Springfield Closes City Services for Lincoln’s Birthday and Presidents Day

City services in Springfield, Illinois, will observe both Lincoln’s Birthday and Presidents Day in a departure from typical practices. On February 12, 2024, and February 16, 2024, municipal offices, including the Lincoln Library and facilities at Oak Ridge Cemetery, will remain closed. This marks a notable change, as city offices have generally remained open on Presidents Day while closing only for Lincoln’s Birthday.

State offices and courts in Illinois, as well as those in Sangamon County, will also close for both holidays. Springfield School District 186 has announced that all schools and administrative offices will be closed, pushing the board of education meeting to 18:30 (6:30 PM) on February 16. This meeting will take place at 3063 Fiat Ave. and will be streamed for public access.

Academic institutions such as the University of Illinois Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College, Illinois College, and Blackburn College will maintain regular operations during both holidays. In contrast, Midwest Technical Institute will keep its offices open, although there will be no classes held. Additionally, early voting at the Sangamon County complex, located at 200 S. Ninth St., will run from 08:00 (8 AM) to 16:30 (4:30 PM) on both days.

As Presidents Day is recognized as a federal holiday, federal buildings and courts will be closed, and there will be no U.S. Postal Service deliveries. Most banks are also expected to shut their doors for the day.

Upcoming Events Celebrating Lincoln

The Abraham Lincoln Association has planned special events to commemorate Lincoln’s Birthday. Notable historian and author Allen Guelzo, a recipient of the Lincoln Prize, will be the featured speaker at the Abraham Lincoln Association Birthday Banquet on February 12. Scheduled for 19:00 (7 PM) at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, tickets for this event are priced at $100.

On February 13, the association will host the Benjamin P. Thomas Symposium, featuring various authors discussing Lincoln-related topics. This event will begin at 10:00 (10 AM) at the same hotel and is free for the public.

Furthermore, Tim Good, the retired superintendent of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, will deliver a Lincoln Lecture at the Trutter Center on the campus of Lincoln Land Community College at 09:00 (9 AM) on February 12.

For more information about these events, members of the public can contact Steven Spearie at (217) 622-1788 or via email at [email protected].