Is School Closed on Presidents' Day in Santa Cruz?

Monday is Presidents' Day, which means kids get a three-day weekend and some grownups have the day off work.

Schools in Santa Cruz are closed Monday; some districts even took Friday off.

Also closed Monday? City and county offices, the courts, the post office, libraries (including at UC Santa Cruz) and banks.

METRO buses will operate on regular weekday schedules, with the exception of the Highway 17 Express, which will be on its weekend schedule. School bus routes won't be operating but METRO ParaCruz will be running.

So what can you do?

• The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will have rides open all weekend—including Monday—and are offering two-for-one deals on unlimited ride wristbands.
• There are nature walks and history demonstrations at Wilder Ranch State Park, Big Basin State Park and Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.
• There's free parking downtown on Monday.
• SF Beer Week wraps up with Twisted Tasting, a beer and food pairing showcasing about 40 brews at the Top of the Rittenhouse building in Santa Cruz.

Presidents Day began as a day of remembrance in 1800, the year after President George Washington died. It was observed on Feb. 22, Washington's birthday. The holiday was shifted to the third Monday of February about 50 years ago. Eventually, it was combined with the observance of President Abraham Lincoln's birthday (Feb. 12) and renamed Presidents' Day.

Three-day weekend sales and Presidents' Day deals started cropping up in the 1980s.

This weekend, bargain-hunters can find sales at the Capitola Mall, including Macy's, Sears and Kohl's. The big Patagonia clearance sale is happening at the outlet store on River Street.

There are online sales as well:

• American Eagle Outfitters: 25% Off + Free Shipping with code 21393551
• Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic: 15-20% off with your credit card, online code is ONPDAY.
• Kohl's: Take an additional 30, 20 or 15% off everything; sale on men's wear; 40-50% off various brands including Elle and Rock & Republic; also, get free shipping with Kohl's card with code: LUV2BMVC
• Macy's: Get $10 off a $75 purchase with code X192B6SU28 or save 15% off a purchase with code PRES
• Patagonia is discounting its Fall 2012 clothing and gear collection up to 60%. Get free shipping when you spend $75 or more. 
• Forever21: Up to 75 percent off, through Feb. 20.

If you own a business in Santa Cruz and are having a sale, tell us in the comments and we'll add you to the list!