Federal holidays vs. state holidays
Last checked 2026-11-15T00:00:00.000Z
Congress can only set holidays for federal employees and the District of Columbia. Each state decides its own legal holidays for state offices, courts and state schools. Most states adopt all or most of the 11 federal holidays and add a few of their own.
State holidays you may run into
| Holiday | Where | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Patriots’ Day | Massachusetts, Maine | Third Monday in April |
| Cesar Chavez Day | California (state offices) | March 31 |
| Pioneer Day | Utah | July 24 |
| Kamehameha Day | Hawaii | June 11 |
| Alaska Day | Alaska | October 18 |
| Emancipation Day | District of Columbia | April 16 |
| Mardi Gras | Louisiana (some parishes) | The day before Ash Wednesday |
| Day after Thanksgiving | Many states | Friday after Thanksgiving |
Some states also swap a federal holiday for another name or day. Several do not close for Columbus Day, and many observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same Monday.
What it means for you
- State and city offices close on state holidays even when federal offices are open, so the DMV may be closed on a day the post office is open.
- Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar, so they generally stay open on state-only holidays.
- Public schools set their own calendars within state rules. Many close for Election Day, teacher workdays and spring holidays.
- Private employers are not bound by state holiday lists unless state law says so for specific industries.
For the dates of the federal holidays themselves, see the year calendars.