What's open on Seward's Day 2027?
Seward's Day is a state holiday, next on Monday, March 29, 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, including in Alaska. |
| Banks | Open | Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar, which does not include Seward's Day. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Normal trading day. |
| Federal offices | Open | Federal agencies and federal courts keep normal hours, including in Alaska. |
| State and local government | Varies | Alaska state offices, courts and DMV locations close; some municipal offices close as well. No effect outside Alaska. |
| Public schools | Varies | Alaska districts set their own calendars — some close, others hold classes. Schools elsewhere are open. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Normal hours statewide. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Normal hours. |
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.
Seward's 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 Seward's Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Seward's Day?
Yes. Not a federal holiday; regular mail delivery and retail hours, including in Alaska.
Are banks open on Seward's Day?
Yes. Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar, which does not include Seward's Day.
Is the stock market open on Seward's Day?
Yes. Normal trading day.
Are federal offices open on Seward's Day?
Yes. Federal agencies and federal courts keep normal hours, including in Alaska.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Seward's Day?
It depends. Alaska state offices, courts and DMV locations close; some municipal offices close as well. No effect outside Alaska.
Are schools open on Seward's Day?
It depends. Alaska districts set their own calendars — some close, others hold classes. Schools elsewhere are open.
Are stores open on Seward's Day?
Yes. Normal hours statewide.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Seward's Day?
Yes. Normal hours.