The term "Patriots Day weekend" functions as a compound noun, or more specifically, a noun phrase. In this construction, the head noun is "weekend," which is modified by the proper noun "Patriots Day."
The grammatical structure involves a noun adjunct, where one noun ("Patriots Day") modifies another ("weekend") in a manner similar to an adjective. "Patriots Day" specifies which particular weekend is being referenced, functioning as a descriptor. This is a common English construction where the modifying noun clarifies the type, purpose, or identity of the head noun, creating a single, distinct conceptual unit.
As a noun phrase, this term can act as the subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition within a sentence. Recognizing its function as a noun is essential for ensuring correct syntax, as it dictates how the phrase can be grammatically integrated into larger sentence structures. For instance, it can serve as a subject ("The [term] marks the start of spring for many") or an object ("They scheduled the event during the [term]").