50+ Holiday and Seasonal SMS Marketing Examples for Restaurants

Throughout the year, holidays and seasonal events create invaluable opportunities for restaurants to connect with customers in fresh and festive ways. From ringing in the New Year to celebrating Valentine’s Day, from spooky Halloween specials to cozy Christmas feasts, each season brings its own atmosphere—and diners are often eager to indulge in themed dishes, special menus, and limited-time offers. However, standing out in the flurry of holiday advertising can be a challenge. That’s where well-timed and well-crafted SMS marketing comes in.

SMS offers a direct, personal channel to notify customers about your restaurant’s holiday menus, early-bird deals, family specials, or seasonal festivities. Text messages are usually read within minutes, enabling you to capitalize on last-minute impulses—like a craving for peppermint hot cocoa or a romantic Valentine’s reservation. Plus, a quick text can help remind customers of upcoming seasonal promotions, reservations, or pre-orders, ensuring your event calendar fills up quickly.

In this blog post, we’ve assembled 50+ holiday and seasonal SMS marketing examples specifically geared toward restaurants. Arranged by major occasions (New Year’s, Valentine’s, Easter/Spring, Summer/Fourth of July, Thanksgiving/Christmas/Holiday Season), these templates will help you get inspired, refine your approach, and deliver timely, festive messages that resonate with diners. With thoughtful planning and creative tweaks to fit your brand’s voice, you’ll make the most of every holiday and season—transforming them into memorable dining experiences for your customers and profitable periods for your restaurant.

Why Holiday & Seasonal SMS Campaigns Matter

  1. Season-Specific Excitement
    Holidays naturally spark emotional engagement: people are in a celebratory mood, and they’re often willing to spend more on special meals, gatherings, or treats.
  2. Timely Promotions
    SMS excels at time-sensitive announcements—perfect for holiday menus, limited-time offers, early-bird reservations, or last-minute seat availability.
  3. Higher Conversion Rates
    When a text arrives in sync with a consumer’s holiday mindset, the chance of them acting on your offer increases significantly compared to more generic marketing.
  4. Staying Top-of-Mind
    During holiday seasons, diners are bombarded with offers. A direct text message ensures your special stands out and isn’t lost in email inboxes or social media feeds.
  5. Flexibility & Personalization
    You can easily tailor holiday-themed messages to different segments (e.g., families for Easter brunch, couples for Valentine’s dinners) to boost relevance and response rates.

By leveraging the power of SMS during key festive moments, your restaurant can fill tables, delight diners, and forge emotional connections that encourage repeat visits all year round.

Best Practices for Holiday & Seasonal SMS

  • Plan Ahead: Build a content calendar so you’re not rushing during peak times. Schedule messages well in advance of each holiday, with additional reminders closer to the date.
  • Keep It Festive: Use language and imagery (in MMS, if available) that reflect the holiday’s spirit—whether it’s hearts for Valentine’s Day, bunnies for Easter, or fireworks for the 4th of July.
  • Offer Real Value: Pair your seasonal greeting with a genuine promotion (e.g., limited-time menu, early-bird discount, family pack).
  • Include a Clear Call-to-Action: e.g., “Reply YES to reserve,” “Show this text for 20% off,” or “Click [short link] to pre-order.”
  • Stay Mindful of Timing: Don’t send texts too early in the morning or late at night—respect quiet hours, even during the holidays.
  • Provide an Opt-Out: If you’re adding any promotional aspect to your holiday greeting, ensure recipients can unsubscribe easily to remain compliant.

50+ Holiday & Seasonal SMS Templates

We’ve divided these into five thematic sections, each containing 10 messages (for a total of 50). Adapt them to your restaurant’s style, add relevant details (like dates, times, or special menu info), and watch your holiday promotions take flight!

