What's open on Halloween 2027?
Halloween is not a public holiday, next on Sunday, October 31, 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 postal holiday; regular delivery and window hours. |
| Banks | Open | Normal hours; not a Federal Reserve holiday. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Regular trading session. |
| Federal offices | Open | A normal federal workday. |
| State and local government | Open | Open everywhere; no state closes for Halloween. |
| Public schools | Open | In session; many schools hold costume parades or fall festivals. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Open and busy; candy and costume sales peak in the final days. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Normal hours; grocery and drug stores see heavy candy traffic. |
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 — 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.
Halloween is an observance rather than a public holiday, so none of the three rules force a closure. Anything that shuts does so by choice. 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 Halloween page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Halloween?
Yes. Not a postal holiday; regular delivery and window hours.
Are banks open on Halloween?
Yes. Normal hours; not a Federal Reserve holiday.
Is the stock market open on Halloween?
Yes. Regular trading session.
Are federal offices open on Halloween?
Yes. A normal federal workday.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Halloween?
Yes. Open everywhere; no state closes for Halloween.
Are schools open on Halloween?
Yes. In session; many schools hold costume parades or fall festivals.
Are stores open on Halloween?
Yes. Open and busy; candy and costume sales peak in the final days.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Halloween?
Yes. Normal hours; grocery and drug stores see heavy candy traffic.