Season Schema
Your personalized tentpole calendar · The Second Steam, Chicago
Next Up
Chicago Iconic · Saturday, March 14, 2026
St. Patrick's Day — River Dyeing
18 days away · Estimated impact: Very High
Last year: $4,280 revenue, 312 transactions. You ran out of pastries by 10:30am.
Your playbook has 4 recommended actions.
Coming Up · Q1–Q2 2026
→
Weather
First 50°F Day
Variable · March
↑ High impact
Last year: +38% foot traffic
Holiday
Easter Weekend
Apr 5–6
Moderate impact
Brunch crowd, families
Seasonal
Patio Opening
Early–mid April
↑ High impact
12 seats added to capacity
Holiday
Mother's Day
May 10
↑ High impact
Last year: $3,900 revenue
National
Memorial Day Weekend
May 23–26
Moderate impact
Tourist uptick, summer kickoff
Chicago Iconic
Blues Festival
Jun 4–7
↑ High impact
4 days, Millennium Park
Global Event
FIFA World Cup Begins
Jun 11
↑ High impact
5-week tourism tailwind
Weather
First 80°F Weekend
Usually June
↑ Very High impact
Last year: biggest week of Q2
Q3–Q4 2026
→
Holiday
Fourth of July Week
Late Jun–Jul 4
Moderate impact
Loop quieter, tourists up
Chicago Iconic
Taste of Chicago
Jul 8–12
↑ Very High impact
Grant Park, massive foot traffic
Global Event
FIFA World Cup Final
Jul 19
Moderate impact
Peak watch party energy
Chicago Iconic
Lollapalooza
Jul 30–Aug 2
↑ Very High impact
Last year: $12K over 4 days
Chicago Iconic
Air & Water Show
Aug 15–16
↑ High impact
2M+ spectators citywide
Holiday
Labor Day Weekend
Sep 5–7
Moderate impact
Last summer weekend push
Seasonal
Fall Menu Launch
Early October
↑ High impact
PSL season, avg ticket +18%
Chicago Iconic
Chicago Marathon
October 11
↑ High impact
Early AM rush, 50K+ runners
Holiday
Thanksgiving Week
Nov 23–27
↑ High impact
Wed before = biggest café day of Nov
Seasonal
Holiday Gift Season
Nov 15–Dec 24
↑ Very High impact
Gift cards + retail bags peak
Holiday
Christmas Week
Dec 22–26
↑ Very High impact
Family outings, gift card redemptions
Weather
First Snow / Deep Winter
Variable · Nov–Dec
Moderate impact
Foot traffic dips 25–30%
Past Tentpoles · Completed
Completed
Holiday
Valentine's Day
Feb 14, 2026
$3,640 revenue
3 of 4 playbook actions completed. Rose latte sold 84 units.
Completed
Cultural
Lunar New Year
Jan 29, 2026
$2,180 revenue
2 of 3 playbook actions completed. Moderate lift as expected.
Completed
Holiday
New Year's Day
Jan 1, 2026
$1,890 revenue
Quiet day. Loop foot traffic down 40%. Expected.
Completed
Seasonal
Holiday Gift Season
Nov 15–Dec 24, 2025
$18,400 over 6 weeks
4 of 4 playbook actions completed. Gift card sales up 62% YoY.
← Back to calendar
St. Patrick's Day — River Dyeing
Your Playbook
4 actions to maximize St. Patrick's Day.
Generated from your historical data, this year's conditions, and patterns from similar sellers in the Loop.
Powered by Square AI
1
Double pastry order from bakery partner
Focus on croissants and scones — your top sellers last St. Pat's. Last year you sold out by 10:30am.
Deadline: Wednesday, March 11
2
Schedule 4 staff for 7am – 1pm
Last year's peak was 8–11am with 89% more transactions than normal. You had 2 staff — you need 4.
Deadline: Friday, March 6 — earliest action
3
Launch "Green River Matcha" at $9.00
Matcha lattes up 36% YoY across Square sellers. A green-themed special ties to the river dyeing outside your windows.
Deadline: Monday, March 9
4
Send campaign to 2,800 subscribers + 1,100 loyalty members
"Watch the river turn green from The Second Steam." Highlight the view, the seasonal special, and early hours.
Deadline: Wednesday, March 11
Projected Impact · All 4 Actions Completed
$5,200 – $5,800
+22–36% vs. last year · Your biggest single day of Q1 2026
The Data Behind This Playbook
Hindsight · Last Year
Revenue
$4,280
↑ 62% vs. typical Saturday
Transactions
312
↑ 89% vs. typical Saturday
Avg Ticket
$13.72
↑ 31% — customers added food
You vs. Loop cafés
+38% vs. peers — but sold out of pastries by 10:30am with only 2 staff. Left $800–$1,200 on the table.
Foresight · This Year
Day of Week
Saturday
Was a weekday in 2025
↑ Higher foot traffic
Weather
45°F, Sunny
7° warmer than last year
↑ Patio-adjacent
Event
Parade on Your Block
River dyeing 9am, peak 10am–1pm
↑ Direct foot traffic
AI
Three factors point up. Saturday traffic +40% vs. weekday. Warmer weather extends the rush. Parade route passes your door — last year it was 2 blocks east.