Michigan

US State Abbreviation

State of Michigan Holidays & Observances

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

Michigan State Day: January 26
Became the 26th State to join the Union that makes up our Nation.

For a complete State by State listing, click here

Michigan Official State Holidays

Michigan has been progressive in their holiday dates and has added a few dates to their Legal holidays in the past few years including the day after Thanksgiving, the day before Christmas and New Years Eve. There are also several house bills (House Bills 4446, 4447, 4448, 4449, 4544, 4545) recognizing diverse cultures and religions that passed the state House and if passed by the state Senate and signed by the Governor, will be included in Michigan's Recognized Observances. These include Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, Vaisakhi, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

List of Michigan Legal Public Holidays

Michigan's Official State Calendar, click here

New Year's Day - January 1

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

Presidents' Day - 3rd Monday in February

Memorial Day - last Monday in May

Juneteenth - June 19

Independence Day - July 4

Labor Day - 1st Monday in September

Veterans' Day - November 11

Thanksgiving Day & Day after Thanksgiving - 4th Thursday & Friday in November

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day - December 25

New Year's Eve - December 31

General Election Day - the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years

Michigan Special & Recognized Observances

Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day - first Monday following February 4

Grandparents' and Grandchildren's Day - March 18

Casimir Pulaski Day - October 11

Michigan Indian Day - 4th Friday in September

Arbor Day - date varies as determined each year by the Governor

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Day - May 29

American Family Day - first Sunday in August

Michigan Garden Week - first full week in June

Log Cabin Day - last Sunday in June

Pearl Harbor Day - December 7

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Days - April 24 and the period beginning on the Sunday before that day

Children's Memorial Day - 4th Friday in April

Cesar E. Chavez Day - March 31

President Gerald R. Ford Day - July 14

Henry Ford Day - July 30

Holocaust Remembrance Week - 27th day of the month of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar - the period beginning on the Sunday before that day through the following Sunday shall be the Days of Remembrance

Willie Horton Day - October 18

Michigan Manufacturing Day - Friday in the second full week of May

Armed Forces Commemoration Days:

Army is commemorated on June 14
Coast Guard is commemorated on August 4
Air Force is commemorated on September 18
Navy is commemorated on October 13
Marine Corps is commemorated on November 10

Police Officers Memorial Day - May 15

Firefighters Memorial Day - May 4

Juneteenth National Freedom Day - June 19

Sojourner Truth Day - November 26

State Statutes: (Source with Universal Citation)

Michigan Compiled Laws: Chapter 435 - Sundays and Holidays

Act 124 of 1865 - Legal Holidays (435.101 - 435.103)

435.101 Public holidays as to bills, checks, notes, and holding of courts; validity of bank transactions performed on Saturday; holding court or transacting business on Saturday; continuation of action, matter, or proceeding; adjournment of circuit court to secular day; validity of legal process, holding courts, or transaction of business on Saturday afternoons; closing of county or municipal offices on Saturday; state employees working on Sunday.

Sec. 1.

The following days namely: January 1, New Year's day; the third Monday in January in conjunction with the federal holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr. day; February 12, Lincoln's birthday; the third Monday of February, Washington's birthday; the last Monday of May, Memorial or Decoration day; July 4; the first Monday in September, Labor day; the second Monday in October, Columbus day; November 11, Veterans' day; December 25, Christmas day; every Saturday from 12 noon until 12 midnight, which is designated a half holiday; and the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving day, for all purposes regarding the presenting for payment or acceptance, and the protesting and giving notice of the dishonor of bills of exchange, bank checks, and promissory notes, also for the holding of courts, except as otherwise provided in this act, shall be treated and considered as the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, and as public holidays or half holidays. Bills, checks, and notes otherwise presentable for acceptance of payment on these days shall be considered as payable and presentable for acceptance or payment on the next secular or business day following the holiday or half holiday. A law in this state shall not affect the validity of, or render void or voidable, the payment, certification, or acceptance of a check or other negotiable instrument or any other transaction by a bank in this state, because done or performed on a Saturday between 12 noon and midnight, if the payment, certification, acceptance, or other transaction would be valid if done or performed before 12 noon on that Saturday. This act does not compel a bank, savings and loan association, or building and loan association in this state, which by law or custom is entitled to close at 12 noon on a Saturday, to keep open for the transaction of business or to perform the acts or transactions described in this section, on a Saturday after that hour except at its own option in construing this section, every Saturday, unless a whole holiday, shall for the holding of court and the transaction of business authorized by the laws of this state be considered a secular or business day. If the return or adjourn day in an action, matter, or hearing before a court, officer, referee, or arbitrators, falls on any of the days mentioned in this section except Sunday, then that action, matter, or proceeding, commenced or adjourned, shall not, by reason of coming on any of those days except Sunday, abate, but shall stand continued on the next succeeding day, at the same time and place unless the next day is the first day of the week, or a holiday, in which case it shall stand continued to the day succeeding the first day of the week or holiday, at the same time and place. When the first day of the general term of a circuit court, as fixed by the order of a circuit judge, falls upon either of the days mentioned in this section or when a circuit court is adjourned to a day mentioned in this section, that court may be adjourned to the following secular day. This act shall not prevent or invalidate the entry, issuance, service, or execution of a writ, summons, or confession of judgment, or other legal process, the holding courts or the transaction of lawful business except banking on any of the Saturday afternoons designated in this act as half holidays, nor shall this act prevent a bank, savings and loan association, or building and loan association from keeping its doors open or transacting its business on Saturday afternoons, if by vote of its directors it elects to do so. The legislative body of a county or city may, by ordinance or resolution, provide for the closing of county or municipal offices for any or for all purposes on every Saturday. This act shall not affect state employees working on a Sunday in accordance with their employment as construed by the civil service commission.

