Navigating court-ordered holiday parenting schedules can feel overwhelming. Under Colorado family law, standard weekly parenting rotations pause during holidays. Specific holiday orders take priority over regular custody schedules.
Planning early helps prevent last-minute travel disputes, missed deadlines, or emergency court filings.
How Holiday Parenting Time Works in Colorado
Under C.R.S. 14-10-124 Colorado General Assembly , Colorado family courts assign holiday schedules based on the child’s best interests. Most parenting agreements handle holidays in one of three ways:
- Alternating Years: Parent A takes designated holidays in even years (like 2026), while Parent B takes those exact holidays in odd years.
- Split Days: Parents divide a single holiday in half (for example, Parent A gets 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM; Parent B gets 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM).
- Fixed Allocation: Specific holidays stay permanently assigned to one parent every year based on family or religious traditions.
Once the holiday period ends, the normal weekly custody schedule picks right back up where it left off.
Key 2026 Holiday Dates (Fall & Winter)
Parenting plans usually specify whether a holiday begins on the eve of the date or the morning of the day itself. Here are the exact days of the week for upcoming holidays through the end of 2026:
| Holiday | Tradition / Context | 2026 Dates & Days of the Week |
| Diwali | Hindu | Sunday, November 8 |
| Thanksgiving | Cultural / Federal | Thursday, November 26 |
| Hanukkah | Jewish | Sunset Fri, Dec 4 – Sat, Dec 12 |
| Christmas Eve / Day | Christian / Cultural | Thursday, Dec 24 – Friday, Dec 25 |
| Kwanzaa | Cultural | Saturday, Dec 26 – Friday, Jan 1, 2027 |
| New Year’s Eve / Day | Cultural / Federal | Thursday, Dec 31 – Friday, Jan 1, 2027 |
Note: Winter break start and end dates depend on the official calendar of your child’s district, such as Denver Public Schools, Cherry Creek Schools, or Jeffco Public Schools.
Out-of-State Travel Rules
If you plan to travel outside Colorado over the holidays, check your parenting agreement for required notice deadlines.
Most agreements state that you must provide written travel details to the co-parent in advance, including:
- Flight itineraries and flight numbers.
- The physical address where your children will stay.
- Contact phone numbers during the trip.
If a co-parent unreasonably refuses to consent to travel or passport renewals, you must file a motion well in advance through the Colorado Judicial Branch Court Finder Colorado Judicial Branch to give the court time to hold a hearing.
What to Do If a Co-Parent Violates the Schedule
If a co-parent refuses to honor your court order, Colorado law provides legal remedies under C.R.S. 14-10-129.5 Justia Law.
By filing a Motion for Enforcement of Parenting Time, you can ask the judge to order:
- Makeup Parenting Time: Mandatory makeup days for missed holiday hours.
- Attorney Fees: Payment of legal costs caused by the violation.
- Fines or Sanctions: Financial penalties for willful non-compliance.
Court-ordered child support under C.R.S. 14-10-115 remains entirely separate. You cannot withhold child support or offset holiday travel expenses against child support payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does holiday time override regular weekend schedules?
Yes. In Colorado, holiday parenting time takes priority over standard weekly or weekend rotations. The regular schedule resumes once the holiday block ends.
What if the school changes its winter break dates?
Your court order usually follows the official calendar published by your child’s school district. If the district shifts the schedule, the official published calendar determines when the break begins and ends.
Schedule a Consultation
Reviewing your parenting plan early helps avoid holiday conflicts. To speak with our legal team about your schedule or a parenting dispute, visit PC Jones Law Firm, PC or call (720) 637-2623.