Patriots' Day in 2027 will be observed on Monday, April 19. This public holiday is statutorily defined in Massachusetts and Maine as the third Monday in April, a designation that determines its specific date each year.
The date of the observance is calculated based on its legislative definition rather than a fixed calendar day. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which occurred on April 19, 1775, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War. Originally celebrated on the fixed date of April 19, Massachusetts moved the observance to the third Monday in April beginning in 1969 to create a three-day weekend. Therefore, for the year 2027, the third Monday of April falls on the 19th, coinciding with the historical anniversary.
In practical terms, this observance means that state, county, and municipal government offices and public schools are closed in Massachusetts and Maine. The day is famously associated with the running of the Boston Marathon, an event that traditionally takes place on this holiday. Other significant activities include historical reenactments of the 1775 battles, parades, and commemorative ceremonies, particularly in the towns of Lexington and Concord.