Act 28 of 1997 - Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day (435.111 - 435.111)

AN ACT to designate the first Monday following February 4 as Mrs. Rosa L. Parks day in the state of Michigan.

(1) The legislature recognizes the outstanding contributions to American life, history, and culture made by Mrs. Rosa L. Parks, a woman of great courage, vision, love, and faith, who for decades has resided in our great state and continues to serve the state of Michigan and her country by actively laboring to achieve equality for all. In commemoration of the significant role Mrs. Rosa L. Parks has played in the history of the state of Michigan and the nation, the legislature declares that the first Monday following February 4 of each year shall be known as "Mrs. Rosa L. Parks day".

(2) The legislature encourages individuals, educational institutions, and social, community, religious, labor, and business organizations to pause on Mrs. Rosa L. Parks day and reflect upon the significance of Mrs. Rosa L. Parks's love and important contributions to the history of the state of Michigan and to the history of this great nation.

Act 186 of 1985 - Grandparents' and Grandchildren's Day (435.121 - 435.121)

March 18 of each year shall be known as "grandparents' and grandchildren's day".

Act 198 of 1939 - Seventh Day of the Week (435.131 - 435.131)

Whenever in the statutes of this state, rights, privileges, immunities or exemptions are given or duties and responsibilities are imposed on persons who conscientiously believe the seventh day of the week ought to be observed as the sabbath, said sabbath or seventh day shall mean and be construed in accordance with the worship and belief of such persons to include the period from sunset on Friday evening to sunset on Saturday evening.

Act 121 of 1972 - Casimir Pulaski Day (435.141 - 435.141)

October 11 of each year shall be known as the "Casimir Pulaski Day".

Repealed - Act 258 of 1909 - Columbus Day (435.151 - 435.151) Repealed

Act 30 of 1974 - Michigan Indian Day (435.161 - 435.161)

The fourth Friday in September of each year shall be known as Michigan Indian day. This date is not to be construed as a legal holiday.

S.C.R. 6 of 1885 - Arbor Day (435.171 - 435.171)

Resolved (the House concurring), That the Governor is hereby requested to call the attention of the people of this State to the importance of planting trees for ornament and shade, by naming a day upon which this work shall be given special attention, to be known as "Arbor Day."

Act 250 of 1966 - John Fitzgerald Kennedy Day (435.181 - 435.181)

May 29 of each year shall be known as "John Fitzgerald Kennedy Day".

Act 236 of 1980 - American Family Day (435.191 - 435.191)

The first Sunday in August of each year shall be known as American family day.

Act 91 of 1989 - Michigan Garden Week (435.231 - 435.231)

The first full week in June of each year shall be known as "Michigan garden week".

Act 60 of 1989 - Log Cabin Day (435.241 - 435.241)

The last Sunday in June of each year shall be known as "log cabin day".

Act 157 of 2000 - Pearl Harbor Day (435.271 - 435.271)

(1) The legislature recognizes the enormous sacrifice made by the 2,335 servicemen and servicewomen who gave their lives in the defense of this nation during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Another 1,143 servicemen and servicewomen were injured during the attack. The legislature further recognizes that the attack on Pearl Harbor changed the course of history by bringing the United States into the war with Japan and Germany. In commemoration of this historic and tragic attack, the legislature declares that December 7 of each year shall be known as "Pearl Harbor Day".

(2) The legislature encourages individuals, governmental and educational institutions, and community organizations to pause on Pearl Harbor day and reflect upon the courage and sacrifice of those who died or were injured in that attack.

