Holiday Shopping Hours: Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Store Guide

The article outlines essential information for last-minute holiday shopping on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. While many retailers extend hours before the holidays, most major stores close entirely on Christmas Day, reserving it for essential businesses. Christmas Eve, conversely, sees many retailers open but operating on significantly shortened schedules. Planning ahead is crucial to avoid disappointment.

On Christmas Day, shopping options are highly restricted. Select CVS and Walgreens locations will be open, often with reduced or modified hours; 24-hour Walgreens stores are more likely to operate, though pharmacy hours may differ. A limited number of Starbucks cafés and McDonald's restaurants might also open, but hours are location and franchise-dependent. Crucially, major chains like Walmart, Target, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Kohl’s, JCPenney, IKEA, Best Buy, Nordstrom, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, REI, Ulta, Michaels, Apple, and HomeGoods traditionally remain closed to allow employees time with family.

Christmas Eve offers more choices, with many major retailers such as Walmart, Target, department stores, and shopping malls open, though they typically close in the late afternoon or early evening. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, along with grocery stores, also operate on Christmas Eve, but with varying hours. For Christmas Day necessities, convenience stores and gas stations, including chains like 7-Eleven and Circle K, are the most reliable, with many maintaining 24-hour operations. The primary “risk” is varied hours by store, city, and individual location. Therefore, shoppers are strongly advised to check store websites or call ahead before visiting on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to confirm specific operating hours and avoid unexpected closures.

(Source: https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/stores-open-on-christmas-day-2025-and-christmas-eve/)