Parents in Murfreesboro get an easy fall break this year: both school districts are off the same week. Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools are out for fall break from Monday, October 5, through Friday, October 9, 2026, according to each district's approved 2026-27 calendar.
Fall Break 2026 Dates
- Rutherford County Schools (RCS): Oct. 5 to 9, 2026, per the 2026-27 calendar the district approved in October 2025. WGNS quoted the district describing it as a calendar that "provides a traditional school schedule similar to recent years."
- Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS): Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, per the board-approved 2026-27 calendar.
Students return to class Monday, Oct. 12. For an overview of both districts, see the Murfreesboro schools guide.
Other 2026-27 School Break Dates
Both districts line up on the major breaks this year:
| Break | Rutherford County Schools | Murfreesboro City Schools | |---|---|---| | Fall break | Oct. 5-9, 2026 | Oct. 5-9, 2026 | | Thanksgiving break | Nov. 23-27, 2026 | Nov. 23-27, 2026 | | Winter break | Dec. 21, 2026 - Jan. 4, 2027 | Dec. 21, 2026 - Jan. 4, 2027 | | Classes resume | Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027 | Jan. 5, 2027 | | Spring break | March 29 - April 2, 2027 | March 29 - April 2, 2027 | | Last day of school | Friday, May 28, 2027 | May 28, 2027 |
Murfreesboro City Schools also has a four-day Presidents Day weekend, Feb. 12 to 15, 2027.
Things to Do During Fall Break
Fall break lands at the start of pumpkin season, and several Murfreesboro venues have weekday programs that week:
- Pumpkin patches: Walden Pumpkin Farm in Smyrna opens at 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 8 and 9, with $12 activity wristbands. Lucky Ladd Farms in Eagleville runs its Fall Harvest Festival through Oct. 31, and its albino raccoon W.T. has a birthday celebration on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. More in the pumpkin patch guide.
- Discovery Center at Murfree Spring runs a Fall Break Campology: MATH-terminds camp with LEGO engineering and baking a "PI." Drop-in programs that week include Creature Connection: Chinchilla Foraging and Discovery Design Time on Oct. 8.
- Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park has Butter Making on Oct. 5, Archery for Beginners on Oct. 7 and a free Night Sounds Hike on Oct. 8. See the Wilderness Station guide.
- Theater: *Bonnie & Clyde* opens at the Center for the Arts on Friday, Oct. 9.
- Scares for teens: SOAC Fright Nights in Smyrna runs Oct. 9 and 10, 6 to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 10: free Nature Day at the Wilderness Station (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and the Pumpkin Fun Run at Gateway Island (registration at 3 p.m.).
For more ideas, see kids activities in Murfreesboro, indoor activities for rainy days, day trips from Murfreesboro and the 2026 Halloween events guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is fall break 2026 for Rutherford County Schools?
Rutherford County Schools' fall break is Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. 9, 2026.
When is fall break for Murfreesboro City Schools?
Murfreesboro City Schools are off for fall break Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, the same week as Rutherford County Schools.
When is Thanksgiving break 2026 for Rutherford County?
Both Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools are off Nov. 23 to 27, 2026.
When does winter break start for Rutherford County Schools?
Winter break runs Dec. 21, 2026, through Jan. 4, 2027. Classes resume Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027.
When is the last day of school for Rutherford County Schools in 2027?
The last day of the 2026-27 school year is Friday, May 28, 2027, for both districts.
Sources: WGNS: Rutherford County Schools Approve 2026-2027 Academic Calendar, Daily News Journal via AOL: Murfreesboro City Schools 2026-27 calendar and the Murfreesboro City Schools 2026-27 calendar (PDF).