State of Utah Holidays & Observances

Comprehensive list Utah Official National and State Holidays and how they are observed

Utah State Day: January 4
Became the 45th State to join the Union that makes up our Nation.

For a complete State by State listing, click here

 

List of Utah Legal Public Holidays 

Sunday - first day of each week

New Year's Day - January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday - 3rd Monday in January

Washington and Lincoln Day / Presidents' Day - 3rd Monday in February

Memorial Day - last Monday in May

Juneteenth National Freedom Day - June 19

Independence Day - July 4

Pioneer Day - July 24

Labor Day - 1st Monday in September

Columbus Day - 2nd Monday of October

Veterans' Day - November 11

Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November

Christmas Day - December 25

 

Utah State Commemorative Observances

Utah History Day at the Capitol - the Friday immediately following the fourth Monday in January

Day of Remembrance for Incarceration of Japanese Americans - February 19

Utah State Flag Day - March 9

Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day - March 29

Utah Railroad Workers Day - May 10

Dandy-Walker Syndrome Awareness Day - May 11

Armed Forces Day - 3rd Saturday in May

Juneteenth Freedom Day - 3rd Saturday in June

Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day - June 30

Navajo Code Talker Day - August 14

Rachael Runyan/Missing and Exploited Children's Day - August 26

Constitution Day - September 17

POW/MIA Recognition Day - 3rd Friday in September

Victims of Communism Memorial Day - November 7

Indigenous People Day - Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving

Bill of Rights Day - December 15

Clean Out the Medicine Cabinet Month - April

Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week - 2nd full week of April

State Water Week - 1st full week of May

Workplace Safety Week - 3rd full week of June

Utah Fallen Heroes Days - 2nd Friday and Saturday in August

Drowsy Driving Awareness Week - 3rd full week in August

Gang Prevention Awareness Week - 3rd full week of September

Italian-American Heritage Month - October

American Indian Heritage Month - November

Avalanche Awareness Week - 1st full week of December

 

 

 

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State Statutes:  (Source)

63G-1-301. Legal holidays -- Personal preference day -- Governor authorized to declare additional days.

(1)

(a) The following named days are legal holidays in this state:

(i) every Sunday, except as provided in Subsection (1)(e);

(ii) January 1, called New Year's Day;

(iii) the third Monday of January, called Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day;

(iv) the third Monday of February, called Washington and Lincoln Day;

(v) the last Monday of May, called Memorial Day;

(vi) on the day described in Subsection (1)(f), Juneteenth National Freedom Day;

(vii) July 4, called Independence Day;

(viii) July 24, called Pioneer Day;

(ix) the first Monday of September, called Labor Day;

(x) the second Monday of October, called Columbus Day;

(xi) November 11, called Veterans Day;

(xii) the fourth Thursday of November, called Thanksgiving Day;

(xiii) December 25, called Christmas; and

(xiv) all days which may be set apart by the President of the United States, or the governor of this state by proclamation as days of fast or thanksgiving.

(b) If any of the holidays under Subsections (1)(a)(ii) through (v) or Subsections (1)(a)(vii) through (xiv), falls on Sunday, then the following Monday shall be the holiday.

(c) If any of the holidays under Subsections (1)(a)(ii) through (v) or Subsections (1)(a)(vii) through (xiv) falls on Saturday, then the preceding Friday shall be the holiday.

(d) Each employee may select one additional day, called Personal Preference Day, to be scheduled pursuant to rules adopted by the Division of Human Resource Management.

(e) For purposes of Utah Constitution Article VI, Section 16, Subsection (1), regarding the exclusion of state holidays from the 45-day legislative general session, Sunday is not considered a state holiday.

(f)

(i) The Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on June 19, if that day is on a Monday.

(ii) If June 19 is on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, the Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on the immediately preceding Monday.

(iii) If June 19 is on a Saturday or Sunday, the Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on the immediately following Monday.

(2)

(a) Whenever in the governor's opinion extraordinary conditions exist justifying the action, the governor may:

(i) declare, by proclamation, legal holidays in addition to those holidays under Subsection (1); and

(ii) limit the holidays to certain classes of business and activities to be designated by the governor.

