Patriots' Day is a state holiday observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine. For the current year, this observance falls on April 15, 2024. It is also a public school holiday in Wisconsin, though it is not a legal state holiday there.
The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, which took place on April 19, 1775. Initially observed on the fixed date of April 19, the commemoration was moved to the third Monday of the month in Massachusetts in 1969 and in Maine in 1970. This change aligns with the common practice of shifting holidays to a Monday to create a three-day weekend.
In practice, Patriots' Day is marked by several significant cultural and sporting events. The most prominent is the Boston Marathon, which has been held on the holiday every year since 1897. Additionally, the Boston Red Sox traditionally play a home game at Fenway Park on the morning of Patriots' Day. Historical reenactments of the battles and related events are also held in Lexington, Concord, and other historic sites in Massachusetts, drawing spectators and participants to celebrate the historical significance of the date.
