Columbus Day Countdown

Columbus Day is a US federal holiday observed on the second Monday of October, commemorating Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. An increasing number of US states and cities now observe the same date as Indigenous Peoples Day, honouring the history and culture of Native Americans. The holiday falls between October 8 and October 14. This countdown calculates the second Monday in October automatically.

Columbus Day provides a Monday federal holiday in October — one of the few autumn long weekends before Thanksgiving. Banks, federal offices, and many schools close. The date falls within peak autumn foliage season in much of the Northeast and Midwest, making it a popular weekend for leaf-peeping travel.

The date is fixed by rule; the name is not

The second Monday in October is a US federal holiday, ranging from the 8th to the 14th. What that Monday is called depends heavily on where you are: a growing number of states and cities observe it as Indigenous Peoples' Day, some observe both, and some have replaced the federal designation entirely.

A countdown to the date is therefore uncontroversial while the label is not. This page counts to the second Monday in October and notes that the observance varies rather than assuming one name for it.

Canada's Thanksgiving is the same day

Canadian Thanksgiving also falls on the second Monday in October, which surprises people used to the American November date. For anyone scheduling across the border it is a public holiday in both countries on the same day for different reasons.

It is also the more commercially significant of the two observances in Canada, in the way that the November date is in the US.

What is actually closed

Federal offices, banks and post are closed. Schools vary considerably by district, and many are open — a district that observes Indigenous Peoples' Day may treat it differently from one that does not observe the day at all.

Retail and most private business stay open. The practical planning point is post rather than shopping: nothing is delivered, which matters for anything with a deadline that week.

The date derives from a rule. The observance and its name vary by state, city and district.

The second Monday in October
Observance	Where	Note
Columbus Day	US federal holiday	Second Monday in October
Indigenous Peoples' Day	Many states and cities	Same date
Both observed	Some jurisdictions	Same date
Canadian Thanksgiving	Canada	Same date, unrelated
Date range	8-14 October	The Monday rule
Federal offices, banks, post	Closed	No delivery
Schools	Varies	By district

The date is fixed by rule; what the day is called depends on the state, city or district.
Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the same Monday for entirely separate reasons.

Source: The federal date follows US statute; observance names and school closures vary by jurisdiction and should be checked locally

Sources

The federal date follows US statute; observance names and school closures vary by jurisdiction and should be checked locally , TheTimerLab — accessed 2026-07-28

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When is Columbus Day this year?

Columbus Day falls on the second Monday of October. The date ranges from October 8 to October 14. This countdown calculates the correct date automatically each year.

Is Columbus Day the same as Indigenous Peoples Day?

Many US states and cities have officially replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day on the same second Monday of October, shifting the focus from Columbus's voyage to the history and contributions of Native Americans. Federally, the holiday is still called Columbus Day, though individual states may observe it differently.

What businesses close on Columbus Day?

Federal government offices, the US Postal Service, and most banks close on Columbus Day. Many schools, especially in states that observe it officially, also close. Retail stores, restaurants, and most private businesses remain open. Stock markets (NYSE, NASDAQ) remain open on Columbus Day.

Is it Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day?

Both, depending on where you are. The second Monday in October is a US federal holiday; a growing number of states and cities observe it as Indigenous Peoples' Day, some observe both, and some have replaced the federal designation. The date is the same either way.

Why is Canadian Thanksgiving on the same day?

Coincidence of scheduling rather than a shared origin — Canada's Thanksgiving is also the second Monday in October, for entirely separate reasons. It is a public holiday in both countries on the same day.