Act 558 of 2002 - Armenian Genocide Remembrance Days (435.281 - 435.281)

The legislature declares that April 24 of each year shall be the Michigan day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923, and that the period beginning on the Sunday before that day through the following Sunday shall be the days of remembrance in this state, in memory of the victims of the genocide, and in honor of the survivors.

Act 213 of 2003 - Children's Memorial Day (435.291 - 435.291)

(1) The legislature recognizes the great number of tragic deaths of children of all ages from all causes that occur each year. Each day in America many children and youths under age 20 commit suicide, are victims of a homicide, or die as a result of accidents. Many more children die from illness. In commemoration of this terrible toll, the legislature declares that the fourth Friday in April of each year shall be known as "Children's Memorial Day".

(2) The legislature encourages individuals, educational institutions, and social, community, religious, labor, and business organizations to pause on children's memorial day and reflect upon the precious resource that our children constitute and the great loss we suffer when we lose our children.

Act 225 of 2003 - Cesar E. Chavez Day; President Gerald R. Ford Day; Henry Ford Day (435.301 - 435.303)

435.301 “Cesar E. Chavez Day.”

Sec. 1.

(1) The legislature recognizes the fundamental contribution that Cesar E. Chavez made to this nation by organizing farm workers to campaign for safe and fair working conditions, reasonable wages, decent housing, and the outlawing of child labor. Cesar E. Chavez began working in the fields of Arizona and California at the age of 10. Profoundly influenced by these humble beginnings, Chavez embraced the nonviolent principles of Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to crusade against racial and economic discrimination, coordinate voter registration drives, and found the united farm workers of America. In 1994, Chavez was posthumously awarded the presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to civilians by the United States government. In memory of this great American, the legislature declares that March 31 of each year shall be known as "Cesar E. Chavez Day".

(2) The legislature encourages each individual in the great state of Michigan to pause on Cesar E. Chavez day and reflect upon the courage and sacrifice of a man Robert Kennedy once referred to as "one of the heroic figures of our time".

435.302 “President Gerald R. Ford Day.”

Sec. 2.

(1) The legislature recognizes the exceptional contributions to American life, history, and leadership made by Gerald R. Ford, the thirty-eighth president of the United States and the only United States president from Michigan, who for decades has served the United States and the state of Michigan. For much of his life, President Ford resided in Grand Rapids. He attended South high school in Grand Rapids and the university of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He served with distinction as a member of the United States house of representatives, vice president of the United States, and president of the United States. Among numerous other awards and honors, President Ford has received the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the nation, and the Congressional Gold Medal for his "dedicated public service and outstanding humanitarian contributions". In commemoration of the significant role Gerald R. Ford has played in the history of the state of Michigan and our nation, the legislature declares that July 14 of each year shall be known as "President Gerald R. Ford Day".

(2) The legislature encourages each individual in the great state of Michigan to pause on President Gerald R. Ford day and reflect upon the significance of President Ford's leadership and important contributions to the history of the state of Michigan and to the history of this great nation.

435.303 “Henry Ford Day.”

Sec. 3.

(1) The legislature recognizes the outstanding contributions to American life, history, and culture made by Henry Ford, founder of Ford motor company and a man of great vision. During most of his life, Henry Ford resided in Dearborn. He pioneered industrial mass production methods and made an automobile that was affordable for his workers. The Ford motor company debuted the Model T in 1908; by 1918, fully half of all cars sold in America were Model Ts. In 1910, Ford opened a large automobile factory in Highland Park; later, he introduced the moving assembly line. This innovation reduced costs, increased production, and revolutionized industrial manufacturing in the United States and abroad. In honor of the significant role Henry Ford has played in the history of the state of Michigan and the United States, the legislature declares that July 30 of each year shall be known as "Henry Ford Day".

(2) The legislature encourages each individual in the great state of Michigan to pause on Henry Ford day and reflect upon the significance of Henry Ford's contributions to the history of the state of Michigan and to the history of this great nation.

Act 10 of 2004 - Holocaust Remembrance Week (435.311 - 435.312)

(1) The legislature recognizes that the horrors of the Holocaust should never be forgotten. The Holocaust was the state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jewry by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945. In addition to the murder of some 6,000,000 Jews, millions more, including the handicapped, Poles, Gypsies, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, prisoners of war, and political dissidents, also suffered grievous oppression and death under Nazi tyranny.

(2) A key date in the history of the Holocaust is April 19, 1943, the beginning of the Warsaw ghetto uprising, when Jews, using homemade bombs and stolen or bartered weapons, resisted death camp deportation by the Nazis for 27 days. This date, which in the Hebrew calendar is the twenty-seventh day of Nisan, has been established by the United States congress as a national Holocaust remembrance day, and the week surrounding this date has been established as the Days of Remembrance.

