Mississippi State Holidays
Discover upcoming public holiday dates for Mississippi and start planning to make the most of your time off.
Mississippi recognizes all holidays acknowledged by the federal government including Washington’s Birthday, Independence Day and Labor Day. Holidays that fall on the weekend are celebrated on either Friday or Monday depending on which day the holiday falls. County courthouses close on the preceding Friday for Saturday holidays and on the following Monday for Sunday holidays.
Mississippi celebrates Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday on the third Monday in June, but some municipalities celebrate that holiday as Robert E. Lee’s birthday. Mississippi also celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday in April in honor of those who died in the American Civil War.
The state also combines National Memorial Day with Jefferson Davis’ birthday on the last Monday in May. Some areas of the state refer to Veteran’s Day as Armistice Day. Municipalities or counties may declare Mardi Gras Day to be a holiday in place of any one holiday throughout the year. Mardi Gras Day may not replace Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday or Veteran’s Day.
Although state law does not require them to do so, many employers throughout Mississippi provide paid holidays to their employees as a benefit. In addition, some voluntarily pay higher rates of pay in order to encourage employees to come in on holidays.