Section A: New Year’s

  1. New Year’s Eve Bash
    • “Cheers to the new year, [Name]! Join our exclusive New Year’s Eve party at [Restaurant]—book now for a free champagne toast at midnight.”
  2. Countdown Dinner
    • “Counting down to midnight? Reserve your table for a decadent 3-course meal and ring in the new year in style.”
  3. New Year’s Resolution Special
    • “Start your healthy eating resolutions at [Restaurant]! Enjoy our ‘fresh start’ salad or juice with 10% off—show this text to redeem.”
  4. Early-Bird NYE
    • “Beat the midnight crowd with our Early-Bird New Year’s Eve dinner. Reserve by Dec 28 for a free appetizer—limited seats!”
  5. New Year, New Menu
    • “Happy New Year, [Name]! Kick off 20XX with our brand-new seasonal menu. Show this text for 15% off your first 202X visit.”
  6. NYE Takeout Package
    • “Host a cozy New Year’s at home. Pre-order our special takeout dinner and get a mini dessert pack for free. Reply TAKEOUT to learn more!”
  7. Champagne & Jazz
    • “Ring in the new year with live jazz and a complimentary glass of champagne. Seats filling fast—reply JAZZ to book!”
  8. ‘Thank You’ to Loyal Customers
    • “Thank you for an amazing year, [Name]! Start the next one right: show this text for a free dessert with any entrée all January!”
  9. Post-NYE Brunch
    • “Feeling the morning-after blues? Our New Year’s Day brunch is just what you need—2-for-1 mimosas from 10–2!”
  10. NYE Reservation Reminder
  • “Time’s almost up to secure your New Year’s Eve spot at [Restaurant]! Call or reply to this text to confirm your table.”

Section B: Valentine’s Day

  1. Romantic Dinner for Two
  • “Cupid called—he’s sending you a special Valentine’s dinner for two at [Restaurant]. Reserve now for a complimentary heart-shaped dessert!”
  1. Couples’ Tasting Menu
  • “Treat your sweetheart to our 4-course Valentine’s Tasting Menu. Book by Feb 10 and get a free glass of rosé for each of you.”
  1. Singles’ Night
  • “Who says Valentine’s is just for couples? Our Singles’ Night offers 2-for-1 cocktails—bring friends and celebrate love in all forms!”
  1. Love & Live Music
  • “Set the mood on Feb 14 with live acoustic tunes, roses on each table, and a chocolate surprise. Reply LOVE to reserve.”
  1. Sweetheart Takeout
  • “Staying in? Order our ‘Sweetheart Takeout Bundle’ and enjoy a cozy date night at home. Pre-order by Feb 12 for a dessert upgrade!”
  1. V-Day Raffle
  • “Celebrate Valentine’s with us and enter our raffle for a weekend getaway. Book a Feb 14 dinner to participate—good luck!”
  1. Heart-Shaped Pizzas
  • “Share the love with heart-shaped pizzas this Valentine’s! Show this text to save $5 on your adorable (and delicious) meal.”
  1. Dessert-Only Offer
  • “Craving sweetness? This Valentine’s, indulge in a dessert-only date at [Restaurant]. 2-for-1 sundaes from 8–10 PM!”
  1. Last-Minute Reservation
  • “Forgot Valentine’s Day? We still have a few seats left! Reserve ASAP to save your special night, [Name].”
  1. Valentine’s Loyalty Bonus
  • “Earn double loyalty points on Feb 14 purchases. Treat your valentine to a romantic dinner—and yourself to extra perks!”

Section C: Easter & Spring

  1. Easter Sunday Brunch
  • “Hop on in for our Easter Brunch! Unlimited mimosas & an egg hunt for kids. Reserve early—spaces fill up fast.”
  1. Family Easter Dinner
  • “Celebrate Easter with a family-style dinner at [Restaurant]. Show this text for a free basket of bread rolls—happy feasting!”
  1. Spring Menu Launch
  • “Spring has sprung! Try our fresh seasonal dishes featuring local produce. Reply SPRING for a link to our new menu.”
  1. Kid’s Easter Special
  • “Kids eat free this Easter weekend! Show this text for a complimentary kids’ meal with any adult entrée, [Name].”
  1. Egg-citing Takeout
  • “Hosting Easter at home? Pre-order our Easter feast for pickup—don’t stress in the kitchen, let us handle it!”
  1. Spring Salad Promotion
  • “Taste the season with our new garden-fresh salads! This week only, get 10% off your first try.”
  1. Easter Weekend Deal
  • “Easter weekend calls for special treats: order 2 entrees and get a free dessert shaped like an Easter egg!”
  1. Springtime Cocktail
  • “Bloom into spring with our floral-inspired cocktails. Show this text for $2 off each. Sip, sip, hooray!”
  1. Egg Hunt Event
  • “Bring the family for our Egg Hunt on Sunday at noon—prizes, candy, and an exclusive brunch deal. Let’s celebrate spring!”
  1. Outdoor Patio Opening
  • “Our patio opens this spring! Enjoy fresh air & blossoming views while you dine. Reserve a patio table now.”

