Goochland County Offices Closed Monday, Feb. 16 for George Washington Day

Goochland County will close its government offices and Parks & Recreation facilities on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in observance of George Washington Day. Parks & Recreation facilities will reopen for evening classes at 4:30 PM, the county notice says, so people enrolled in after-work programs should plan around that schedule.

Nearby Stafford County has announced a similar closure, saying, “Stafford offices, departments, facilities, and all courts will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, for George Washington Day.” Stafford is publishing a number of operational exceptions intended to limit disruption: “Both locations of the R-Board/Regional Landfill (Eskimo Hill and Belman Road) will be open,” and “All outdoor parks are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.” Stafford also provided emergency contacts, including Fire and Rescue Information: (540) 658-7200 | Emergency: 911, Sheriff’s Office Information: (540) 658-4400 | Emergency: 911, and Magistrate: (540) 659-2968.

At the state level, the governor’s office announced a broader commemoration. “Governor DeSantis proclaimed Washington’s Birthday a Florida state holiday, with state offices closed in observance on Monday, February 16,” the state release states, and it frames the activity as part of a larger Washington’s Birthday Weekend running February 12–16. The state release also says that “Admissions fees will be waived for Floridians at all state parks, wildlife management areas, water management lands, and Department of State historic properties during Washington’s Birthday Weekend,” and highlights partnerships tied to America 250 activities during Speedweeks at DAYTONA.

There is notable variation in language and emphasis across jurisdictions. Goochland’s local notice uses the term “George Washington Day,” the governor’s office called the observance “Washington’s Birthday,” and some reporting has described the closures as being for “Presidents Day.” At an appearance in Vero Beach, Gov. Ron DeSantis said, “Our state employees will be able to have the day off, which I know they're not going to complain about.” Other reporting has also explained that “Presidents Day, which is recognized at the federal level as Washington’s Birthday, is not a state holiday in Florida,” a distinction that officials and residents may want clarified.

The Goochland NewsFlash excerpt provided to the county public suggests additional operational details may have been included but not reproduced in full; the notice contains a truncated line reading, “Goochland’s Convenience Centers w…,” and the county should be consulted for whether convenience centers, trash collection, libraries or other services will operate on modified schedules.

For Goochland residents, the immediate practical impacts are clear: routine county business will be unavailable, Parks & Recreation evening classes will resume at 4:30 PM, and Stafford’s published contacts and landfill and park schedules may be useful for those who travel regionally. For broader context, the differing names and claims about state holiday status reflect how federal, state and local calendars and proclamations can diverge, an issue worth clarifying with county and state public information officers before Feb. 16 if you rely on county services that day.