Holiday Hours: Memorial Day

11:00AM / Friday, May 22, 2026Print Story | Email Story

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army

Arlington National Cemetery is the nation's first federal military cemetery. A ceremony is held each Memorial Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Memorial Day is being celebrated Monday, May 25. It is a federal holiday observing the sacrifices of the nation's servicemen and -women. It started as a day to decorate the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers, particularly in the South, and many states adopted the day as Decoration Day to commemorate all U.S. soldiers after World War I.

Memorial Day was established as a federal holiday in 1971 by Congress. It falls on the last Monday in May.

Closed:
Federal, state and local offices; no mail delivery.
Banks
Public colleges and schools, most private schools
Public libraries
Most offices and businesses

BRTA is not running; office is closed

Open:
Most retail outlets, groceries
Restaurants and bars, by choice
Convenience stores

Memorial Day parades and observances can be found here.

The state Department of Transportation is urging the public to plan ahead if traveling Memorial Day Weekend, and to expect an increased volume of travelers this year.

All scheduled road work around the Memorial Day Weekend is postponed.

The Cape Flyer begins service on Friday, May 22, through Sept. 7; veterans, active-duty personnel and guests can ride free on Sunday, May 24, to Hyannis for the annual Troops in the Spotlight event. Find the full schedule here.

Sign up at the 511 Traveler Information Service to receive personalized travel information alerts via email, text or telephone. MassDOT as always reminds drivers to avoid using cell phones while driving. Call into the 511 service before departing. Download Waze, the real-time traffic navigation app that provides motorists with real-time traffic conditions across Massachusetts.

Friday is projected to be the heaviest travel day.

"Memorial Day weekend consistently brings some of the highest travel volumes of the year on Massachusetts roadways," said Undersecretary and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. "We encourage travelers to plan ahead, make use of resources such as Mass511 for real-time traffic information, and avoid distractions behind the wheel to help ensure everyone reaches their destination safely."

Tags: holiday hours, Memorial Day,

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Adams Fire District Exploring 'Bigger Picture' for Capital Needs

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
04:05PM / Thursday, October 01, 2026

ADAMS, Mass. — As the Fire District is facing ongoing capital planning needs, officials are exploring the best path forward.

The Prudential Committee met Monday to discuss several agenda items, including "district expansion," though the topic received only a brief update.

Fire Chief David Lennon told the committee that officials had held a "first informal meeting" with several people, and the result was that they needed to gather more information.

In a follow-up with iBerkshires, Lennon said the agenda item was titled "district expansion," but it is more encompassing than that.

"We're having informal discussions with people to gauge interest before we move forward with a more concrete plan," he said.

Currently, Lennon is working with "single parties from various groups" to get information on what works for other communities in similar capital situations as the Adams Fire District, Lennon said.

The district is facing several capital challenges, including a decaying fire station and apparatus repairs, he said.

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