The last day of classes is May 3. Finals are May 6-10. Graduation is May 18 and if my summer classes make, I must meet them in Mexico City the next morning.
I did not choose that summer schedule and I intend to defend myself by not giving finals and not attending graduation.
Furthermore, Jazzfest and several other important festivals such as FIL and the Crawfish Festival take place the weekends of April 27-28 and May 3-4. I would like to actually participate in these things this year, and have my students do so.
Easter vacation is March 29-April 7 and Mardi Gras vacation is February 11-13. Martin Luther King Day is Monday, January 21, and the first of the New Orleans Mardi Gras parades rolls Saturday, January 19, just after the first week of classes. My classes are Tuesday and Thursday, though, so we miss three days only: February 12, April 2 and April 4. There are three and a half weeks of class before Mardi Gras, and four weeks after Easter.
The question becomes, when to make final papers due? The last week of classes is a ridiculous time to do it. I am thinking, the week before, with presentations in the last week. That would mean I could do grades the final Friday of classes, and take the weekend off. Then there would be two weeks to get ready for Mexico.
During the presentations, the other students would be required to comment cogently in writing and ask well-formed questions. Doing so would be their final exam.
Comments on and suggestions for refinements of this plan are most welcome. I am essentially going to occupy the students’ Martin Luther King, Mardi Gras and Easter holidays in exchange for finals week off and flexibility to attend the late spring festivals.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
Yes. I do this all the time. I tell them how happy they will be that they have finished the work for my class before the final demands of their other classes. They believe me, and it also happens to be true.