Christmas and New Year’s 2026 Closures in Harford County

by Josh Tessier

Christmas Day is Friday, Dec. 25, 2026, and New Year's Day is Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. On both days, the Harford Waste Disposal Center and Mulch & Compost Facility, all public libraries and public schools are closed, and both are postal holidays. The two haulers with 2026 schedules move Friday pickup to Saturday both weeks. Libraries are also closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 per the 2026 table, and public schools are off from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1.

Here's the whole stretch on one page.

What's closed for Christmas 2026 in Harford County?

Place	Thu. Dec. 24	Fri. Dec. 25	Sat. Dec. 26
Waste Disposal Center, Mulch & Compost, administrative office	Check county notices	Closed	Check county notices
Harford County Public Library	Closed	Closed	Closed
Harford County Public Schools	Closed (winter break)	Closed	Closed
Maryland MVA branches	Check the MVA page	Closed	Closed
Post offices	Not listed as a holiday	Postal holiday	Check your branch

Holiday plans change, so confirm before you go.

Sources: the county calendar notices for Christmas, the library's 2026 closings table, the HCPS Calendar at a Glance, the MVA holiday list and the USPS holiday list.

What's closed for New Year's 2027 in Harford County?

Place	Thu. Dec. 31	Fri. Jan. 1, 2027
Waste Disposal Center, Mulch & Compost, administrative office	Check county notices	Closed
Harford County Public Library	Closes at 5 p.m.	Closed
Harford County Public Schools	Closed (winter break)	Closed
Post offices	Not listed as a holiday	Postal holiday

The county's New Year's notice covers the Waste Disposal Center, the Mulch & Compost Facility and the administrative office. Library: closed Dec. 24 to 26 per the 2026 table; check the library's site.

Will my trash be picked up Christmas week?

Harford County doesn't pick up trash. Private haulers do. Here's what their own sites say:

Harford County Trash Services: Christmas Eve has no change. Christmas Day (Friday) pickup moves to Saturday. New Year's Day (Friday) pickup moves to Saturday. See their holiday schedule.
Bartenfelder: Christmas and New Year's Day are on its 2026 holiday list. If your pickup day falls on or after the holiday that week, it's collected the day after your normal day. Its schedule doesn't cover the City of Havre de Grace. See their holiday schedule.
Other haulers: Call them. The county lists haulers on its trash page.

When is winter break for Harford County Public Schools?

Per the HCPS 2026-2027 Calendar at a Glance:

Wed. Dec. 23: 3-hour early dismissal for schools and offices (staff professional development)
Thu. Dec. 24 to Fri. Jan. 1: Winter break, schools and offices closed

The calendar doesn't spell out the first day back, so check HCPS for the return date.

What's going on in Harford County over the holidays?

Lots. See my 2026 holiday guide, New Year's Eve in Harford and Christmas tree farms. Need to mail gifts? Check my holiday shipping deadlines guide.

FAQ

Is Harford County government closed on Christmas Eve 2026?

County notices say the Waste Disposal Center, Mulch & Compost Facility and administrative office close Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and New Year's Day, Jan. 1. For Christmas Eve and other days, check the county closings page that week.

Are Harford County libraries open on Christmas Eve 2026?

No. All branches are closed Dec. 24-26 per the 2026 table; check the library's site. They close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31 and are closed Jan. 1, 2027.

When is winter break for HCPS in 2026?

Schools are closed Dec. 24, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2027. Dec. 23 is a 3-hour early dismissal.

Will trash be picked up on Christmas Day in Harford County?

Harford County Trash Services and Bartenfelder both move Friday pickup to Saturday. Check your hauler's holiday page.

Is the Harford landfill open on New Year's Day 2027?

No. The Harford Waste Disposal Center is closed Jan. 1, 2027.

About the author: Josh Tessier is a Harford County REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty, based in Bel Air. He has been licensed in real estate since 2011, and the Lee Tessier Team has sold 5,900+ homes. He lives in Harford County and is raising his family here. Call or text (443) 617-2099.

Harford County real estate agent Josh Tessier — *Josh Tessier, REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team. Call or text (443) 617-2099.*

Watch more on my YouTube channel: Josh Talks Harford. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

Header photo: “Christmas lights in the first snow of 2022” by Forsaken Fotos, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Abingdon, MD. Modified: cropped, house numbers blurred, text added.