In Massachusetts, Patriots' Day in 2025 will be observed on Monday, April 21. State law designates the holiday to fall on the third Monday in April each year. This scheduling convention ensures the observance consistently creates a three-day weekend.
The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the initial armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775. While the historical date is April 19, Massachusetts officially moved the public observance to the third Monday of the month in 1969. This legislative change aligned the state holiday with the federal Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which aimed to create more three-day weekends for the nation's workforce.
The determination of this date has significant practical applications, most notably for the scheduling of the Boston Marathon. Since 1897, the marathon has been held on Patriots' Day. Consequently, the third Monday in April is a date of major importance for state and municipal services, transportation planning, and public events in the Greater Boston area. The day is also marked by historical reenactments, parades, and the closure of public schools and state government offices.
