As California celebrates its first-ever Farmworkers Day on Tuesday, March 31, some Fresno-area offices will be closed for the newly renamed state holiday.
The holiday was formerly known as Cesar Chavez Day in honor of the civil rights icon, but the California legislature swiftly approved a name change signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom following new accusations of impropriety by Chavez, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
Fresno County renamed the holiday to Fresno County Farmworker and Agriculture Appreciation Day.
Chavez, who died in 1993, was an influential labor leader, community organizer and civil rights leader who helped organize the United Farm Workers union.
The New York Times reported March 18 that Chavez has been accused of sexually abusing at least two teens. Fellow labor leader Dolores Huerta revealed that he raped her twice.
The news prompted lawmakers to fast-track a name change for the holiday.
The day, which marks Chavez’s birthday, was set as a holiday in California in 2000. Legislators said they plan to eventually sever the holiday’s date from its connection to Chavez.
What’s closed in Fresno for Farmworker and Agriculture Day?
All California state offices and state courts are closed for the holiday.
Many state universities, colleges and community colleges were on spring break as of Tuesday, including Fresno State, Fresno City College, Clovis Community College and Fresno Unified School District schools. Offices will be closed for the holiday.
Fresno County government offices and public libraries will be closed Tuesday.
Fresno city offices are also closed, although trash pickup services in the city will continue as normal.
The Fresno County Rural Transit Agency system will operate normally.
Federal government offices including U.S. Postal Service locations will be open on Tuesday.
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This story was originally published March 31, 2026 at 8:42 AM.
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Brooke (they/them) covers Fresno and California news as the Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter. They previously covered wildlife and national parks out west for the national real-time team at McClatchy News. Originally from Florida, they studied journalism at the University of Florida and previously covered LGBTQ+ news for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, their hometown newspaper. When they’re not writing stories, they enjoy hanging out with their cats, riding horses or spending time outdoors.