What's open on Return Day 2026?
Return Day is a state holiday, next on Thursday, November 5, 2026. 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 everywhere, including Delaware. |
| Banks | Open | Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar, which does not include Return Day. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Normal trading day. |
| Federal offices | Open | Federal agencies and courts keep normal hours. |
| State and local government | Varies | Delaware state offices staffed by Sussex County employees close after 12 noon; Georgetown-area county and town offices often close for the afternoon. Normal hours elsewhere. |
| Public schools | Varies | Sussex County schools traditionally run a half-day; schools elsewhere are in normal session. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Open; downtown Georgetown streets around The Circle close for the parade and vendors. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Open; expect crowds in Georgetown, where ox sandwiches are served on The Circle. |
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.
Return 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 Return Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Return Day?
Yes. Not a federal holiday; regular mail delivery and retail hours everywhere, including Delaware.
Are banks open on Return Day?
Yes. Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar, which does not include Return Day.
Is the stock market open on Return Day?
Yes. Normal trading day.
Are federal offices open on Return Day?
Yes. Federal agencies and courts keep normal hours.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Return Day?
It depends. Delaware state offices staffed by Sussex County employees close after 12 noon; Georgetown-area county and town offices often close for the afternoon. Normal hours elsewhere.
Are schools open on Return Day?
It depends. Sussex County schools traditionally run a half-day; schools elsewhere are in normal session.
Are stores open on Return Day?
Yes. Open; downtown Georgetown streets around The Circle close for the parade and vendors.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Return Day?
Yes. Open; expect crowds in Georgetown, where ox sandwiches are served on The Circle.