State of Florida Holidays & Observances

Comprehensive list Florida Official National and State Holidays and how they are observed

Florida Day: Pascua Florida Day, April 2 
Celebrates the discovery of Florida and Juan Ponce de León's arrival in what is now the state of Florida.

Florida State Day: March 3
Became the 27th State to join the Union that makes up our Nation.

For a complete State by State listing, click here

 

List of Florida Legal Public Holidays 

The long list of Florida's holidays may surprise you. The Florida state statutes lists both legal holidays and special observances.

The current list of legal holidays includes 21 holidays, with Sunday each week being one of them. Note that while Florida lists these holidays as "legal" holidays, the statutes also state that there may or may not be government offices closed. It is basically left up to the localities within the state to decide. The statutes also state that if a legal holiday falls on a Sunday, it will be observed on Monday. 

Sunday - first day of each week

New Year's Day - January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday - 3rd Monday in January

Birthday of Robert E. Lee - January 19 - Confederate 

Lincoln’s Birthday - February 12 - Historical

Washington’s Birthday (Presidents' Day) - 3rd Monday in February - Historical

Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday - February 15 - Historical

Good Friday - Date varies - Religious

Pascua Florida Day, April 2 - State Day

Confederate Memorial Day, April 26 - Confederate

Memorial Day - last Monday in May 

Birthday of Jefferson Davis, June 3 - Confederate

Flag Day, June 14 - National

Independence Day - July 4

Labor Day - 1st Monday in September

Columbus Day and Farmers’ Day - Monday in October

Veterans' Day - November 11

General Election Day - Date varies - National

Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November

Christmas Day - December 25

Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras - Religious

 

Florida is one of 10 states that still celebrate Confederate Holidays. While attempts have been made to remove these, it is unlikely with a Conservative Republican dominated government in Florida. 

 

Florida's Special Observances

There are over 30 special observances that are recognized, some of which are directed toward education of Florida students about cultural and historical topics. Most use the terminology that the they "may" be proclaimed by the governor each year as a legal holiday or that local governments "may" observe them. Here is the list with the Florida Statute. 

January

683.195 Florida Jewish History Month - month of January

683.33 Three Kings Day / Epiphany - January 6 

683.04 Arbor Day - The third Friday in January 
 - plant a tree

683.08 Gasparilla Day, legal holiday in Hillsborough County - last Saturday in January

 

February

683.333 Foster Family Appreciation Week - second week of February 

683.24 Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Day - February 6

683.26 Ronald Reagan Day - February 6

683.12 Parade Day, Hillsborough County - end of February - beginning of March - the Hillsborough County Fair and Plant City Strawberry Festival in Hillsborough County shall be a legal holiday within said county

 

March

683.147 Medal of Honor Day - March 25

683.18 Save the Florida Panther Day - third Saturday of March

 

April

683.06 Pascua Florida Day & Week - April 2 aka Florida State Day, week of March 27 to April 2
 - in honor of the anniversary of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon's first sighting of our state

683.185 Everglades Day - April 7 
 - in honor of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who fought to protect the Everglades.

683.17 Parents’ and Children’s Day - first Sunday in April - wear a white ribbon on Parents’ and Children’s Day which shall indicate that our children are considered to be special gifts and are valued for their part in the circle of life. Celebrate the lives and blessings of Florida’s children with love, respect, gratitude, and encouragement, acknowledge our children as the resource giving our state the greatest hope of future excellence, listen to children and reaffirm our shared commitment to help them develop their unique qualities, strengths, and potential, resulting in greater productive capacity and enlightened citizenship

683.05 Pan-American Day - April 14 
 - honor and unite with Latin America

683.14 Patriots’ Day -  April 19 
 - commemorating battles of the American Revolution

683.09 DeSoto Day, legal holiday in Manatee County - last Friday of DeSoto Week - April

 

May

683.11 Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and Law Enforcement Appreciation Month - May 1 / Month of May

683.115 Law Enforcement Memorial Day / Peace Officers Memorial Day - May 15
 - to honor those who have fallen for service and sacrifice. 

683.22 Law Day and Law Week - May 1 and the week starting with the Sunday on or preceding May 1 

683.331 Child Welfare Professionals Recognition Day - second Monday in May
 - to recognize the efforts of all professionals who work with abused children and dysfunctional families

683.15 Teacher’s Day - third Friday in May 

 

June

683.3341 Responsible Fatherhood Month - month of June
 - to recognize the importance of fathers in their children’s lives, how fathers contribute to their children’s safety and stability, and the direct link between positive father involvement and child well-being.

683.21 Juneteenth Day - June 19th (national observance)
  - celebrating the freedom of slaves in the U.S.

 

August

683.146 Purple Heart Day - August 7
 - to honor those wounded or killed while serving in any branch of the United States Armed Services

 

September

683.1455 American Founders’ Month - month of September 

683.332   Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (Ronshay Dugans Act) - first week of September

683.23 Florida Missing Children’s Day - second Monday in September 

683.335 9/11 Heroes’ Day - September 11

683.10 Grandparents’ and Family Caregivers’ Day - first Sunday after Labor Day

 

October

683.145 I Am An American Day - The third Sunday in October 
 - to celebrate everyone who became an American through naturalization or coming of age

 

November

683.334 Victims of Communism Day - November 7 

683.1475 Veterans Week - week beginning with the Sunday preceding or on November 11 

683.16 Retired Teachers’ Day - Sunday commencing the third week of November

 

December

683.25 Bill of Rights Day - December 15

683.325 Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day - December 21, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year
 - to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness

 

Additional Dates

683.13 State observance of national day of mourning - Observance by the state of any day of mourning, as proclaimed by the Governor in response to the designation of a national day of mourning by the President of the United States, may be by declaring that the following Sunday shall be observed as the day of mourning.

683.19 Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Good Friday - may be designated as legal holidays by chief circuit judges within the judicial circuit.

 

 

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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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