In the midst of a whirlwind San Francisco holiday season, 2025 looms ever closer. Now’s a great time to look ahead at the next batch of federal and state holidays observed in California and start planning your days off in San Francisco.
Whether you have some travel plans to reserve or an elaborate at-home celebration to plan, it’s worth requesting your days off around the existing public holiday calendar so as to maximize your time.
Paid time off and holiday observations vary between workplaces and states. The United States observes 11 federal holidays, which, thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, have granted us a decent amount of three day weekends. We’ve outlined each one of them below (plus California’s César Chávez Day), along with some local events and ideas for how to take advantage of your off days or PTO.
Note: Be sure to check your workplace’s observed holidays before putting in requests.
1. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025: New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day falls on a Wednesday this year, which means taking extra days off to maximize it.
- Take Dec. 26-27 and 30-31 for 8 days off (combined with Christmas Day)
- Take Jan. 2-3 for 5 days off
2. Monday, Jan. 20, 2025: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
MLK Day happens on the third Monday in January, bringing us our first three day weekend to kick off the new year. It’s a good time to visit San Francisco’s Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in Yerba Buena Gardens, or take advantage of a free admission day at the Museum of the African Diaspora.
- Take Jan. 17 and 21 for 5 days off
- Take off Jan. 21-24 for 9 days off
3. Monday, Feb. 17, 2025: Presidents’ Day
Presidents’ Day (Washington’s birthday) takes place on the third Monday in February, meaning we have a three day weekend. It lines up nicely with SF’s Lunar New Year festivities and world-famous parade on Feb. 15, 2025.
- Take Feb. 14 and 18 for 5 days off
- Take Feb. 18-21 for 9 days off
4. Monday, Mar. 31, 2025: César Chávez Day
Many workplaces in California observe César Chávez Day, although it is not a mandated day off. This year the holiday falls on Monday, Mar. 31. San Francisco’s César Chávez Day Parade usually takes place the following month — 2025 date TBA.
- Take Mar. 28 and Apr. 1 for 5 days off
- Take Apr. 1-4 for 9 days off
5. Monday, May 26, 2025: Memorial Day
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May, creating a three day weekend. Carnaval SF will take over San Francisco’s Mission District on May 24-25, so it’s a good weekend to max out your PTO.
- Take May 23 and 27 for 5 days off
- Take May 27-30 for 9 days off
6. Thursday, June 19, 2025: Juneteenth
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, became a federal holiday in 2021. It is not a paid holiday for California state workers, but some workplaces may observe it. This year it falls on a Thursday. San Francisco usually honors Juneteenth with several parades, celebrations, and markets.
- Take June 20 for 4 days off
- Take June 20 and 23 for 5 days off
- Take June 16-18 and 20 for 9 days off
7. Friday, July 4, 2025: Independence Day
The Fourth of July falls on a Friday this year. Here are some ways to use your PTO and make the most of the Bay’s best Independence Day fireworks shows.
- Take July 3 for 4 days off
- Take July 3 and 7 for 5 days off
- Take June 30-July 3 for 9 days off
8. Monday, Sept. 1, 2024: Labor Day
Labor Day takes place on the first Monday in September, giving us another three day weekend.
- Take Aug. 29 and Sept. 2 for 5 days off
- Take Sept. 2-5 for 9 days off
9. Monday, Oct. 13, 2024: Indigenous People’s Day
Indigenous People’s Day, also known as Columbus Day, falls on the second Monday in October. Some workplaces observe it for a three day weekend. SF’s historic Italian Heritage Festival usually takes over North Beach on Oct 12th, and Fleet Week‘s Blue Angels Air Show is scheduled for Oct. 10-12.
- Take Oct. 10 and 14 for 5 days off
- Take Oct. 14-17 for 9 days off
10. Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025: Veteran’s Day
Veteran’s Day takes place on a Tuesday this year. If you’re staying in SF you can check out the SF Coffee Festival at Fort Mason on Nov. 8-9.
- Take Nov. 10 for 4 days off
- Take Nov. 10 and 12-14 for 9 days off
11. Thursday-Friday, Nov. 27-28, 2025: Thanksgiving holidays
Thanksgiving is a federal public holiday on the fourth Thursday in November. Many workplaces also grant the day after Thanksgiving as a day off, and some states observe it as a civic holiday called Native American Heritage Day. Check out our guide to Thanksgiving weekend in SF to help you make the most of these days off.
- Take Nov. 26 and Dec. 1 for 6 days off
- Take Nov. 24-26 for 9 days off
12. Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024: Christmas Day
Christmas Day 2025 and New Year’s Day 2026 both land on Thursdays, meaning you can enjoy decent stretches of vacation time if you get creative with your days off. Here are a few possible combinations.
- Take Dec. 24 and 26 for 5 days off
- Take Dec. 26, 29-31, and Jan. 2 for 11 days off
- Take Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 for two successive 4 day weekends