What's open on Evacuation Day 2027?
Evacuation Day is a state holiday, next on Wednesday, March 17, 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 mail delivery and retail hours. |
| Banks | Open | Normal banking day throughout Massachusetts. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Normal trading day. |
| Federal offices | Open | Open everywhere, including Boston. |
| State and local government | Open | Since 2010, Suffolk County state and municipal offices must stay open; the rest of the state is unaffected. |
| Public schools | Open | Boston-area schools hold classes; some schedule Revolution-history lessons for the week. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Regular hours; South Boston is crowded around the parade weekend. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Open and busy, with St. Patrick's Day crowds filling Boston pubs and restaurants. |
Why these close and others do not
Three separate 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 — whihc 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.
Evacuation 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 cloess 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 Evacuation Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Evacuation Day?
Yes. Not a federal holiday; regular mail delivery and retail hours.
Are banks open on Evacuation Day?
Yes. Normal banking day throughout Massachusetts.
Is the stock market open on Evacuation Day?
Yes. Normal trading day.
Are federal offices open on Evacuation Day?
Yes. Open everywhere, including Boston.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Evacuation Day?
Yes. Since 2010, Suffolk County state and municipal offices must stay open; the rest of the state is unaffected.
Are schools open on Evacuation Day?
Yes. Boston-area schools hold classes; some schedule Revolution-history lessons for the week.
Are stores open on Evacuation Day?
Yes. Regular hours; South Boston is crowded around the parade weekend.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Evacuation Day?
Yes. Open and busy, with St. Patrick's Day crowds filling Boston pubs and restaurants.