Cracker Barrel is a standby for Southern comfort food, particularly around the holidays. Whether you just want to take the family on a road trip, or need a quick bite to eat while you’re on the go during the holidays, it’s good to know in advance what Cracker Barrel’s holiday hours are to avoid any unnecessary surprises. If you’re exploring similar options, the Bob Evans menu is also a favorite among breakfast lovers.
Let’s find out which holidays the restaurant is open on, which they are closed for and what you can expect on holidays.
For a hearty breakfast and brunch options like avocado toast, power bowls, omelettes, pancakes, and fresh juices, you can also explore the First Watch Menu .
Cracker Barrel is open on Easter, which makes it a great place for families to have a holiday meal together. Many of their locations serve their usual menu along with special holiday dishes, so you can enjoy items like country ham, fried chicken, and homemade side dishes. However, the hours might be different at each location, so it’s best to call your local Cracker Barrel to find out the exact times they’ll be open on Easter.
Regular Operating Hours
But before we get into holiday hours, here’s an overview of the regular timing:
- Monday through Thursday – 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday-Saturday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Most Cracker Barrel locations throughout the country follow these hours, although there can be some small variances.
Holiday Schedule 2025
| Holiday | Open or Closed | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | ✅ Open | Full menu available |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | ✅ Open | Normal hours |
| Presidents’ Day | ✅ Open | Business as usual |
| Easter Sunday | ✅ Open | Popular for brunch |
| Memorial Day | ✅ Open | Good for family meals |
| Independence Day | ✅ Open | Great for summer celebrations |
| Labor Day | ✅ Open | Open all day |
| Columbus Day | ✅ Open | No change in hours |
| Veterans Day | ✅ Open | Often offers special discounts |
| Thanksgiving Day | ✅ Open (Limited) | Closes early, serves special meals |
| Christmas Eve | ✅ Open (Half Day) | Closes early, usually by 2:00 PM |
| Christmas Day | ❌ Closed | Closed nationwide |
| New Year’s Eve | ✅ Open | Regular hours |
Thanksgiving Day Hours
Cracker Barrel is open on Thanksgiving Day however, with adjusted hours. Some (not all) open a little later (around 11 AM) and close earlier in the evening (around 7 or 8 PM).
They often serve a big Thanksgiving meal, with turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. It’s a busy day, plan on packed dining rooms and long waits unless you get there early.
Cracker Barrel Christmas hours
- Christmas Eve Open half a day only. Most shut by 2 p.m., so that employees can go home to have the rest of the evening with family.
- Christmas Day: Every Cracker Barrel location is closed. It is one of the extremely rare days when all goes dark for the year.
New Year’s Hours
- New Year’s Eve (Dec 31): open normal hours (early breakfast to late dinner)
- New Year’s Day (Jan 1) Open as usual, full menu. What a great way to start out the year… Pancakes and a hashbrown casserole.
Heat n’ Serve Holiday Meals (Pre-Order)
For Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, Cracker Barrel provides Heat n’ Serve meals that are:
- Fully prepared
- Packaged for takeout
- Easy to reheat at home
These meals are for 4 to 10 people and include seasonal favorites such as turkey breast, ham, stuffing, mac and cheese, green beans and pies.
Note: These are available for pre-order, typically beginning one to two weeks before the holiday.
📌 Why People Prefer Cracker Barrel During Holidays
- Southern-style comfort food: Especially in the winter or with family.
- All-day breakfast: Fans of breakfast eat pancakes and biscuits round the clock, on holidays included.
- Attached gift shops: Last-minute gifts, seasonal treats.
- Reliable service: Cracker Barrel is celebrated for its warm, homey vibe, even on the busiest of holidays.
🧠 Helpful Tips for Holiday Dining
- Call Your Local Store
Although the majority of places adhere to the bellow timings, certain rural or touristic locations might have slightly different hours.
- Use the Waitlist
Lines can be lengthy on Thanksgiving and New Year’s morning. Take advantage of Cracker Barrel’s waitlist on the phone or app (if an app is available) to save waiting-around time.
- Preorder Heat n’ Serve Early
These family meal packages go quickly especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Avoid Arriving Last Minute
And even if they say they close at 2 p.m. (Christmas Eve), the kitchen might shut down for new orders 15 to 30 minutes earlier.
🧾 What’s on the Holiday Menu?
Though most fully soigne menus are offered on holidays, there are some favorites that make an appearance on special days, here’s a few:
- Roasted Turkey Breast
- Country Ham
- Cornbread Dressing
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Pumpkin or Pecan Pie
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- Mac & Cheese
- Cranberry Relish
These meals typically come as part of the in-store Holiday Plate or the Take-Home Meal Kits.
Cracker Barrel is one of the few dependable restaurants around the holidays. Its doors are open on almost all federal holidays, although with some exceptions, such as Christmas Day. The food, the service, the atmosphere, and even the mystery and warmth of the name: Whether you’re eating in or taking out a family meal, it’s reliably comforting.
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