Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: What’s Open and What’s Closed in Pasadena

Government offices, financial institutions, and schools in Pasadena will be closed Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but emergency services will continue operating and residents can still expect trash pickup on schedule.

The holiday honoring the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. will shut down Pasadena City Hall and most municipal services on  Monday, January 19, though police and fire Departments will maintain full staffing for emergencies. Federal, state, and county offices will also be closed.

Government and Municipal Services

Pasadena City Hall, the Citizen Service Center, the Municipal Services Payment Center, and the Parking Office will all be closed and reopen for business on Tuesday, January 20. The Permit Center will also be closed for in-person services, but some online permitting services will remain available at: www.cityofpasadena.net/planning/building-and-safety/permit-center/.

Pasadena Water and Power offices will be closed, but residents can call (626) 744-4673 for power emergencies or (626) 744-4138 for water emergencies. The Pasadena City Council will not meet on the holiday, with its next meeting scheduled for Monday, January 26.

Transportation and Parking

Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-Ride services will operate on their regular weekday schedules. Los Angeles Metro buses and trains will also run on a regular weekday schedule, though some bus lines will have detours around the Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles.

Parking meters in Pasadena will be free for the holiday, and time limits will not be enforced. However, the city will continue to enforce violations for overnight parking, red curb parking, “No Parking” zones, and blocking fire hydrants. Regular enforcement will resume on Tuesday, January 20.

Postal and Package Services

The United States Postal Service will not deliver regular mail, and its retail locations will be closed. Only Priority Mail Express service will continue. UPS will have no pickup or delivery service, though some UPS Store locations may be open with varied hours. FedEx will operate on a modified schedule for its Express and Ground services, while FedEx Office locations will remain open.

Financial Services

In observance of the Federal Reserve holiday, all major banks and local credit unions will be closed. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ will also be closed for trading. ATM and online banking platforms will remain accessible.

Schools and Libraries

All Pasadena Unified School District schools and administrative offices will be closed. Pasadena City College and ArtCenter College of Design will also be closed with no classes scheduled for the holiday.

All branches of the Pasadena Public Library will be closed on both Sunday, January 18, and Monday, January 19. They will reopen for regular hours on Tuesday, January 20.

Recreation and Waste Services

City of Pasadena trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will proceed on its regular schedule for the entire week with no holiday delays. All city parks will be open for public enjoyment, but recreation and community centers will be closed, and no park site reservations will be accepted for the holiday.

Retail and Business

Most major grocery stores, pharmacies, and retailers in Pasadena are expected to be open, many with regular hours. Shopping centers like One Colorado will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., though individual store hours may vary. Residents are encouraged to call ahead to confirm hours for specific businesses.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Ceremony

The Pasadena Martin Luther King Jr. Community Coalition will host its annual King Day Celebration at the John Muir High School Auditorium, located at 1905 Lincoln Avenue. The free public event begins with a Teach-In at 8:30 a.m., followed by the main program at 10:00 a.m., featuring a keynote address by State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez.

Regular city services and business operations will resume Tuesday morning.

MLK Day, observed on the third Monday of January, was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and first observed in 1986.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a bill making MLK Day a day of service. King’s actual birthday was Jan. 15, 1929. Monday marks the 97th anniversary of his birth. He was shot and killed by an assassin on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 39.