Section D: Summer & 4th of July

  1. Summer BBQ Kickoff
  • “Fire up your summer at [Restaurant]! Join our BBQ kickoff party with grilled favorites and ice-cold drinks—bring friends!”
  1. Beachy Cocktails
  • “Soak up the sun vibes: try our summer cocktail lineup. Show this text for a ‘Buy 1, Get 1 Half Off’ drink special.”
  1. Family Summer Picnic
  • “Plan a family picnic? We’ve got a special summer takeout bundle ready for your outdoors adventure.”
  1. July 4th Pre-Orders
  • “Celebrate Independence Day hassle-free! Pre-order our July 4th feast packs—great for backyard parties.”
  1. Patio Happy Hour
  • “Beat the heat with our refreshing patio happy hour specials, 4–6 PM daily. Cold drinks, warm vibes!”
  1. Summer Loyalty Boost
  • “Earn triple points all summer on salads and smoothies. Stay cool and get rewarded, [Name]!”
  1. 4th of July Fireworks Viewing
  • “Watch fireworks from our rooftop! Limited seats for July 4th dinner + scenic display. Reply FIREWORKS to reserve.”
  1. Frozen Treat Special
  • “Try our new frozen desserts—perfect for hot days. Show this text to get a free topping upgrade!”
  1. Beach-Themed Night
  • “Join our beach party tonight—tropical décor, island tunes, and 2-for-1 fruity cocktails. Sunglasses optional, fun mandatory!”
  1. Summer Salad Contest
  • “Vote for our next summer salad creation: Berry Delight vs. Mango Fiesta. Reply BERRY or MANGO!”

Section E: Thanksgiving, Christmas & Holiday Season

  1. Thanksgiving Feast Pre-Order
  • “Too busy to cook this Thanksgiving? Pre-order our roasted turkey dinner! Early orders get a free pie.”
  1. Friendsgiving Special
  • “Bringing friends together? Our Friendsgiving package feeds up to 6 and includes sides. Reserve or order now.”
  1. Black Friday Brunch
  • “Fuel your shopping spree with our Black Friday Brunch. Show this text for 15% off your entire bill, 8–11 AM!”
  1. December Festive Menu
  • “Deck the halls—and your plate! Enjoy our December Festive Menu featuring holiday classics with a modern twist.”
  1. Christmas Eve Dinner
  • “Spend Christmas Eve with us! Book a cozy dinner table for a night of holiday warmth. Reply CHEER to secure a spot.”
  1. Santa Visit Event
  • “Santa’s stopping by [Restaurant]! Bring the kids for a photo and special treat. RSVP to hold your seat by Dec 20.”
  1. Ugly Sweater Party
  • “Celebrate the season in style—or not—at our Ugly Sweater Party. Wear yours for a free peppermint hot cocoa!”
  1. Holiday Office Party Deals
  • “Planning an office party? We have group deals for holiday luncheons or dinners. Book soon to guarantee space.”
  1. Holiday Gift Cards
  • “Spread the joy with our holiday gift cards! For every $50 purchased, receive a $10 dining credit. Perfect stocking stuffer!”
  1. New Year’s Countdown
  • “As the year winds down, enjoy our Christmas-to-New-Year countdown specials—7 days of rotating deals. Stay tuned daily!”
  1. Boxing Day Brunch
  • “Escape the post-Christmas blues with our Boxing Day brunch—unwind, refuel, and relish leftover specials!”
  1. Holiday Movies + Dinner
  • “We’re screening classic holiday movies! Dine with us and enjoy complementary hot cocoa while you watch.”
  1. Secret Santa Surprise
  • “Every 5th diner this week gets a secret Santa gift from us—could be free dessert or a discount. Will you be lucky?”
  1. Holiday ‘Kids Eat Free’
  • “During the holiday break, kids eat free with any adult entrée. Celebrate the season without breaking the bank!”
  1. Snow Day Alert
  • “Snowy day? Stay cozy with our hot soup & bread delivery. Show this text for $3 off your soup order!”

 

Conclusion

Holidays and changing seasons are prime opportunities to connect with your diners in fresh, memorable ways. By harnessing SMS marketing—whether it’s promoting a romantic Valentine’s dinner, a family-friendly Easter brunch, a festive Independence Day BBQ, or a cozy Christmas Eve meal—you ensure your restaurant remains front and center in customers’ minds at exactly the right time. The 50+ templates above offer a wide range of angles—from early-bird pre-orders to last-minute seat reminders, from gift card promos to family-style takeout bundles.

Don’t forget to plan ahead, tailor messages to specific segments (e.g., families vs. couples), and keep your texts festive yet concise. Always include a clear call-to-action—like replying to reserve or showing the text for a discount—so potential diners know exactly how to take advantage of your seasonal offers. With a bit of creativity and strategic scheduling, your holiday and seasonal SMS campaigns will fill seats, delight your customers, and transform every celebration into a profitable, brand-strengthening event.

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