South Dakota State Holidays
Discover upcoming public holiday dates for South Dakota and start planning to make the most of your time off.
South Dakota recognizes the same public holidays as the federal government, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. If New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Veteran’s Day or Christmas fall on a Sunday, it is observed on Monday. If those holidays fall on a Saturday, they are celebrated on Friday.
South Dakota recognizes Native American Day on the second Monday in October as a legal holiday. On this holiday, South Dakotans focus on the culture, traditions and background of Native American people. The holiday replaces Columbus Day in the state.
In addition, the state combines Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays on the third Monday in February, celebrating it as President’s Day. The governor, as well as the President of the United States, may authorize additional holidays in South Dakota.
When state offices are closed due to a holiday, state employees are entitled to paid days off as well. Although there is no law requiring employers to pay higher rates of pay if an employee must work on a holiday or to pay for holidays when the business is closed, many throughout South Dakota offer at least seven paid holidays to employees.