(b) A holiday may not extend for a longer period than 60 consecutive days.

(c) Any holiday may be renewed for one or more periods not exceeding 30 days each as the governor may consider necessary, and any holiday may, by like proclamation, be terminated before the expiration of the period for which it was declared.


63G-1-401. Commemorative periods.

(1) The following days shall be commemorated annually:

(a) Utah History Day at the Capitol, on the Friday immediately following the fourth Monday in January, to encourage citizens of the state, including students, to participate in activities that recognize Utah's history;

(b) Day of Remembrance for Incarceration of Japanese Americans, on February 19, in remembrance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II;

(c) Utah State Flag Day, on March 9;

(d) Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, on March 29;

(e) Utah Railroad Workers Day, on May 10;

(f) Dandy-Walker Syndrome Awareness Day, on May 11;

(g) Armed Forces Day, on the third Saturday in May, in honor of men and women who are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces around the world in defense of freedom;

(h) Juneteenth Freedom Day, on the third Saturday in June, in honor of Union General Gordon Granger proclaiming the freedom of all slaves on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas;

(i) Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day, on June 30;

(j) Navajo Code Talker Day, on August 14;

(k) Rachael Runyan/Missing and Exploited Children's Day, on August 26, the anniversary of the day three-year-old Rachael Runyan was kidnaped from a playground in Sunset, Utah, to:

(i) encourage individuals to make child safety a priority;

(ii) remember the importance of continued efforts to reunite missing children with their families; and

(iii) honor Rachael Runyan and all Utah children who have been abducted or exploited;

(l) Constitution Day, on September 17;

(m) POW/MIA Recognition Day, on the third Friday in September;

(n) Victims of Communism Memorial Day, on November 7;

(o) Indigenous People Day, on the Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving; and

(p) Bill of Rights Day, on December 15.

(2) The Department of Veterans and Military Affairs shall coordinate activities, special programs, and promotional information to heighten public awareness and involvement relating to Subsections (1)(g) and (m).

(3) The month of April shall be commemorated annually as Clean Out the Medicine Cabinet Month to:

(a) recognize the urgent need to make Utah homes and neighborhoods safe from prescription medication abuse and poisonings by the proper home storage and disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications; and

(b) educate citizens about the permanent medication disposal sites in Utah listed on useonlyasdirected.org that allow disposal throughout the year.

(4) The second full week of April shall be commemorated annually as Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week to recognize and increase awareness within the community of the services that animal care and control professionals provide.

(5) The first full week of May shall be commemorated annually as State Water Week to recognize the importance of water conservation, quality, and supply in the state.

(6) The third full week of June shall be commemorated annually as Workplace Safety Week to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of safety in the workplace.

(7) The second Friday and Saturday in August shall be commemorated annually as Utah Fallen Heroes Days to:

(a) honor fallen heroes who, during service in the military or public safety, have sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the citizens of the state; and

(b) encourage political subdivisions to acknowledge and honor fallen heroes.

(8) The third full week in August shall be commemorated annually as Drowsy Driving Awareness Week to:

(a) educate the public about the relationship between fatigue and driving performance; and

(b) encourage the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation to recognize and promote educational efforts on the dangers of drowsy driving.

(9) The third full week of September shall be commemorated annually as Gang Prevention Awareness Week.

(10) The month of October shall be commemorated annually as Italian-American Heritage Month.

(11) The month of November shall be commemorated annually as American Indian Heritage Month.

(12) The first full week of December shall be commemorated annually as Avalanche Awareness Week to:

(a) educate the public about avalanche awareness and safety;

(b) encourage collaborative efforts to decrease annual avalanche accidents and fatalities; and

(c) honor Utah residents who have lost their lives in avalanches, including those who lost their lives working to prevent avalanches.

 

 

 

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This article updated as of November 2023. While every attempt is made to be sure the information is accurate, we do not guarantee the information provided. States determine these holidays and new calendars and dates observed each year and may eliminate or add holidays and observances. Please check with your local state government website for the most up to date information and legal holiday guidelines. 

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