What's open on St. Patrick's Day 2027?
St. Patrick's Day is not a public 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 | Regular mail delivery and retail hours. |
| Banks | Open | Not on the Federal Reserve holiday schedule; normal hours. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Normal trading day. |
| Federal offices | Open | Normal hours nationwide. |
| State and local government | Open | Normal hours, except some Boston-area offices closed for Suffolk County's Evacuation Day. |
| Public schools | Open | Regular classes nationwide; some Boston-area closures for Evacuation Day. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Normal hours; party and grocery aisles stock green merchandise. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Open and busy — Irish pubs and bars often have their biggest day of the year. |
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.
St. Patrick's Day 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 St. Patrick's Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on St. Patrick's Day?
Yes. Regular mail delivery and retail hours.
Are banks open on St. Patrick's Day?
Yes. Not on the Federal Reserve holiday schedule; normal hours.
Is the stock market open on St. Patrick's Day?
Yes. Normal trading day.
Are federal offices open on St. Patrick's Day?
Yes. Normal hours nationwide.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on St. Patrick's Day?
Yes. Normal hours, except some Boston-area offices closed for Suffolk County's Evacuation Day.
Are schools open on St. Patrick's Day?
Yes. Regular classes nationwide; some Boston-area closures for Evacuation Day.
Are stores open on St. Patrick's Day?
Yes. Normal hours; party and grocery aisles stock green merchandise.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on St. Patrick's Day?
Yes. Open and busy — Irish pubs and bars often have their biggest day of the year.