Well, actually, there will be a lot of closings and the shutting down of many City of Greensboro services on Monday, Jan. 20, and former new President Donald Trump will be sworn in that day (assuming no mob storms the Capitol) – however, that’s not really the reason the city will drastically scale back its operations.

The actual reason for the closings is that January 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and there will be a host of events across the Triad and the nation honoring the life and legacy of MLK.

Though the reason for the closures is Dr. King’s legacy, the fact that the day is a holiday will give Trump fans an entire day to relax and watch the swearing-in ceremony – this one with a Who’s Who of the tech world sharing the platform in DC.

 Trump nation will also be able to use the day to watch and enjoy all of the other festivities, musical performances, fireworks display and other events that will mark Trump’s return and a sweeping change in the way the United States operates.

This is just the third time in history the two days have fallen on the same day, however, it’s the first time that a Republican president will be sworn in on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

  In 1997, President Bill Clinton was sworn in on the national holiday, and, in 2013, President Barack Obama was sworn in on the day.

The next time it will happen will be in 2053.

Since Inauguration Day is a federal holiday, the stock market, banks, the Postal Service and many other services and businesses will be shut down.

As for the City of Greensboro, city offices will be closed on January 20 – again, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The following services and facilities will be affected for city residents:

  • No garbage, recycling, bulk trash, yard waste, or appliance collections will occur on January 20. That day’s collections will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Tuesday’s collections will be picked up on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
  • The White Street Landfill, Solid Waste Transfer Station, and the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center are all closed on January 20.
  • The Greensboro Public Library system, Greensboro History Museum, and Greensboro Cultural Center are also all closed on January 20.
  • Greensboro Transit Agency and Access GSO will operate on a Sunday schedule, with GTA providing hourly service from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • City of Greensboro recreation centers, Lake Higgins, the Smith and Trotter Active Adult Centers, the Greensboro Youth Council, Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation, Xperience @ Caldcleugh, Greensboro Sportsplex, Simkins Indoor Sports Pavilion at Barber Park, and Parks and Recreation administrative offices are closed January 20. Regular hours of operations for all programs and facilities resume on January 21.
  • All City parks, gardens, trails, cemeteries, Lake Brandt, Lake Townsend, and Gillespie Golf Course will be open to the public.
  • The J. Edward Kitchen Operations Center will be closed to all in-person services on January 20. Alternative ways to pay a water bill can be found at www.greensboro-nc.gov/PayWaterBill

For water and sewer emergencies, including main breaks and sewer stoppages, or changes in the taste, odor, or color of drinking water, you can still call Water Resources 24-hour Dispatch at 336-373-2033.