Patriot's Day is a state-level civic holiday, not a federal one, meaning closures are primarily confined to the states where it is an official public holiday: Massachusetts and Maine. Consequently, federal institutions such as U.S. Postal Service offices, federal courts, and Social Security offices remain open. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ also operate on a normal schedule. Closures are concentrated at the state and local levels within the observing states.
The specific entities that are typically closed in Massachusetts and Maine include all non-essential state, county, and municipal government offices. This encompasses Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs/RMVs), state and local courts, public libraries, and city or town halls. Public educational institutions, from K-12 schools to state-funded colleges and universities, are also closed for the day. While most private businesses, retail stores, and banks remain open, as it is not an official Federal Reserve bank holiday, some smaller local businesses or bank branches may choose to close or operate on reduced hours.
In practice, the most significant public impact, particularly in the Greater Boston area, is related to the Boston Marathon, which is held on this day. While not an institutional closure, the event necessitates extensive road closures along the 26.2-mile route from Hopkinton to Boston, profoundly affecting traffic and public transportation schedules. Therefore, accessibility in certain areas is limited more by the logistics of this major public event than by the holiday observance itself. For individuals outside of Massachusetts and Maine, the day proceeds as a normal business day with no closures.
