Louisiana State Holidays
Discover upcoming public holiday dates for Louisiana and start planning to make the most of your time off.
Louisiana is unique in that the state is divided into parishes rather than counties like many other states in the country. In some cases, holidays are celebrated in certain parishes and not in others. However, there are holidays that are celebrated throughout the state, many of which are recognized by the federal government as well.
Federal holidays such as Washington’s Birthday, Independence Day and Labor Day are all celebrated in Louisiana. Public employees are given paid holidays on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Every four years, Inauguration Day is considered a holiday and every two years General Election Day is holiday with public offices closed.
The state of Louisiana celebrates Battle of New Orleans Day on January 8 to commemorate General Andrew Jackson’s victory on Lake Champlain near New Orleans. On January 19, Louisiana celebrates Robert E. Lee Day while Martin Luther King Jr Day is celebrated on the third Monday in January. Mardi Gras is also celebrated throughout Louisiana. Most public offices are open on all these holidays, although some parishes have ordinances requiring public offices to close during Mardi Gras.