What's open on Mardi Gras 2027?
Mardi Gras is a state holiday, next on Tuesday, February 9, 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; normal delivery, though parade closures can delay downtown New Orleans routes. |
| Banks | Open | Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar and open; branches on parade routes may adjust hours. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Normal trading day. |
| Federal offices | Open | Federal agencies and federal courts keep regular hours, including in Louisiana. |
| State and local government | Varies | Closed across Louisiana and in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, Alabama; open everywhere else. |
| Public schools | Varies | South Louisiana and Mobile-area districts close, often for several days; schools elsewhere are open. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Open; stores near parade routes may close early or limit access. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Open and extremely busy in New Orleans, Mobile and other celebrating cities. |
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.
Mardi Gras 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 Mardi Gras page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Mardi Gras?
Yes. Not a federal holiday; normal delivery, though parade closures can delay downtown New Orleans routes.
Are banks open on Mardi Gras?
Yes. Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar and open; branches on parade routes may adjust hours.
Is the stock market open on Mardi Gras?
Yes. Normal trading day.
Are federal offices open on Mardi Gras?
Yes. Federal agencies and federal courts keep regular hours, including in Louisiana.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Mardi Gras?
It depends. Closed across Louisiana and in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, Alabama; open everywhere else.
Are schools open on Mardi Gras?
It depends. South Louisiana and Mobile-area districts close, often for several days; schools elsewhere are open.
Are stores open on Mardi Gras?
Yes. Open; stores near parade routes may close early or limit access.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Mardi Gras?
Yes. Open and extremely busy in New Orleans, Mobile and other celebrating cities.