diff --git a/tests/test_algorithm.py b/tests/test_algorithm.py
index 847bf485..8a907fd2 100644
--- a/tests/test_algorithm.py
+++ b/tests/test_algorithm.py
@@ -54,16 +54,18 @@ from zipline.data.us_equity_pricing import (
     BcolzDailyBarWriter,
 )
 from zipline.errors import (
-    OrderDuringInitialize,
-    RegisterTradingControlPostInit,
-    TradingControlViolation,
     AccountControlViolation,
-    SymbolNotFound,
-    UnsupportedDatetimeFormat,
     CannotOrderDelistedAsset,
+    OrderDuringInitialize,
+    OrderInBeforeTradingStart,
+    RegisterTradingControlPostInit,
+    ScheduleFunctionInvalidCalendar,
     SetCancelPolicyPostInit,
+    SymbolNotFound,
+    TradingControlViolation,
     UnsupportedCancelPolicy,
-    OrderInBeforeTradingStart)
+    UnsupportedDatetimeFormat,
+)
 from zipline.api import (
     order,
     order_value,
@@ -437,22 +439,23 @@ def handle_data(context, data):
         # run a simulation on the CME cal, and schedule a function
         # using the NYSE cal
         algotext = """
-from zipline.api import schedule_function, get_datetime, time_rules, date_rules
-from zipline.utils.calendars import get_calendar
+from zipline.api import (
+    schedule_function, get_datetime, time_rules, date_rules, calendars,
+)
 
 def initialize(context):
     schedule_function(
         func=log_nyse_open,
         date_rule=date_rules.every_day(),
         time_rule=time_rules.market_open(),
-        calendar=get_calendar("NYSE")
+        calendar=calendars.US_EQUITIES,
     )
 
     schedule_function(
         func=log_nyse_close,
         date_rule=date_rules.every_day(),
         time_rule=time_rules.market_close(),
-        calendar=get_calendar("NYSE")
+        calendar=calendars.US_EQUITIES,
     )
 
     context.nyse_opens = []
@@ -488,6 +491,30 @@ def log_nyse_close(context, data):
             session_close = nyse.open_and_close_for_session(session_label)[1]
             self.assertEqual(session_close - timedelta(minutes=1), minute)
 
+        # Test that passing an invalid calendar parameter raises an error.
+        erroring_algotext = dedent(
+            """
+            from zipline.api import schedule_function
+            from zipline.utils.calendars import get_calendar
+
+            def initialize(context):
+                schedule_function(func=my_func, calendar=get_calendar('NYSE'))
+
+            def my_func(context, data):
+                pass
+            """
+        )
+
+        algo = TradingAlgorithm(
+            script=erroring_algotext,
+            sim_params=self.sim_params,
+            env=self.env,
+            trading_calendar=get_calendar('CME'),
+        )
+
+        with self.assertRaises(ScheduleFunctionInvalidCalendar):
+            algo.run(self.data_portal)
+
     def test_schedule_function(self):
         us_eastern = pytz.timezone('US/Eastern')
 
diff --git a/zipline/algorithm.py b/zipline/algorithm.py
index 6b438e9e..476dc706 100644
--- a/zipline/algorithm.py
+++ b/zipline/algorithm.py
@@ -47,23 +47,24 @@ from zipline.data.data_portal import DataPortal
 from zipline.data.us_equity_pricing import PanelBarReader
 from zipline.errors import (
     AttachPipelineAfterInitialize,
+    CannotOrderDelistedAsset,
     HistoryInInitialize,
     NoSuchPipeline,
     OrderDuringInitialize,
+    OrderInBeforeTradingStart,
     PipelineOutputDuringInitialize,
     RegisterAccountControlPostInit,
     RegisterTradingControlPostInit,
+    ScheduleFunctionInvalidCalendar,
     SetBenchmarkOutsideInitialize,
+    SetCancelPolicyPostInit,
     SetCommissionPostInit,
     SetSlippagePostInit,
+    UnsupportedCancelPolicy,
     UnsupportedCommissionModel,
     UnsupportedDatetimeFormat,
     UnsupportedOrderParameters,
     UnsupportedSlippageModel,
-    CannotOrderDelistedAsset,
-    UnsupportedCancelPolicy,
-    SetCancelPolicyPostInit,
-    OrderInBeforeTradingStart
 )
 from zipline.finance.trading import TradingEnvironment
 from zipline.finance.blotter import Blotter
@@ -122,6 +123,7 @@ from zipline.utils.events import (
     make_eventrule,
     date_rules,
     time_rules,
+    calendars,
     AfterOpen,
     BeforeClose
 )
@@ -1081,6 +1083,8 @@ class TradingAlgorithm(object):
             The rule for the times to execute this function.
         half_days : bool, optional
             Should this rule fire on half days?
+        calendar : Sentinel, optional
+            Calendar used to reconcile date and time rules.
 
