MLK Day 2020: Here’s What’s Open, Closed In Minneapolis-St. Paul

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL METRO AREA, MN — Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, Jan. 20 this year, and a variety of services will be closed in the Twin Cities on the day. King’s birthday is Jan. 15, but the federal holiday celebrating the civil rights leader is observed on the third Monday of January each year.

All Minneapolis and St. Paul city government offices, including Minneapolis 311 are closed Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. City offices will resume regular business hours on Tuesday following the holiday.

There are no changes to Minneapolis garbage and recycling pick-up schedules and there will be regular pickups on Jan. 20. However, Minneapolis' Downtown Solid Waste customer service office (and information line) and the South Transfer Station will be closed.

Minneapolis parking meters are not enforced Jan. 20, but all other parking restrictions in the city remain in effect and subject to enforcement, including Minneapolis Park Board meters along Minneapolis parkways, University of Minnesota parking meters and those of private organizations that operate their own meters. Always read the information posted on the meter to be certain.

Minneapolis and St. Paul police and fire emergency services and 911 are not affected.

Here's a look at what else is open and closed on Monday, Jan. 21 in the Twin Cities:

• Local offices: Closed
• Public schools: Closed
• Libraries: Closed
• Banks: Closed
• Post offices: Closed
• Retail stores: Most will be open
• Grocery stores: Most will be open
• Liquor stores: Most will be open

The history of the MLK holiday in America is a complicated one.

Almost immediately after King’s assassination in 1968, activists began pushing for a holiday celebrating his Jan. 15 birthday. However, the official national holiday wasn’t signed into law until 1983 by President Ronald Reagan.

The first federal MLK Day was observed on the third Monday of January in 1986, but many states held out. Arizona didn’t recognize the day until 1992, when the state lost its rights to host the Super Bowl after voters in Arizona failed to make the day a paid holiday.

The last state to adopt the holiday? New Hampshire, in 1999.