The US has a number of holidays - official and/or cultural - of which the traveller should be aware (special events, closures, changed schedules, disruption, etc.) Note that holidays observed on Mondays are usually treated as weekend-long events.
- New Years Day (January 1) - most businesses closed; hangovers from parties the previous night, football parties
- Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January) - many government offices and banks closed; diversity-awareness programs
- St. Valentine's Day (February 14) - no significant closures; romantic evenings out
- Presidents Day (third Monday in February) - (also Washington's Birthday) - many government offices and banks closed; few observances
- St. Patrick's Day (March 17) - no significant closures; Irish-themed parades during the day, and parties in the evening. Travellers may want to be wary of the drunken revelry and associated drunk driving crackdowns.
- Easter (a Sunday in March or April) - few significant closures; religious observances
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May) - most non-retail/tourism businesses closed; some patriotic observances; extensive travel to beaches and parks; traditional beginning of summer tourism season
- Independence Day / Fourth of July (July 4) - most businesses closed; patriotic parades, fireworks after dark
- Labor Day (first Monday in September) - most businesses closed; extensive travel to beaches and parks; traditional ending of summer tourism season
- Columbus Day (second Monday in October) - many government offices and banks closed; few observances
- Halloween (October 31) - no significant closures - trick-or-treating and costume parties in the evening
- Veterans Day (November 11) - many government offices and banks closed; some patriotic observances
- Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November, unofficially the Friday and weekend after) - most non-retail businesses closed; family gatherings, on Friday major Christmas shopping begins
- Christmas (December 25) - most businesses and restaurants closed the evening before and all day; exchanging gifts, religious observances. If you need food from a restaurant, your best bet will be Chinese and Indian restaurants. Plan ahead in case there are no restaurants open in your area.
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