South Dakota is definitely not one of those states where holidays are marked by any sort of celebration; they simply go about them the same way they conduct themselves, pragmatically. And as far as closures in government offices in relation to state holidays, their approach is quite straightforward: they will close the office if doing so would mean that there is a statutory or state reason for closure. And that’s it. No additional reasoning based on cultural considerations shuts down operations in the entire state.
Holidays that are celebrated on the list include the majority of the holidays that are mentioned in the statute, together with a number of holidays that have been legislated in South Dakota. One of the things that makes these holidays unique is that instead of celebrating Columbus Day, they celebrate Native American Day, which also has a long history that is rooted in South Dakota. During this holiday, offices close down, just like during other federal holidays and courts, and other governmental departments consequently follow suit.
The tables below show the days South Dakota state government offices close in 2027 and 2026, based on the legal holidays set by South Dakota law.
List of National and State Holidays in South Dakota for 2027
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 01 | Friday | New Year’s Day | Federal |
| 2 | Jan 18 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal |
| 3 | Feb 15 | Monday | Presidents’ Day (Lincoln’s and Washington’s Birthdays) | Federal |
| 4 | May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 5 | Jun 18 | Friday | Juneteenth (Observed) | Federal |
| 6 | Jul 05 | Monday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 7 | Sep 06 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 8 | Oct 11 | Monday | Native Americans’ Day | State |
| 9 | Nov 11 | Thursday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 10 | Nov 25 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 11 | Dec 24 | Friday | Christmas Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 12 | Dec 31 | Friday | New Year’s Day 2028 (Observed) | Federal |
South Dakota observes a holiday that falls on a Saturday on the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday on the following Monday. In 2027, Juneteenth and Christmas Day fall on a Saturday, so state offices close on Friday, June 18 and Friday, December 24. Independence Day falls on a Sunday, so offices close on Monday, July 5. New Year’s Day 2028 falls on a Saturday, so it is observed on Friday, December 31, 2027. The official 2027 state holiday schedule has not been published yet, so these dates follow the weekend rule in South Dakota law.
Official State Holidays in South Dakota for 2026
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 01 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Federal |
| 2 | Jan 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal |
| 3 | Feb 16 | Monday | Presidents’ Day | Federal |
| 4 | May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 5 | Jun 19 | Friday | Juneteenth National Independence Day | Federal |
| 6 | Jul 03 | Friday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 7 | Sep 07 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 8 | Oct 12 | Monday | Native Americans’ Day (replaces Columbus Day) | State |
| 9 | Nov 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 10 | Nov 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 11 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
How Holidays Work in South Dakota
State government closings in South Dakota align with both federally recognized holidays and a handful of additional holidays recognized specifically on the state level. The above list represents the holidays upon which all state offices are closed – a holiday indicated on this list will mean a closed operations day for all offices around the state.
A few things to note about this list:
- Native American Day is one of the few regional variations you will note in comparison to the rest of the states. It replaces the celebration of Columbus Day and is a statewide closure day.
- In 2027, Independence Day falls on a Sunday, so state offices close on Monday, July 5. A holiday that falls on a Saturday moves to the Friday before.
- Juneteenth is a state legal holiday in South Dakota as well as a federal holiday, so state offices close that day. In 2027, it falls on a Saturday, so offices close on Friday, June 18.
This list is uniformly followed by all state offices, courts, and most public institutions. Banks, on the other hand, follow the banking calendar as established by the federal banking calendar, which overlaps considerably but is not the governing factor with regard to state holidays.
FAQs
1. Does South Dakota observe Columbus Day?
No. The state recognizes Native American Day instead, and offices close statewide.
2. Why does Native American Day matter here?
It has legal recognition in South Dakota and is part of the official closure calendar.
3. Is Juneteenth a state holiday in South Dakota?
Yes. Juneteenth is a legal holiday under South Dakota law, so state offices close on June 19, or on the nearest weekday when it falls on a weekend.
4. If Independence Day is on a Saturday, do offices still close?
Yes. State offices close on the Friday before. In 2027, Juneteenth and Christmas Day fall on a Saturday, so offices close on Friday, June 18 and Friday, December 24.
5. Do local governments also follow this list?
Most do, but some counties or municipalities may have variations. This list applies to state government offices.
