What's open on Alaska Day 2027?
Alaska Day is a state holiday, next on Monday, October 18, 2027. Here is what is open and closed: post office, banks, stock market, government offices, schools and stores.
| Service | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Post Office (USPS) | Open | Not a federal holiday; regular hours and mail delivery in Alaska and nationwide. |
| Banks | Open | Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar and stay open; a few local Alaska branches may adjust hours. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Normal trading day. |
| Federal offices | Open | Federal agencies and federal courts, including those in Alaska, keep regular hours. |
| State and local government | Varies | Closed across Alaska, including state courts and DMV counters; no effect in other states. |
| Public schools | Varies | Alaska districts set their own calendars; Sitka schools often dismiss early for the parade. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Open statewide; downtown Sitka sees parade-day street closures. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Normal hours; busy in Sitka during the festival. |
Why these close and others do not
Three seperate rules decide what shuts on any given American holiday, and they do not always agree. The federal list in 5 U.S.C. § 6103 governs federal offices, federal courts and the U.S. Postal Service, and the Federal Reserve follows the same calendar — which is why banks close on federal holidays and stay open on state-only ones. State holiday statutes are separate: each state legislature sets its own list for state employees, courts, DMV offices and usually public schools, so a day can be a paid holiday in Texas and an ordinary Tuesday in Ohio. Private employers answer to neither - no federal law requires any private business to close or to pay a premium for holiday work, so retailers, restaurants and offices set their own policies, and most stay open with reduced hours on all but a handful of days.
Alaska Day is a state holiday, so only the second rule applies: offices close in the states that observe it, while federal offices, post offices and banks stay open. The stock market keeps its own calendar again: the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq close for nine of the eleven federal holidays plus Good Friday, but trade normally on Columbus Day and Veterans Day, when the bond market closes and the equity market does not.
Hours vary by location and year. Check with the branch or office before you go. For dates through 2027 and the history, see the main Alaska Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Alaska Day?
Yes. Not a federal holiday; regular hours and mail delivery in Alaska and nationwide.
Are banks open on Alaska Day?
Yes. Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar and stay open; a few local Alaska branches may adjust hours.
Is the stock market open on Alaska Day?
Yes. Normal trading day.
Are federal offices open on Alaska Day?
Yes. Federal agencies and federal courts, including those in Alaska, keep regular hours.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Alaska Day?
It depends. Closed across Alaska, including state courts and DMV counters; no effect in other states.
Are schools open on Alaska Day?
It depends. Alaska districts set their own calendars; Sitka schools often dismiss early for the parade.
Are stores open on Alaska Day?
Yes. Open statewide; downtown Sitka sees parade-day street closures.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Alaska Day?
Yes. Normal hours; busy in Sitka during the festival.