Patriots' Day is a state holiday in Massachusetts, but it is not a federal holiday. This distinction means that while it is an official public holiday recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it is not observed by the United States federal government. Consequently, there are different implications for state-level and federal-level services and employment.
As a state-sanctioned holiday, all state, county, and municipal offices and public schools in Massachusetts are closed. Many private businesses also choose to close or operate on a holiday schedule. The holiday is observed on the third Monday in April and commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord in 1775. Maine also recognizes it as an official state holiday, and it is an observed public school holiday in Wisconsin.
Because it lacks federal status, federal government operations within Massachusetts continue as normal. Federal offices, such as U.S. Post Offices, federal courts, and military installations, remain open. Similarly, federally regulated institutions like the Federal Reserve Bank and most national banks are not required to close. Therefore, an individual seeking to use a federal service on this day would find it available, whereas a state or local service would be inaccessible.