(3) The legislature declares that the twenty-seventh day of the month of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar shall be Holocaust remembrance day, and that the period beginning on the Sunday before that day through the following Sunday shall be the Days of Remembrance in this state, in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, and in honor of the survivors, as well as the rescuers and liberators.

Act 53 of 2004 - Willie Horton Day (435.321 - 435.321)

The legislature recognizes the fundamental contribution that Willie Horton has made to the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan through his humanitarian works. Raised in a Detroit housing project, Willie fulfilled a boyhood dream by playing for his hometown team, the Detroit Tigers. Throughout his career, Willie has been involved with such organizations as the United Way, the Boys and Girls Club of America, Meals on Wheels, and the Foundation Fighting Blindness. His dedication to helping the youth of his city and beyond has been a hallmark of his playing career and in the years since he left the game. In 1967, Willie used his ambassadorship and goodwill to help crush the violence that erupted during the riots in Detroit. In 2000, the Detroit Tigers further honored this man by retiring his number and erecting a statue in his image at Comerica Park. In recognition of this great man, the legislature declares October 18 of each year to be known as "Willie Horton Day".

Act 115 of 2004 - Michigan Manufacturing Day (435.331 - 435.332)

In recognition of the importance of manufacturing to the development of the state and its economy, the legislature declares that the Friday in the second full week of May shall be known as "Michigan Manufacturing Day".

Act 402 of 2004 - Armed Forces Commemoration Act (435.341 - 435.343)

In recognition of the men and women who served in the United States armed forces, specifically the United States army, the United States navy, the United States marines, the United States air force, and the United States coast guard, the dates of founding of each branch shall be commemorated. The commemoration dates shall include all of the following:

(a) The United States army is commemorated on June 14.

(b) The United States coast guard is commemorated on August 4.

(d) The United States navy is commemorated on October 13.

(e) The United States marine corps is commemorated on November 10.

Act 438 of 2004 - Police Officers Memorial Day; Firefighters Memorial Day (435.351 - 435.352)

(1) In recognition of the men and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty while serving as law enforcement officers in the state of Michigan, May 15 of each year shall be known as "Police Officers Memorial Day".

(2) In recognition of the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as firefighters in the state of Michigan, May 4 of each year shall be known as "Firefighters Memorial Day".

Act 48 of 2005 - Juneteenth National Freedom Day; Sojourner Truth Day (435.361 - 435.361)

(1) The legislature recognizes that slavery existed in this country for more than 200 years. Millions of African-Americans were brought to this country as slaves stacked in the bottom of slave ships in a 5- to 12-week journey across the Atlantic Ocean known as the "middle passage". Although approximately 11-1/2 million African-Americans survived the voyage across the ocean, the number of those who died in the inhuman conditions of the passage is probably even higher. Once in this country, the captives were subjected to whipping, castration, branding, and rape. The legislature further observes that congress passed the thirteenth amendment to the United States constitution on January 31, 1865, abolishing slavery throughout the United States and its territories. In the following months, spontaneous celebrations erupted throughout the country whenever African-Americans learned of their freedom. News of the amendment reached the states at different times, and it was not until June 19, 1865 that the message of freedom reached the slaves in the western states. In honor of this great moment in the history of our nation, the legislature declares that the third Saturday in June of each year shall be known as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day". The legislature encourages individuals, educational institutions, and social, community, religious, labor, and business organizations to pause on Juneteenth National Freedom Day and reflect upon the strong survival instinct of the African-American slaves and the excitement and great joy with which African-Americans first celebrated the abolition of slavery. It is a reminder to all Americans of the status and importance of Americans of African descent as American citizens.

(2) The legislature recognizes the fundamental contribution Sojourner Truth made to the cause of abolition of slavery and the establishment of equal rights for women and to several other significant social reform and human justice movements in the nineteenth century. Truth toured the nation for over 40 years as a forceful and passionate advocate for the dispossessed, using her quick wit and fearless tongue to deliver her message of equality and justice. She lived in Battle Creek, Michigan, from 1857 until her death on November 26, 1883. Empowered by her religious faith, the former slave worked tirelessly for many years to transform national attitudes and institutions. According to Nell Painter, Princeton professor and Truth biographer, "No other woman who had gone through the ordeal of slavery managed to survive with sufficient strength, poise, and self-confidence to become a public presence over the long term". Designating Sojourner Truth Day in the state of Michigan will not only acknowledge the importance of this national figure in the antislavery and human justice movements, but will also recognize her strong ties to the state during her 26 years of residence here. In recognition of this great woman, the legislature declares November 26 of each year to be known as "Sojourner Truth Day".

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.

Copyright Notice: We understand that there are 100's of holiday sites and we are one that most use as a research and reference site. Please source our page when you use the creative content, listings and research we have provided. Thanks!