Half days for students on Nov 3 (Election Day), Dec 4 and June 25 (last day). Mid-winter recess is Feb 15-19, 2027, separate from the Dec 24-Jan 1 holiday recess. Regents exams run Jan 26-29 and June 15-24.

Thanksgiving recess runs Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Friday, Nov. 27, and students return Monday, Nov. 30. Syracuse is a good place for a low-key break: the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, the MOST science museum downtown, or a walk at Onondaga Lake Park all work for kids of any age. Heading out of town? Central New York roads can be slick in late November, so leave early and check the forecast. Attractions often run shorter hours on the holiday itself.

Holiday recess runs Thursday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Jan. 1, and classes resume Monday, Jan. 4. Syracuse is made for winter days. Skate at Clinton Square, try a drive-through lights show at Onondaga Lake Park if it’s running this year, or head to a nearby hill like Labrador Mountain. Snow can change plans fast, so keep an indoor backup like the MOST. There is a second break Feb. 15 to 19, so you don’t need to fit everything into December.

Spring recess is Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 16, and classes resume Monday, April 19. It comes two weeks after Easter, so it isn’t a holiday week. Spring in Central New York means mud and changeable weather, so pack layers and rain boots. Good low-cost options include trails at Green Lakes State Park, a visit to Beaver Lake Nature Center, or the zoo at Burnet Park. Book camps and sitters early, since a full week off is hard to cover.

Syracuse doesn’t have a true fall break in 2026-27. The closest thing is a single day off on Monday, Oct. 12 for Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day, which makes a three-day weekend. Veterans Day on Nov. 11 is another day off. Good outings include apple picking at a local orchard like Beak & Skiff in LaFayette or a fall hike at Clark Reservation. Colors in Central New York usually peak in early to mid October, so go early in the day.

School ends Friday, June 25, 2027, as a half day for students, and Regents exams run June 15 to 24. Close to home, try biking at Onondaga Lake Park, the zoo, splash pads at city parks, and library or parks summer programs. Late August brings the Great New York State Fair, a Central New York tradition for families. Book camps early, since the best ones fill by spring. Check the district calendar before making non-refundable plans in case the end date shifts.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 18, 2027, so students have a three-day weekend. Local libraries, churches and community groups often hold events, readings or service projects that day, so check listings. It’s a good chance to talk with kids about who he was. For something lighter, the MOST science museum downtown is a good indoor option. Regents exams start Jan. 26, so older students may want to use part of the weekend to study.