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Email Marketing for Restaurants

Restaurant Email Marketing Calendar

Every month of the year, with the occasions worth an email, when to send each one and a subject line to start from. Dates show the next time each occasion comes around, already worked out. Download the calendar as a spreadsheet, print it, or write any of these emails in a minute.

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Next dates and send-by dates were worked out on October 23, 2026. Occasions marked "varies" move every year; check the source before you plan.

  1. January

    Beat the January slump

    • Dry JanuaryObservance
      Date
      Jan 1, 2027
      When to send
      1 week before the month starts (Dec 25, 2026)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Zero-proof drinks worth going out for”

      Write this email
    • Quiet January weeknightsSeason
      Date
      Varies
      When to send
      As the season starts
      Send to
      Regulars who live nearby

      “A good reason to get out on a Tuesday”

      Write this email

  2. February

    Date night

    • Lunar New YearObservance
      Date
      Feb 6, 2027
      When to send
      2 weeks before (Jan 23, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Celebrate Lunar New Year with us”

      Write this email
    • National Pizza DayUnofficial food day
      Date
      Feb 9, 2027
      When to send
      5 days before (Feb 4, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “A pizza night for National Pizza Day”

      Write this email
    • Valentine's DayObservance
      Date
      Feb 14, 2027
      When to send
      3 weeks before (Jan 24, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Valentine's Day tables are open”

      Write this email
    • Super Bowl SundayObservance
      Date
      Feb 14, 2027
      When to send
      10 days before (Feb 4, 2027)
      Send to
      Takeout and catering regulars

      “Game-day platters, ready for pickup”

      Write this email
    • National Margarita DayUnofficial food day
      Date
      Feb 22, 2027
      When to send
      5 days before (Feb 17, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Raise a glass: it's National Margarita Day”

      Write this email

  3. March

    Spring kickoff

    • St. Patrick's DayObservance
      Date
      Mar 17, 2027
      When to send
      10 days before (Mar 7, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “St. Patrick's Day plans start here”

      Write this email

  4. April

    Brunch season

    • Easter brunchObservance
      Date
      Mar 28, 2027
      When to send
      3 weeks before (Mar 7, 2027)
      Send to
      Families and brunch regulars

      “Easter brunch reservations are open”

      Write this email
    • Graduation party bookingsBooking window
      Date
      Varies
      When to send
      As the season starts
      Send to
      Local families and regulars

      “Celebrating a graduate? Plan the party here”

      Write this email

  5. May

    Celebrate mom

    • Cinco de MayoObservance
      Date
      May 5, 2027
      When to send
      10 days before (Apr 25, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Your Cinco de Mayo plans, sorted”

      Write this email
    • Mother's DayObservance
      Date
      May 9, 2027
      When to send
      3 weeks before (Apr 18, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Mother's Day, sorted: book your table”

      Write this email
    • Memorial DayFederal holiday
      Date
      May 31, 2027
      When to send
      1 week before (May 24, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Our Memorial Day weekend hours”

      Write this email
    • National Hamburger DayUnofficial food day
      Date
      May 28, 2027
      When to send
      5 days before (May 23, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “National Hamburger Day is the 28th”

      Write this email

  6. June

    Summer nights

    • Father's DayObservance
      Date
      Jun 20, 2027
      When to send
      2 weeks before (Jun 6, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Take Dad out for Father's Day”

      Write this email

  7. July

    Summer hours

    • Fourth of JulyFederal holiday
      Date
      Jul 4, 2027
      When to send
      1 week before (Jun 27, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Our Fourth of July hours”

      Write this email
    • National Fried Chicken DayUnofficial food day
      Date
      Jul 6, 2027
      When to send
      5 days before (Jul 1, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “It's National Fried Chicken Day on the 6th”

      Write this email
    • National Ice Cream DayUnofficial food day
      Date
      Jul 18, 2027
      When to send
      5 days before (Jul 13, 2027)
      Send to
      Families

      “A scoop of summer for National Ice Cream Day”

      Write this email

  8. August

    Beat the August lull

    • Back-to-school weekSeason
      Date
      Varies
      When to send
      As the season starts
      Send to
      Families

      “Back-to-school week? Skip the dishes”

      Write this email

  9. September

    New season, new menu

    • Labor DayFederal holiday
      Date
      Sep 6, 2027
      When to send
      1 week before (Aug 30, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Our Labor Day weekend hours”

      Write this email
    • Fall menu launchSeason
      Date
      Varies
      When to send
      As the season starts
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Fall flavors are back on the menu”

      Write this email
    • OktoberfestSeason
      Date
      Sep 18, 2027
      When to send
      2 weeks before (Sep 4, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Raise a stein: our Oktoberfest plans”

