In 2025, Patriots' Day will be observed on Monday, April 21. This date is determined not by a fixed number but by its designation as a floating holiday. The specific day is calculated based on a consistent formula applied to the calendar each year.
The observance is legally mandated to fall on the third Monday of April in the states where it is an official public holiday, namely Massachusetts and Maine. This scheduling was established to create a three-day weekend. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War. While the historical anniversary is a fixed date, the official observance was moved to the floating Monday schedule.
The most prominent practical application associated with this date is the running of the Boston Marathon. The world-renowned race has been held on Patriots' Day annually since 1897, intrinsically linking the athletic competition with the civic and historical commemoration. This timing makes the date a significant point of interest for logistics, public services, and cultural events, particularly in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
