Easter is almost here, so get your easter baskets ready and start planning where to hide the eggs! But before you break out the chocolate bunnies, don’t forget that another day is recognized just before Easter: Good Friday. This is the day when Christians remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus before celebrating his Resurrection on Easter. This year, Good Friday is on April 18, and many Christians will observe the day with fasting and prayer.
If you have some pre-Easter errands to run, it can be tricky to know what's open on Good Friday. Store closures can vary pretty widely because Good Friday is a religious day of observance, but it is not a federal holiday. That means national services like the USPS will be open.
However, there are 12 states that recognize Good Friday as a state-wide holiday. In these states, government-run offices, courts, buildings, public libraries and schools will likely all be closed.
The states that recognize Good Friday as a state holiday are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee and Texas. You should be sure to check with local restaurants and stores in these states if they will be open to make sure you won’t make a wasted trip.
For all your last-minute Easter needs, here’s 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 will be open on Good Friday but closed on Easter.
FedEx will be open with modified service on Good Friday; there may be early on-call pickups and drop box pickups, and FedEx Freight may have a “modified linehaul schedule.” Basically, the stores should be open but shipping might have delays or schedule changes. FedEx is closed on Easter Sunday.
Government Offices
In most states, city, state and federal government buildings, including courthouses, will remain open. They might have reduced hours, however.
Government buildings and courthouses will be closed or have a half day in the 12 states that recognize Good Friday as a state holiday: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee and Texas.
Public Schools
There isn't a hard and fast rule for public schools on Good Friday. Most public schools will carry on with teaching. Some schools will schedule their spring break to happen over Good Friday. And schools in the 12 states that recognize Good Friday as a state holiday usually close.
It's also very common for Catholic schools 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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Lilli (she/her) is an editorial intern at Good Housekeeping and a senior undergraduate student at Syracuse University majoring in magazine, news and digital journalism. When she’s not looking into the latest news and trends, she’s seeking her new favorite ice cream flavor or dream travel destination. She has previously covered news at The Daily Orange and The Evening Sun and lifestyle content at The Fit Magazine and Jerk Magazine.
Katarina Avendaño (she/her) is the senior SEO editor for Good Housekeeping, where she writes and edits lifestyle content and contributes to SEO strategy. Before joining GH in 2021, she was the digital editor at New York Family, where she was responsible for the website’s content and strategy. Katarina received her bachelor's degree in communications and Spanish from the University of Washington.