      Write this email
    • National Coffee DayUnofficial food day
      Date
      Sep 29, 2027
      When to send
      5 days before (Sep 24, 2027)
      Send to
      Morning regulars

      “Celebrate National Coffee Day with us”

      Write this email

  10. October

    Cozy and a little spooky

    • National Taco DayUnofficial food day
      Date
      Oct 5, 2027
      When to send
      5 days before (Sep 30, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Taco Tuesday, but make it National Taco Day”

      Write this email
    • National Pasta DayUnofficial food day
      Date
      Oct 17, 2027
      When to send
      5 days before (Oct 12, 2027)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “National Pasta Day calls for a big bowl”

      Write this email
    • Holiday party bookingsBooking window
      Date
      Varies
      When to send
      As the season starts
      Send to
      Regulars and office contacts

      “Planning a holiday party? Let's talk dates”

      Write this email
    • HalloweenObservance
      Date
      Oct 31, 2026
      When to send
      2 weeks before (Oct 17, 2026)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Costumes welcome this Halloween”

      Write this email

  11. November

    Gatherings and gratitude

    • National Sandwich DayUnofficial food day
      Date
      Nov 3, 2026
      When to send
      5 days before (Oct 29, 2026)
      Send to
      Lunch regulars

      “It's National Sandwich Day on the 3rd”

      Write this email
    • DiwaliObservance
      Date
      Nov 8, 2026
      When to send
      2 weeks before (Oct 25, 2026)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Celebrate Diwali with us this year”

      Write this email
    • ThanksgivingFederal holiday
      Date
      Nov 26, 2026
      When to send
      3 weeks before (Nov 5, 2026)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Let us handle the Thanksgiving sides”

      Write this email
    • Small Business SaturdayObservance
      Date
      Nov 28, 2026
      When to send
      1 week before (Nov 21, 2026)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Shop small, eat local this Saturday”

      Write this email

  12. December

    Gifts and parties

    • Holiday gift-card seasonSeason
      Date
      Dec 1, 2026
      When to send
      1 week before the month starts (Nov 24, 2026)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “The easiest gift on your list”

      Write this email
    • New Year's EveObservance
      Date
      Dec 31, 2026
      When to send
      3 weeks before (Dec 10, 2026)
      Send to
      Everyone

      “Ring in the new year with us”

      Write this email

No. 01By cuisine

Plan around your cuisine

Some dates matter more to some restaurants. A pizzeria can build a week around National Pizza Day, a Mexican kitchen around Cinco de Mayo and National Taco Day, and a Chinese, Vietnamese or Korean restaurant around Lunar New Year. Add the occasions your guests already celebrate with you.

“National” food days are unofficial: they come from marketing calendars, not law, so we label them and link to where the date comes from.

No. 02Slow months

What to send when it's quiet

Look at your own sales to find your quietest weeks; the stretch after New Year's and late summer are common candidates. Quiet weeks are a good time for weeknight specials with a real reason to visit, and for emails that aren't promotions at all.

  • Send a slow-night special early in the week for that week, built around a dish or a format rather than a discount.
  • Share something that isn't a sale: a new team member, where an ingredient comes from, a recipe guests can make at home.
  • Use quiet months to plan busy ones. Holiday party and catering emails do best when guests are still making plans, so send them in October.
  • Keep your rhythm of two to four emails a month, even when it's quiet, so your list doesn't forget you.
Restaurant weekday special email template

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Sources

  1. timeanddate.com, Lunar New Year in the United States (opens in a new tab)
  2. National Day Calendar, National Pizza Day (opens in a new tab)
  3. NFL, Super Bowl LXI tickets (opens in a new tab)
  4. National Day Calendar, National Margarita Day (opens in a new tab)
  5. Library of Congress, Today in History: Cinco de Mayo (opens in a new tab)
  6. National Day Calendar, National Hamburger Day (opens in a new tab)
  7. National Day Calendar, National Fried Chicken Day (opens in a new tab)
  8. National Day Calendar, National Ice Cream Day (opens in a new tab)
  9. Oktoberfest.de, FAQs for Wiesn visitors (opens in a new tab)
  10. National Day Calendar, National Coffee Day (opens in a new tab)
  11. National Day Calendar, National Taco Day (opens in a new tab)
  12. National Day Calendar, National Pasta Day (opens in a new tab)
  13. National Day Calendar, National Sandwich Day (opens in a new tab)
  14. timeanddate.com, Diwali in the United States (opens in a new tab)
  15. American Express, Small Business Saturday (opens in a new tab)