Thanksgiving is a holiday that we celebrate annually on the fourth Thursday of November. This year, it is Thursday, November 23, 2023. It originated as a day of thanksgiving and harvest festival, with the theme of the holiday revolving around giving thanks and the centerpiece of Thanksgiving celebrations remaining a Thanksgiving dinner.
It is a federal holiday. Here’s what you can expect on Thanksgiving in terms of what’s open, closed and/or service delays.
- Closed on Thursday: All federal offices and banks. Post offices are closed and there is no mail delivery. All Colorado State and most municipal government offices will be closed as well. For parking lots and meters, check signage and follow restrictions on days and hours.
- Open: A few retails stores, some grocery stores, restaurants and movie theaters.
Garbage collection:
For the City & County of Denver — Service is delayed one day following these holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, César Chávez Day (observed), Memorial Day, Juneteenth. Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.
Check with your local municipality or collection service for their holiday schedule.
Public Libraries:
Public libraries will be closed.
Public Transportation:
While RTD operates 365 days a year, typically it operates on a Sunday/Holiday schedule for all major holidays. RTD encourages customers to check bus and rail schedules when traveling over any holidays or holiday weekends.
Listed below is a lists of this year’s federal and state holidays and other special events.
2023 Federal Holiday Dates
Listed below are the 11 Federal Holidays for 2023 (opm.gov)
Monday, January 2: New Year’s Day – observed (January 1)
Monday, January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
**Monday, February 20: Presidents’ Day aka Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February)
Monday, May 29: Memorial Day (4th Monday in May)
Monday, June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
Tuesday, July 4: Independence Day
Monday, September 4: Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
***Monday, October 9: Indigenous Peoples’ Day aka Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
*Friday, November 10: Veterans Day – observed (November 11)
Thursday, November 23: Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday)
Monday, December 25: Christmas Day
*When federal holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they are observed on Friday or Monday, respectively.
**Washington’s Birthday is the federally recognized holiday though many locations use Presidents’ Day
***Columbus Day is still the federally recognized holiday though many states have adopted other names
2023 Colorado State Holidays
Colorado State Government offices and facilities observe the following state holidays. Federal offices are open. Retailers and the community have special celebrations.
Wednesday, June 19, 2023: Juneteenth
Monday, October 2, 2023: Frances Xavier Cabrini Day
*When state holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they are observed on Friday or Monday, respectively.
More info: https://tax.colorado.gov/holidays
2023 Other Holidays & Special Events
Sunday, January 22, 2023: Lunar New Year – Year of the Rabbit
Sunday, February 12, 2023: Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ
Tuesday, February 14: Valentine’s Day
Tuesday, February 21: Mardi Gras
Sunday, March 12: Daylight Savings time begins (2nd Sunday)
Friday, March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
Monday, March 20: Spring equinox
Thursday, March 23: Ramadan begins (ends Saturday, April 22 with Eid al-Fitr)
Wednesday, April 5: Passover begins at sundown
Sunday, April 9: Easter Sunday
Monday, April 17: Federal Income Tax Day
Friday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo
Sunday, May 14: Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday in May)
Wednesday, June 21: Summer solstice
Sunday, June 18: Father’s Day (3rd Sunday in June)
Friday, September 22: Autumn equinox
Tuesday, October 31: Halloween
Wednesday, November 1: Day of the Dead
Sunday, November 5: Daylight Savings ends (1st Sunday)
Friday, December 7: Hanukkah begins at sundown
Thursday, December 21: Winter solstice
Monday, December 25: Christmas
Tuesday, December 26: First day of Kwanzaa
Sunday, December 31: New Year’s Eve