         See Also
         --------
@@ -1106,7 +1110,19 @@ class TradingAlgorithm(object):
         # Check the type of the algorithm's schedule before pulling calendar
         # Note that the ExchangeTradingSchedule is currently the only
         # TradingSchedule class, so this is unlikely to be hit
-        cal = calendar or self.trading_calendar
+        if calendar is None:
+            cal = self.trading_calendar
+        elif calendar is calendars.US_EQUITIES:
+            cal = get_calendar('NYSE')
+        elif calendar is calendars.US_FUTURES:
+            cal = get_calendar('us_futures')
+        else:
+            raise ScheduleFunctionInvalidCalendar(
+                given_calendar=calendar,
+                allowed_calendars=(
+                    '[calendars.US_EQUITIES, calendars.US_FUTURES]'
+                ),
+            )
 
         self.add_event(
             make_eventrule(date_rule, time_rule, cal, half_days),
diff --git a/zipline/api.py b/zipline/api.py
index 68b78714..da4bfc74 100644
--- a/zipline/api.py
+++ b/zipline/api.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ from .finance.slippage import (
 )
 from .utils import math_utils, events
 from .utils.events import (
+    calendars,
     date_rules,
     time_rules
 )
@@ -53,5 +54,6 @@ __all__ = [
     'execution',
     'math_utils',
     'slippage',
-    'time_rules'
+    'time_rules',
+    'calendars',
 ]
diff --git a/zipline/errors.py b/zipline/errors.py
index 17626df3..dfd0a294 100644
--- a/zipline/errors.py
+++ b/zipline/errors.py
@@ -748,6 +748,16 @@ class ScheduleFunctionWithoutCalendar(ZiplineError):
     )
 
 
+class ScheduleFunctionInvalidCalendar(ZiplineError):
+    """
+    Raised when schedule_function is called with an invalid calendar argument.
+    """
+    msg = (
+        "Invalid calendar '{given_calendar}' passed to schedule_function. "
+        "Allowed options are {allowed_calendars}."
+    )
+
+
 class UnsupportedPipelineOutput(ZiplineError):
     """
     Raised when a 1D term is added as a column to a pipeline.
diff --git a/zipline/utils/events.py b/zipline/utils/events.py
index 657d5ace..878f1b00 100644
--- a/zipline/utils/events.py
+++ b/zipline/utils/events.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from toolz import curry
 
 from zipline.utils.input_validation import preprocess
 from zipline.utils.memoize import lazyval
+from zipline.utils.sentinel import sentinel
 
 from .context_tricks import nop_context
 
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ __all__ = [
     # Factory API
     'date_rules',
     'time_rules',
+    'calendars',
     'make_eventrule',
 ]
 
@@ -603,6 +605,11 @@ class time_rules(object):
     every_minute = Always
 
 
+class calendars(object):
+    US_EQUITIES = sentinel('US_EQUITIES')
+    US_FUTURES = sentinel('US_FUTURES')
+
+
 def make_eventrule(date_rule, time_rule, cal, half_days=True):
     """
     Constructs an event rule from the factory api.