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Take Advantage of Spring Holidays and Occasions at Your Restaurant
Published: February 17, 2026
Turn gatherings into something more with LTOs, experiential dining, seasonal menu ideas and more.
Springtime is chock-full of food-centered holidays and celebrations that call for dining out. From Easter breakfasts to Mother’s Day brunches and luncheons, graduation parties and more, the holidays and events taking place every spring are a big deal for restaurants. Because consumers are primed and ready to spend, celebrate and try something new, restaurants should harness this opportunity and showcase limited-time offers, seasonal dishes and experience-driven menus that are different from everyday offerings. Social media amplifies these occasions, too, with groups of diners posting photos of their meals, restaurant decor and more. With that kind of spotlight, restaurants stand to gain long after the holidays have come and gone—just by ensuring their holiday guests had an incredible experience.
Here are four strategies for taking advantage of the season’s celebrations, with menu inspiration for each of them.
1. Build Occasion-Specific LTOs
Seasonal flavors and ingredients shine during springtime, and those seasonal flavors can be tied to holiday themes. Signature brunch items can act as holiday anchors, as Easter and Mother’s Day both draw big crowds for brunch. Need inspiration? Try offering Sunny Side Up Breakfast Sausage Pizza as a signature menu item—it’s topped with Hillshire Farm® All Natural* Sauté Style Pork Crumbles, fresh peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, gooey mozzarella and perfectly cooked eggs. Diners want to feel like they’re getting something out of the ordinary when they dine out for special occasions, and LTOs can help do that.
1. Create Experience-Driven Dining Moments
Prix fixe menus, tasting flights, tableside elements and themed decor all contribute to an elevated dining experience that feels more special. Making a visit to your restaurant feel like a destination can help boost enjoyment, and “Instagrammable” offerings—be it decorations and tablescapes or the menu itself—can help spread the word that your operation goes the extra mile for special events.
3. Design Group-Friendly Menus
Springtime occasions like Easter, Mother’s Day and graduation celebrations often involve group outings, and when catering to larger groups, restaurants can stretch their creativity a bit. Family-style platters, customizable boards, shareable sides and catering packages can all be designed to help ensure satisfaction among your larger dining groups.
4. Promote Early and Across Platforms
To help entice diners to book your restaurant for their event or occasion, consider offering pre-booking incentives for holidays and celebrations—for instance, a complimentary beverage when reserving for a certain number of people or a special appetizer for bookings made by a certain date. This can not only help entice people to make reservations, but it can help restaurants plan ahead since they’ll know how many people to expect well in advance. Beyond promotions, ensure you’re highlighting seasonal and holiday offerings on social media to spread the word and help secure reservations.
Menu Inspiration for Springtime’s Biggest Occasions
Easter, Mother’s Day and graduation celebrations are the “big three” springtime events restaurants should plan for, but there are a few other holidays you can plan something special for as well. Mardi Gras, Cinco de Mayo, Derby Day and Memorial Day are all great opportunities for LTOs and specials. Here are some ideas for each of these events.
● Easter: Brunch boards, upscale pastries, elevated comfort food classics
● Mother’s Day: Family-style platters, tiered menu options, beverage LTOs
● Graduations: Shareable dishes, party platters, dessert bars
● Mardi Gras: Cajun-Creole offerings and King Cakes
● Cinco de Mayo: Taco specials, margarita flights, global flavors
● Derby Day: Upscale Southern-inspired options, themed cocktails
● Memorial Day: Grilled dishes, frozen drinks and refreshing, produce-forward LTOs
For recipe ideas, click here to visit our Spring Menu Inspiration guide.
Don’t Miss Springtime’s Bounty
Spring holidays and occasions can be big business for restaurants, and it’s crucial to harness these high-impact moments. Celebratory moods can translate to bigger check averages, and offering specials, LTOs and group dining options can make guests feel like they’re getting something exclusive. Tyson Foodservice has what you need to create winning springtime offerings—learn more and get recipe inspiration.
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