United States laws currently establishes eleven public holidays for Federal employees. Since most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule, when a holiday falls on the weekend the holiday usually is observed on Friday if the holiday falls on Saturday or on Monday if the holiday falls on Sunday.
For every federal holiday, many businesses also observe the federal holiday schedule. Of course, for many other employees it’s a regular workday, although often with overtime pay.
Listed below are the businesses that typically close and those that remain open on federal holidays.
What’s Closed and Open on Federal Holidays
- Closed: All federal offices and banks. Post offices are closed and there is no mail delivery. All Colorado State and most municipal government offices will be closed as well. For parking lots and meters, check signage and follow restrictions on days and hours.
- Open: Retails store, grocery stores, drug stores, gas stations, parks, restaurants and movie theaters.
Garbage collection:
For the City & County of Denver — Service is delayed one day following these holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, César Chávez Day (observed), Memorial Day, Juneteenth. Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.
Check with your local municipality or collection service for their holiday schedule.
Public Libraries:
Most public libraries are closed but you should check your local district.
Public Transportation:
While RTD operates 365 days a year, typically it operates on a Sunday/Holiday schedule for all major holidays. RTD encourages customers to check bus and rail schedules when traveling over any holidays or holiday weekends.
Listed below is a lists of this year’s federal and state holidays and other special events.
2024 Federal Holiday Dates
Listed below are the 11 Federal Holidays for 2024 (opm.gov)
Monday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
*Monday, February 19: Presidents’ Day aka Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February)
Monday, May 27: Memorial Day (4th Monday in May)
Wednesday, June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
Thursday, July 4: Independence Day
Monday, September 2: Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
**Monday, October 14: Indigenous Peoples’ Day aka Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
Monday, November 11: Veterans Day
Thursday, November 28: Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday)
Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day
**Washington’s Birthday is the federally recognized holiday though many locations use Presidents’ Day
***Columbus Day is still the federally recognized holiday though many states have adopted other names
2024 Colorado State Holidays
Colorado State Government offices and facilities observe the following state holidays. Federal offices are open. Retailers and the community have special celebrations.
Monday, April 1, 2024: Cesar Chavez Day
Wednesday, June 19, 2024: Juneteenth
Monday, October 7, 2023: Frances Xavier Cabrini Day
*When state holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they are observed on Friday or Monday, respectively.
More info: https://tax.colorado.gov/holidays
2024 Other Holidays & Special Events
Saturday, February 10, 2024: Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon
Sunday, February 11, 2024: Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
Tuesday, February 13: Mardi Gras
Wednesday, February 14: Valentine’s Day
Sunday, March 10: Daylight Savings time begins (2nd Sunday)
Sunday, March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
Wednesday, March 20: Spring equinox
Sunday, March 31: Easter Sunday
Monday, April 15: Federal Income Tax Day
Monday, April 22: Passover begins at sundown
Sunday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo
Sunday, May 12: Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday in May)
Sunday, June 16: Father’s Day (3rd Sunday in June)
Friday, June 21: Summer solstice
Sunday, September 22: Autumn equinox
Thursday, October 31: Halloween
Friday, November 1: Day of the Dead
Sunday, November 3: Daylight Savings ends (1st Sunday)
Sunday, December 21: Winter solstice
Wednesday, December 25: Hanukkah begins at sundown
Wednesday, December 25: Christmas
Thursday, December 26: First day of Kwanzaa
Tuesday, December 31: New Year’s Eve