Before filling your baskets with goodies, planning an egg hunt and decorating for the holiday, Christian communities all over the world will celebrate Good Friday. For those who observe, the day is full of fasting, reflection and prayer. Though, if you don’t celebrate and are planning to do some shopping, it might surprise you that certain locations will be closed come March 29.
While the United States Department of Commerce does not recognize Good Friday as one of its 10 federal holidays, 12 states do: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee and Texas. In other words, banks, government-run offices, courts, buildings, public libraries and schools in those states will be closed, and you’ll want to check with your local restaurants and retailers to see if they’ll be open on the Friday before Easter.
In other states, it’s best to contact the stores near you to confirm operating hours, but as a convenient starting point, we’ve compiled a list of what will be open and closed on Good Friday.
Banks
Most banks will be open on Good Friday, but some may have modified hours. Call your local branch before you visit.
U.S. Post Office
USPS will be open on Good Friday and Easter. UPS and FedEx have also stayed open in the past on Good Friday, but both have been closed on Easter Sunday.
Government Offices
City, state and federal government buildings, including courthouses, will remain open. Many, however, might have reduced hours.
Public Schools
There isn’t a hard and fast rule for public schools on Good Friday. But most public schools will carry on with teaching. Others may include Good Friday in their spring recess, or spring break. It’s very common for Catholic schools and other religious institutions to be closed on Good Friday, so students and staff can observe the holy day.
Stock Market
U.S. stock markets will be closed on Good Friday. This includes the New York Stock Exchange Market and Nasdaq, which means all trading activity must be finished by Thursday or moved to the following Monday.
Public Libraries
Select libraries around the country will be closed on Good Friday. Check your local library to see if they remain open or not. Regardless, you can access your library’s range of e-books, audiobooks and more through apps like Libby.
Stores and Restaurants
Most convenience stores, pharmacies and grocery stores will be open on Good Friday and even keep their locations open on Easter. Many restaurants and fast food chains, including Starbucks, McDonald’s and Olive Garden have been open for curbside pickup, delivery and dine-in eating.
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