Christmas and New Year's Day both fall on a Friday this year: December 25, 2026 and January 1, 2027. Closed both days, by their own schedules: every California DMV office and the North County courthouse, and both are Federal Reserve and Postal Service holidays. On Christmas the County library branches in Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff and Del Mar are closed all day, and Solana Beach City Hall is closed for its Holiday Break, December 21 to 31. Trash: EDCO picks up Friday customers one day late after each holiday; every other day runs as usual.
Open or closed on Dec 25 and Jan 1
| Place | Christmas, Fri Dec 25 | New Year's Day, Fri Jan 1 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| California DMV offices | Closed | Closed | DMV holidays |
| County libraries: Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff, Del Mar | Closed all day | not posted yet: check | Solana Beach · Encinitas · Cardiff · Del Mar |
| Solana Beach City Hall | Closed (Holiday Break Dec 21-31) | not posted yet: check | City of Solana Beach |
| County of San Diego | County holiday | not posted yet: check | County 2026 holiday list |
| North County courthouse, Vista | Court holiday | Court holiday | the court's holiday list |
| Del Mar Union schools | Winter Break (Dec 21 to Jan 4) | Winter Break | DMUSD calendar |
| Trash pickup (EDCO: Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar) | Friday pickups one day late | Friday pickups one day late | Encinitas · Solana Beach · Del Mar |
| Federal Reserve | Closed (Fed holiday) | Closed (Fed holiday) | Fed holidays |
| Post offices | On USPS's 2026 holiday list | On USPS's 2027 holiday list | USPS holidays |
Each line read on the source's own page on November 3, 2026; the courthouse list on October 15, 2026. "Not posted yet" means the place hadn't published its 2027 dates; this page updates when it does.
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
- DMV: neither Thursday, December 24 nor Thursday, December 31 is on the DMV's list of closures.
- Solana Beach City Hall: closed both, inside its December 21-31 Holiday Break.
- Del Mar Union: on winter break, December 21 to January 4.
Check before you go
Not posted, or not readable, on November 3:
- The County libraries and County offices on New Year's Day (their 2027 dates aren't up yet).
- Encinitas Union's winter break and the San Dieguito, Carlsbad, Oceanside and Solana Beach districts.
- NCTD holiday service; North County alerts today carries its live alerts.
- Carlsbad and Oceanside city halls and their city libraries, and your bank's branch.
The fix: front-load the week
- DMV business? The 24th and the 31st are open days on the DMV's list; the 25th and January 1 are not.
- Friday trash day? Put the carts out Saturday both weeks.
- Mail that has to arrive? Send it by Wednesday, December 23.
Rather just ask? Text your question to PJ, a real person in Cardiff, and he answers it. Asking is free. Not sure whether a place near you is open over the holidays? A real person checks and texts you back. Text PJ
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- Holiday-week errands (pharmacy pickup, groceries, returns): PJ runs it, $25.
- Setting up a parent's new phone or tablet from the holidays: Family Assist, $30 an hour.
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"Christmas and New Year's Day are both Fridays this year: DMV closed both, County libraries closed Christmas, Friday trash one day late. The full list:"
Earlier: Veterans Day, Nov 11 · Thanksgiving, Nov 26-27.
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Questions people ask
Is the DMV open on Christmas Eve 2026?
Thursday, December 24 isn't on the California DMV's list of closures; Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day) is, and so is Friday, January 1, 2027.
Is the DMV open on New Year's Day 2027?
No. The DMV lists "Friday, January 1 - New Year's Day (2027)" among the days all DMV offices are closed.
Are North County libraries open on Christmas?
No. The County library branches in Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff and Del Mar list Friday, December 25, 2026 as "Closed All Day." Their New Year's Day hours weren't posted yet on November 3.
Is trash pickup delayed Christmas week?
In EDCO's areas (Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar), only for Friday customers: "One-Day Delay for Friday Customers Only" for Christmas Day, and the same for New Year's Day 2027.
Is mail delivered on Christmas or New Year's Day?
Both are on the Postal Service's holiday lists: Friday, December 25 on the 2026 list and Friday, January 1 on the 2027 list.
Is Solana Beach City Hall open between Christmas and New Year's?
No. The City's 2026 schedule lists a Holiday Break, December 21-31, and City Hall is closed on observed holidays.
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