When is Columbus Day?

Why do we observe it?

Federal law names this holiday Columbus Day. Some states and communities instead observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, honoring Indigenous histories and cultures.

Traditions and celebrations

Local ceremonies and educational events differ significantly by place.

Planning tips

Check the specific state or local observance and whether schools, banks and public offices close.

Is it a federal holiday?

Yes. It is one of the U.S. federal holidays, though schedules for private employers, schools and states can differ.

Is it a bank holiday? What’s open and closed

Columbus Day is a federal holiday, so federal offices, the post office and most banks close, but it’s one of only two federal holidays (with Veterans Day) when the stock market stays open for regular trading. Individual banks, school districts and employers can still make their own call, so confirm directly if a closure affects an important errand or appointment.

The history behind the day

Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Italian-American communities pushed for its recognition starting in the late 1800s, partly to counter anti-Italian discrimination, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt made it a federal holiday in 1937. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the second Monday in October in 1971.

In recent decades, the holiday has become the most contested on the federal calendar. Critics point to the violence and colonization that followed Columbus’s voyages toward Indigenous peoples, and a growing number of states, cities and universities have renamed or replaced the observance with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which honors Native American history and culture instead.

How it’s marked across the country

Where it’s still observed as Columbus Day, Italian-American heritage parades remain common, notably in New York City and other cities with large Italian-American communities. Where Indigenous Peoples’ Day has replaced it, observances typically focus on Native history, culture and ongoing issues facing Indigenous communities.

One thing you might not know

There is no single national rule here: the date is federally recognized as Columbus Day, but individual states, cities and employers each decide independently what to call it and how (or whether) to close for it.

The name and local observance vary

The federal calendar names the second Monday in October Columbus Day. A growing number of states, cities and institutions instead observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, use both names or keep offices open.

That variation makes the local calendar especially important. Federal offices follow the federal holiday, while state offices, schools, courts and private employers may use different names and schedules.

Columbus Day planning checklist

• Before the date: Check the federal schedule separately from your state or city calendar.
• Check locally: Confirm school, court and library hours locally.
• For travel: Look for both “Columbus Day” and “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” on event calendars.
• Final check: Complete time-sensitive federal business before the three-day weekend.