Alaska Day is observed in the U.S. State of Alaska every October 18, commemorating the formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States in 1867. The transfer was completed during a ceremony at Fort Sitka, where American and Russian troops participated in a parade, culminating in the lowering of the Russian flag and the raising of the United States flag. Alaska Day was declared a legal holiday in Alaska in 1917 and is a paid holiday for state employees. On this day, many businesses in Sitka close, and students are released early from school to participate in celebrations that typically include a parade and reenactment of the flag-raising ceremony. It is important to note that Alaska Day should not be confused with Seward's Day, which celebrates the signing of the Alaska Treaty of Cessation.