CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Patriots’ Day is a Massachusetts state holiday, which is held on the third Monday of April to commemorate the 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord, which began the American Revolution.

Back in 1894, Patriots Day was established by Governor Frederic T. Greenhalge but it is not a federally-recognized holiday. Massachusetts, Maine, Wisconsin, Connecticut and North Dakota celebrate Patriots’ Day. Many services that are typically unavailable on holidays are available on Patriots’ Day.

  • Banks: Most open
  • Courts: Closed
  • Federal Offices: Open
  • Libraries: Most closed
  • Malls: Open regular hours
  • Municipal Offices: Closed
  • Post Office: Open, mail delivery as scheduled
  • Registry of Motor Vehicles: Closed
  • Restaurants: Open
  • Retail Stores: Open
  • State Offices: Closed
  • Stock Market: Open

Once again this year, celebrations will be muted by the pandemic. Large-scale, in-person reenactments of the battles are canceled for the second year. The Boston Marathon course will remain quiet with the 2021 race scheduled for October 11. With vaccines now ramping up, and as we inch closer to herd immunity, the Boston Athletic Association is looking forward to holding the annual race in person once again.

The Boston Marathon was established in 1897 and for decades the race was run in person on April 19th. That was until COVID-19 hit the Commonwealth and the race was postponed for the first time in 123 years.

“We’re just walking around, we’ve been to a few stores. We went swimming in the hotel, so we’re about to go have some lunch and enjoy the nice day,” said a Westfield family spending the day in Boston.

The deadline to register for the October Marathon is coming up, so if you do want to lace up your sneakers and join in on the fun, you can sign up on the Boston Athletic Association’s website.

One Patriots’ Day tradition will continue this year, the Red Sox will play at home, wearing special new uniforms to commemorate the day.

Members of the Massachusetts legislature want to establish a special commission on the 250th anniversary of the American revolution, now just four years away.

Happy Patriots’ Day

Several municipalities posted on social media to recognize the holiday.