Confirmed: The Government decrees a new national holiday and February will have another long weekend
Americans will be looking forward to another long weekend in February thanks to a national holiday to celebrate the birth of George Washington.
Amid busy work schedules and families making plans for trips or short getaways, the United States government has officially announced a national holiday that will turn the second half of February into a long weekend for millions of people.
According to this year’s federal holiday calendar, Monday, February 16, will be observed nationwide as a mandatory day off, joining the traditional Saturday and Sunday to form a three-day weekend.
The holiday, established by federal law and formally known as Washington’s Birthday, though widely celebrated as Presidents Day, has become a welcome pause from the usual pace of work and daily responsibilities.
On this day, banks, government offices, schools, and many public agencies will be closed, while some private companies may also choose to give employees the day off.
Federal holidays provide an opportunity for a break and boost to local economies
This holiday not only adds another day off to the calendar, but also offers an opportunity to extend the weekend, travel, reconnect with family, or simply take a break, something many people have been looking forward to since the start of the year.
Long weekends have taken on special importance because of their impact on tourism planning and on the local economies of small and mid-sized cities that encourage visitors to take advantage of these extra days.
Authorities have emphasized that planning activities and making reservations in advance is key to fully enjoying the holiday, as several regions are expected to see heavy travel due to the extended weekend. They also recommend checking the operating hours of public and private services that will remain open to avoid any inconvenience on Monday.
With this announcement, 2026 continues to add special observances that break up the traditional work routine and give students, workers, and families an additional opportunity to recharge during the first half of the year.
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