State of Arkansas Holidays & Observances
Comprehensive list Arkansas Official National and State Holidays and how they are observed
Arkansas State Day: June 15
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Arkansas Official State Holidays
Holidays in Arkansas are declared in the Arkansas State Statutes and include both public official holidays and special days and observances. Arkansas is one of a few states who still lists confederate holidays as special observance days but no longer includes them as public holidays.
List of Arkansas Legal Public Holidays
A holiday falling on a Saturday will be observed on the preceding Friday. A holiday falling on a Sunday will be observed on the succeeding Monday.
New Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday - 3rd Monday in January
George Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) and Daisy Gatson Bates Day - 3rd Monday in February
Memorial Day - last Monday in May
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - 1st Monday in September
Veterans' Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - December 24 & 25
Arkansas Special Observances
Memorial Days
General Douglas MacArthur Day — January 26
Silas Hunt Day — February 2
Abraham Lincoln's Birthday — February 12
Arkansas Teachers' Day — First Tuesday in March
Arbor Day — Third Monday in March
Patriots' Day — April 19
Arkansas Bird Day — April 26
Good Friday — Friday preceding Easter
Jefferson Davis' Birthday — June 3
Columbus Day — October 12
Senator Hattie W. Caraway Day — December 19
Robert E. Lee Day — Second Saturday in October; and
John H. Johnson Day — November 1
Other Recognized Observances
Confederate Flag Day - Saturday immediately preceding Easter Sunday
White Cane Safety Day - October 15
Prisoners of War Remembrance Day - April 9
National Garden Week - 1st full week in June
Arkansas Agriculture Recognition Day - first Friday of March
POW/MIA Recognition Day - 3rd Friday in September
Native American Heritage Week - 3rd week in September
Juneteenth Independence Day - 3rd Saturday in June
Firefighter Recognition Day - January 27
Hemophilia Awareness Day - 1st Monday in May
Arkansas Music Appreciation Day - September 1
National Day of the Cowboy - 4th Saturday in July
Sultana Disaster Remembrance Day - April 27
State Statutes: (Source with Universal Citation)
2020 Arkansas Code: Title 1: Chapter 5 - Holidays and Observances: § 1-5-101. Official holidays (a) The following days are declared to be the sole official holidays applicable to state government in Arkansas: (1) New Year's Day — January 1; (2) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday — the third Monday in January; (3) George Washington's Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day — the third Monday in February; (4) Memorial Day — the last Monday in May; (5) Independence Day — July 4; (6) Labor Day — the first Monday in September; (7) Veterans Day — November 11; (8) Thanksgiving Day — the fourth Thursday in November; (9) Christmas Eve — December 24; (10) Christmas Day — December 25; and (11) An employee's birthday — an employee is granted one (1) holiday to observe his or her birthday. (b) A holiday falling on a Saturday will be observed on the preceding Friday. A holiday falling on a Sunday will be observed on the succeeding Monday. (c) It is the specific intent of the General Assembly that all state employees shall be entitled to eleven (11) paid holidays per year. The Office of Personnel Management shall promulgate rules and regulations to assure this legislative intent.
This article updated as of October 2023. While every attempt is made to be sure the information is accurate, we do not guarantee the information provided. States determine these holidays and new calendars and dates observed each year and may eliminate or add holidays and observances. Please check with your local state government website for the most up to date information and legal holiday guidelines.
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Country Observances
Holiday Date | Country Holiday | Observance Type | Religion/Belief |
---|---|---|---|
State Arbor Day - Arkansas | Local, Noteworthy |