Florida State Holidays

Official Florida State Holidays and local observances vary across the year, making it essential to have a reliable local calendar. While federal closures apply across the United States, Florida officially recognizes unique state legal holidays and community observances deeply rooted in its local Sunshine State history. Select a section below to explore official closure dates, discover top state parks, browse annual cultural festivals, and dive into fascinating state facts!

Florida State Holidays

Florida handles state holidays a bit differently than most states. While Florida Statute 683.01 formally declares a long list of legal historical days, the Florida Department of Management Services officially designates only one state-specific legal holiday that state agencies close for in addition to the federal schedule.

For the 2026 calendar year, Florida's state-specific legal closing holiday falls on this exact date:

• The Friday After Thanksgiving – Observed on Friday, November 27, 2026. While the federal government only closes on Thanksgiving Thursday, the State of Florida treats the following Friday as a full official paid holiday, closing all state offices, agencies, and non-essential buildings. Date Rule: Observed annually on the Friday immediately following the fourth Thursday of November

• Robert E. Lee's Birthday – January 19 (Fixed date; recognized by statutory law since 1895 though state offices remain open).

• Lincoln's Birthday – February 12 (Fixed date; recognized by statutory law though state offices remain open).

• Confederate Heroes Memorial Day – April 26 (Fixed date; recognized by statutory law since 1895 though state offices remain open).

• Birthday of Jefferson Davis – June 3 (Fixed date; recognized by statutory law since 1905 though state offices remain open)

(Note: Unlike the federal government, Florida state offices do not close on Presidents' Day, Columbus Day, or Juneteenth. State offices remain fully open on those days.)

Local Florida
Observance Days

Other Unique Florida Observances:

These are official, state-recognized commemorative days found in the Florida Statutes. They do not involve state office closures, but the Governor issues annual proclamations for them.

Months:

• Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month – The Month of February (Sponsored by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association to celebrate the peak winter harvest centered in Plant City).

• Fresh Florida Tomato Month – The Month of April (It is sponsored by the official Florida Tomato Committee to mark the peak spring harvest).
  

• American Founders' Month – Observed in the Month of September (Date Rule: Celebrated annually during the entire month of September in Florida public schools to honor the creators of the nation). [1]

• Manatee Awareness Month – The Month of November (Officially designated by the state to protect migrating manatees as they move into warmer Florida spring waters for the winter)

Weeks:

• Patriot Week – Observed September 11–17, 2026 (Rule: Celebrated every year for a full week beginning on September 11 and ending on September 17, which is Constitution Day). [1]

Days: 

• Florida Statehood Day – March 3 (Fixed date celebrating March 3, 1845, when Florida officially became the 27th U.S. State).

• Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day – Observed on Thursday, March 26, 2026 (Rule: Celebrated annually across the state on the fourth Thursday in March to honor the heroic African-American military pilots of World War II).

• Pascua Florida Day – Observed on Thursday, April 2, 2026 (Rule: Recognized annually on a fixed date every April 2 as "Florida State Day" to mark Ponce de León’s historic 1513 landing). [1]

• Emancipation Day – May 20 (Fixed date commemorating May 20, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was officially declared in Tallahassee, two years after it was issued).

• 9/11 Heroes' Day – Observed on Friday, September 11, 2026 (Rule: Designated by law as a fixed date every September 11 to honor the emergency responders and victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks). [1]

Weather & Environment-Related Florida Observances:

These are official climate, wildlife, and natural hazard awareness periods coordinated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and state environmental agencies. They do not close state offices, but they are critical dates for regional emergency planning and conservation. [1]

Weeks:

• Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week – Observed February 2–6, 2026 (Date Rule: Held annually during the first full week of February to focus on public safety topics like lightning, tornadoes, and flash floods).

• Gulf Coast Rip Current Awareness Week – Observed February 23–27, 2026 (Date Rule: Coordinated annually by the National Weather Service during the last full week of February to educate beachgoers before spring break).

• Florida Hurricane Preparedness Week – Observed May 3–9, 2026 (Date Rule: Held annually during the first full week of May immediately leading up to the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season).

• Drowsy Driving Prevention Week – September 1–7 (Fixed Date) Established by the Florida Legislature and sponsored by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles).

Days:

• Save the Florida Panther Day – Observed on Saturday, March 21, 2026 (Date Rule: Celebrated by state law on the third Saturday of March to protect Florida's endangered official state animal). 

