Jefferson County Public Schools students have no school on Monday, November 2, or Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The district's 2026 to 2027 Parent Family School Calendar lists Monday as a professional development Gold Day and Tuesday as Election Day, with no school for students either day. Classes resume Wednesday, November 4.
That makes this a four day weekend, Saturday through Tuesday. Below are plans for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Every listing was first checked on its organizer's page October 13, 2026, and the two camps, the library programs, Jack's Lantern Trail, the Zoo's Día de los Muertos and the Kentucky Science Center were rechecked October 29.
Why are there two days off in a row?
Each day has its own reason. On the calendar, Monday, November 2, sits under "Teacher Attendance Only" as a professional development Gold Day, so teachers work and students stay home. Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day, which the calendar lists under "No School for Students."
Polls in Jefferson County are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day, according to the Jefferson County Clerk's In Person Voting page. Registered voters can also vote early with no excuse through Saturday, October 31, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the sites in JCPS Insider's early voting guide.
Monday is also the first day of the 2027 to 2028 JCPS application window, which runs through December 18. The district's Student Assignment page says applications "are not processed on a first-come, first-served basis," so there's no reason to spend the day off at a laptop unless you're ready.
What's open on Sunday, November 1?
Sunday is the final night of Jack's Lantern Trail in Iroquois Park. The Parks Alliance of Louisville's pumpkin trail runs nightly through November 1, according to the event's website, with thousands of carved pumpkins and work from more than 30 local artists. Ticket money supports Louisville's public parks, and parking on site is free.
Sunday tickets are $12 for everyone 3 and up, adults and seniors included, and children 2 and under are free, per the trail's pricing page. Service fees and taxes are added, so confirm the total on the pricing page when you buy. Sunday hours are 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., with timed entry at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
This is the Iroquois Park trail. The older Jack O' Lantern Spectacular moved to Kentucky Kingdom this year with its producer, according to Kentucky Kingdom. They're separate events with separate tickets.
The Louisville Zoo's Día de los Muertos celebration runs Sunday, November 1, and Monday, November 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's free with Zoo admission or a Zoo membership. The Zoo builds ofrendas, or altars, with one honoring Zoo animals that have died and a second where guests' tributes to their pets are displayed. The Zoo is at 1100 Trevilian Way, and its number is 502 459 2181. Because it runs Monday too, it works as a day off plan if Sunday fills up.
Where can kids go on Monday and Tuesday while parents work?
Two Louisville museums are running two day camps that match the JCPS days off exactly.
The Frazier Kentucky History Museum's Election Day Pop Up Camp runs Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, for grades 1 to 5. Drop off is 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and pickup is 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. It costs $65 a day, or $55 a day for members, and the museum says to ask about a sibling discount.
The theme fits the week. The Frazier says campers will explore unusual elections in history and run their own campaign, about candy. It says spots are limited, and its page doesn't show how many are left, so call the museum the day you plan to sign up to check for an open spot. The museum is at 829 West Main Street, and its number is 502 753 5663.
The Louisville Zoo's fall MetaZoo camps run November 2 and 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for grades 1 to 3, ages 6 to 9. There are two themes. "Scaredy Cats" looks at the Zoo's cats as predators and prey. "Polar Opposites" covers animals with opposite adaptations.
Each session holds 15 campers. The Zoo's camp page still says registration is open but doesn't show how many spots are left, so call the Zoo at 502 459 2181 that day to check. The price is $200 for members and $250 for non members for both days. Check in is 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Membership Booth at the front of the Zoo. Check out is 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. at MetaZoo, or 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Membership Booth. Campers spend most of the day outside, so dress for walking and the weather.
The YMCA of Greater Louisville's school break camps page says its Jefferson County camps "align with the Jefferson County Public Schools calendar" for grades K to 8, and it lists fall, winter and spring breaks. It doesn't say whether a camp runs November 2 and 3, so call your branch before you count on it.
What's an indoor option for the day off?
The Kentucky Science Center, 727 West Main Street, is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to its visit page, and November 2 and 3 aren't on its list of closure dates. It's a short walk from the Frazier, and its number is 502 561 6100. Admission isn't free. The center posts closures and weather delays on Facebook, so check before you go.
The Louisville Free Public Library also has a few free school age programs on the days off, and none of the listings shows a fee.
Northeast Regional, 15 Bellevoir Circle, holds a Chill Vibes Craft Club on Monday, November 2, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for ages 8 to 12. Kids bring photos of people and milestones from their year and turn them into a memory collage. Registration is required and closes at 6 p.m. that day, per the LFPL listing, or call 502 394 0379.
Western, 604 South Tenth Street, holds its Kid's Craft Club on Tuesday, November 3, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for ages 6 to 12, with a new craft each week, per the LFPL listing. The branch number is 502 574 1779.
Shawnee, 3912 West Broadway, holds Chess with the Best on Tuesday, November 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. It's open to school age kids, teens and adults of every skill level, per the LFPL listing. The branch number is 502 574 1722.
Will there be free meals on the days off?
JCPS Insider didn't find a JCPS meal plan for November 2 and 3 on district pages checked October 13 and again October 29. The district's School and Community Nutrition Services page lists only summer meal sites. If your family relies on school breakfast and lunch, ask your school this week whether anything is planned, and line up groceries for the long weekend.
What should you book this week?
If you need child care for Monday and Tuesday, book it now. The Zoo camp caps each session at 15 campers, and the Frazier says spots are limited. Jack's Lantern Trail tickets are timed, so pick your Sunday slot before you go. Classes start again Wednesday, November 4.