Patriots’ Day 2027, 2028 & Upcoming Dates

Patriots’ Day Dates: 2027–2030

Patriots’ Day 2027, 2028 & Upcoming Dates in Massachusetts and Maine

Patriots’ Day is the Massachusetts and Maine state holiday held on Monday, April 19, 2027 and Monday, April 17, 2028, always the third Monday of April. It is not a federal holiday, so only those two states close government offices for the occasion.

When Does It Fall in 2027 and 2028?

In 2027, Patriots’ Day is observed on Monday, April 19. In 2028, it moves to Monday, April 17, since the holiday always falls on the third Monday of April rather than a fixed calendar date.

Is April 19, 2027 a public holiday? No Is April 17, 2028 a public holiday? No

State, county, and municipal offices close in both states on this date, along with public schools. Federal offices, banks in most cases, and the U.S. Postal Service remain open, since Patriots’ Day carries no federal recognition. The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth publishes the state’s official legal holiday calendar, confirming these dates each year.
Patriots’ Day is always the third Monday of April, so the calendar date shifts by about a week each year depending on how April’s weekdays fall. It never lands earlier than April 15 or later than April 21.

Patriots’ Day History & Meaning

Patriots’ Day commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, the opening clashes of the American Revolutionary War. Colonial militiamen, warned by riders including Paul Revere and William Dawes, confronted British troops marching from Boston to seize colonial military supplies at Concord. The fighting that followed is traditionally regarded as the first military engagement of the Revolution.

Massachusetts first observed the day informally in the 19th century and made it an official state holiday in 1894, later formalizing it by statute in 1938 as a commemoration of the opening events of the Revolutionary War. Maine adopted the holiday in 1907, after separating from Massachusetts in 1820, replacing an older observance known as Fast Day.

Many communities in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, hold dawn reenactments of the Lexington and Concord battles each year, along with parades and historical ceremonies that draw thousands of spectators. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1837 poem “Concord Hymn,” written for the dedication of the Concord battle monument, coined the phrase “the shot heard round the world” to describe the opening gunfire of the Revolution, a line still closely associated with the holiday. In April 2025, Massachusetts and Maine marked the 250th anniversary of the battles with expanded ceremonies as part of the nationwide America250 commemoration, adding extra weight to the observances in the years since.

Patriots’ Day Traditions Today

Beyond the Battles of Lexington and Concord themselves, Patriots’ Day is marked by a mix of civic ceremony and community tradition. Lexington holds a pre-dawn reenactment on the town’s Battle Green, while Concord stages its own commemoration near the Old North Bridge. The National Park Service, which manages Minute Man National Historical Park along the historic Battle Road between the two towns, runs guided programs and living-history demonstrations throughout the day. Many Massachusetts and Maine school districts schedule spring break around it, giving students an extended week off in mid-to-late April.

Which States Observe Patriots’ Day?

Massachusetts and Maine are the only two states where Patriots’ Day is an official paid state holiday, closing state, county, and municipal government offices along with public schools. Maine’s state statute lists it among the fixed public-school holidays each year. A handful of other states, including Wisconsin, Florida, Connecticut, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah, formally recognize April 19 or the third Monday of April as a day of observance without closing government offices or granting employees the day off. It is not a federal holiday anywhere in the United States, so federal offices, courts, and the Postal Service operate on their normal schedule.

The Boston Marathon Connection

Patriots’ Day is best known nationally as the date of the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon, first run in 1897 and organized by the Boston Athletic Association. “Marathon Monday” draws hundreds of thousands of spectators along the 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Boston’s Back Bay. The Boston Red Sox traditionally play a home game with an early morning start on the same day, timed so fans can leave Fenway Park in time to watch marathon runners finish nearby on Boylston Street.

Frequently Asked Questions about Patriots’ Day

Q: What date is Patriots’ Day in 2027?
A: It falls on Monday, April 19, 2027 — the third Monday of April, as it is every year.

Q: What date is Patriots’ Day in 2028?
A: It falls on Monday, April 17, 2028, the third Monday of April that year.

Q: Is Patriots’ Day a federal holiday?
A: No. It is not recognized by the federal government. Federal offices, courts, and the Postal Service remain open.

Q: Which states observe Patriots’ Day as an official holiday?
A: Only Massachusetts and Maine treat it as an official paid state holiday with government office closures.

Q: Why is Patriots’ Day celebrated?
A: It commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War.

Q: Is the Boston Marathon always on Patriots’ Day?
A: Yes. The Boston Marathon has been held on this date since 1897, making it the event most associated with the holiday.

Q: Are banks and schools closed on Patriots’ Day?
A: Public schools and state or municipal offices close in Massachusetts and Maine. Bank closures vary by institution, since it is not a federal banking holiday.

Q: Does Patriots’ Day fall on the same date every year?
A: No. Since it is fixed to the third Monday of April rather than a specific date, it ranges between April 15 and April 21 depending on the year.

Q: When did Patriots’ Day become an official holiday?
A: Massachusetts made it official in 1894 and formalized it by statute in 1938. Maine adopted it in 1907, replacing the older Fast Day observance.

Q: Do private employers have to give employees the day off?
A: No. These closures apply to state, county, and municipal government offices and public schools. Private employers set their own policies.

Related Holidays & Calendars

For the complete list of US holidays that month, see the April 2027 calendar USA.