Yes, Patriots' Day is a legal holiday in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its official status is established under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 4, Section 7, Clause Eighteenth, which enumerates the public holidays recognized by the state. The day commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War.
Observed annually on the third Monday in April, the holiday's legal designation means that state, county, and municipal government offices and agencies are closed. Public schools and many public institutions, such as libraries, also cease operations for the day. While it is a recognized holiday in Massachusetts and Maine, it is not a federal holiday; therefore, federal offices, such as post offices, and many private-sector businesses may remain open at their own discretion.
The practical application of its status as a legal holiday facilitates major civic and cultural events. The most notable of these are the Boston Marathon, which has been run on Patriots' Day since 1897, and the traditional morning home game for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The closure of public institutions and reduced traffic on many routes allows for the large-scale logistics required to host these significant regional events.
