June 18
• Independence Day: Sunday, July 4, often observed Monday, July 5
• Labor Day: Monday, September 6
• Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26 at many centers
• Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25, often observed Friday, December 24

The weekend holidays in 2027 matter for planning. If your center observes Christmas on Friday, December 24 and your office does not, that is a day you need backup care.

Daycare vs school calendars

Full-year child care centers usually close far fewer days than schools. Public schools have winter break, spring break, teacher institute days, conference days and long summers. If you have one child in daycare and one in school, the calendars will rarely match. Mark both on the same family calendar at the start of the year, and look for the school days off that fall on weeks when daycare is open.

Do I pay tuition for closed days?

At most centers, yes. Tuition is usually set as a weekly or monthly rate that already accounts for holidays. Some centers offer a vacation credit or a week of reduced tuition, but many do not. Read your contract and our guides to daycare contracts and daycare fees beyond tuition.

Weather and emergency closures

Centers may close or open late for severe weather, power outages or building problems. Ask:

• How will you tell families about a closure? Text, app, email or phone?
• By what time will you decide on snowy mornings?
• Do you follow the local school district's snow day decisions, or decide on your own?
• Is tuition adjusted for emergency closures?

Plan backup care for the year

1. Get the calendar at enrollment and add every closed day to your phone.
2. Compare with your work calendar. Some closures match office holidays. Others do not.
3. Split days with your partner or trade with another family from your child's class.
4. Line up a sitter or family member for days that do not match work holidays.
5. Check employer benefits. Some employers offer subsidized backup care for a few days a year.
6. Know your paid leave. Illinois' Paid Leave for All Workers Act lets most employees earn up to 40 hours of paid leave a year that they can use for any reason. Workers in Chicago and suburban Cook County are usually covered by local paid leave ordinances instead, which also include leave for any reason. Ask HR which rule applies to you.

The same plan helps on sick days. See how often daycare kids get sick for ideas.

Make the most of closure days

A holiday at home can be a nice break. For free or low-cost outings, see our guides to Glenview, Park Ridge, Kohl Children's Museum and winter activities in the north suburbs.

Frequently asked questions

Are daycares open on federal holidays?

Many close on major federal holidays, but some stay open on smaller ones like Presidents' Day. Check your center's calendar.

Do daycares close between Christmas and New Year's?

Some close for a short winter break, others only on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Do I get a refund for holiday closures?

Usually not. Tuition typically accounts for scheduled holidays.

Do daycares close for snow?

Rarely, but they may for severe weather. Ask how and when you will be notified.

At Children's Land

Children's Land centers are open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Ask your location for this year's holiday calendar when you enroll. Find a location or contact us.

Related reading: Daycare Contracts: What to Read Before You Sign.