Map of Florida

State Facts, History & Symbols

Standard State Symbols:

• Florida became the 27th State on March 3, 1845

• Florida State Abbreviation: FL

• Florida State Capital: Tallahassee

• Florida State Amphibian: (None officially designated)

• Florida State Animal: Florida Panther

• Florida State Bird: Mockingbird

• Florida State Butterfly: Zebra Longwing

• Florida State Fish: Largemouth Bass (State Freshwater Fish)

• Florida State Flower: Orange Blossom

• Florida State Gemstone: Moonstone

• Florida State Nickname: The Sunshine State

• Florida State Nut: (None officially designated)

• Florida State Reptile: American Alligator

• Florida State Song: "Old Folks at Home" (also known as "The Swanee River")

• Florida State Tree: Sabal Palm

Florida has a massive list of unique official state designations that go far beyond standard state symbols! Here are some of them below:

• Florida State Beverage: Orange Juice

• Florida State Fruit: Orange

• Florida State Dessert: Strawberry Shortcake (Designated in 2022)

• Florida State Pie: Key Lime Pie

• Florida State Wildflower: Coreopsis (also known as Tickseed)

• Florida State Saltwater Fish: Atlantic Sailfish

• Florida State Marine Mammal: Manatee

• Florida State Saltwater Mammal: Dolphin (Porpoise)

• Florida State Shell: Horse Conch (also known as the Giant Band Shell)

• Florida State Stone: Agatized Coral

• Florida State Tortoise: Gopher Tortoise

• Florida State Horse: Florida Cracker Horse

• Florida State Cattle Heritage Breed: Florida Cracker Cattle

• Florida State Rodeo: Silver Spurs Rodeo

• Florida State Soil: Myakka Fine Sand

• Florida State Play: "Cross and Sword" (St. Augustine)

• Florida State Anthem: "Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)"

• Florida State Motto: "In God We Trust" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Trivia Fact About the State Gemstone - Moonstone

Florida law designated it in 1970 to honor the Apollo 11 moon landing since the historic mission launched from Cape Canaveral—even though moonstones don't naturally occur in Florida soil! [1]

Overview of Florida

Florida, proudly known as The Sunshine State, is a vibrant peninsula bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of America, offering thousands of miles of pristine sandy beaches and a warm subtropical climate. Renowned worldwide for its premier theme parks, unique ecosystems like the Everglades, and a rich history as home to the nation's oldest continuously occupied European settlement, Florida is a global hub for tourism and outdoor recreation. Watch the official tourism showcase below to explore the distinct regional vibes, coastal ecosystems, and popular travel destinations across Florida:

Florida Festivals & Events

• Gasparilla Pirate Fest – Observed on Saturday, January 31, 2026, along Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa (Date Rule: Held annually on the last Saturday of January, celebrating a historic mock pirate invasion and massive street parade). [1]

• Florida Strawberry Festival – Observed February 26 – March 8, 2026, at the festival grounds in Plant City (Date Rule: Opens every year on the first Thursday before the first full weekend of March and runs for eleven consecutive days to celebrate the winter strawberry harvest). [1]

• Ultra Music Festival – Observed March 27–29, 2026 at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami (Date Rule: Held annually across the last full weekend of March, bringing together the world's premier electronic music artists and massive international crowds).

• EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival – Observed August 27 – November 21, 2026 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando (Date Rule: Spans across late summer and full autumn, offering global marketplaces and live concert series daily). [1, 2]

National Parks in Florida

• Biscayne National Park – Located south of Miami (Protects a rare combination of turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, emerald-green mangrove islands, and incredible marine life).

• Dry Tortugas National Park – Located nearly 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico (Famous for its crystal-clear blue waters, nesting sea birds, coral reefs, and the massive 19th-century brick fortress of Fort Jefferson).

• Everglades National Park – Located at the southern tip of the Florida peninsula (Preserves the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, famous for its sweeping sawgrass marshes, slow-moving river of grass, and diverse wildlife including alligators and wading birds).

For additional information on National Parks and historic sites in Florida, visit the official National Park Service Florida Portal.

State Parks in Florida

Florida features a massive system of over 175 state parks and trails managing everything from crystal-clear freshwater springs to pristine white-sand barrier islands. Here are the Top 5 most popular state parks:

• Bahia Honda State Park – Located in the Florida Keys (Famous for its magnificent palm-lined beaches, crystal-clear tropical waters, and views of the historic overseas railway bridge).

• Ichetucknee Springs State Park – Located near Fort White (A scenic, shaded park famous for lazy-river inner tubing through crystal-clear 72-degree spring water).

• Blue Spring State Park – Located in Orange City (A designated winter refuge for hundreds of West Indian manatees and a popular destination for boardwalk wildlife viewing and kayaking).

• Honeymoon Island State Park – Located near Dunedin (Features four miles of pristine barrier-island beaches, virgin slash pine forests, and great coastal walking trails).

• St. Andrews State Park – Located in Panama City Beach (Offers deep-sand beaches, emerald coastal waters, and exceptional fishing where the Gulf meets Grand Lagoon).

You can explore the full interactive directory of all state parks and reserve campsites using the official Florida State Parks Official Portal.

Florida Resources

• Florida State Web Portal – myflorida.gov

• National Park Service Florida Portal - Florida (U.S. National Park Service)

• Visit Florida (Official Tourism Site) – visitflorida.com

• Wikipedia - Florida - Florida - Wikipedia

Pinterest Board of Florida

Holidays and Observances Florida Board – [Link to your FL Board] – Follow our dedicated visual board for hand-picked inspiration! Discover gorgeous photography of Florida's emerald coastlines, crystal-clear freshwater springs, and vibrant palm-lined pirate festivals to help plan your next getaway to the Sunshine State.