🧭 How many days until Columbus Day?

When is Columbus Day?

Columbus Day falls on the second Monday of October, so its date moves each year and ranges from October 8 to October 14. It creates a three-day weekend for those who observe it.

It is a federal holiday, meaning federal offices and banks close. Observance varies widely, though: many states and cities either rename the day as Indigenous Peoples' Day or do not treat it as a holiday at all.

History and changing meaning

The day commemorates Christopher Columbus's landing in the Americas in October 1492. It became a federal holiday in 1937, championed in part by Italian American communities who saw it as a point of pride.

In recent decades the holiday has been reexamined because of the harm European arrival brought to Indigenous peoples. Many places have replaced or paired it with Indigenous Peoples' Day, which honors Native American history and cultures.

How the day is observed

Where it is celebrated as Columbus Day, cities such as New York hold parades with a strong Italian American presence. Elsewhere, Indigenous Peoples' Day is marked with cultural events, education, and celebrations of Native communities.

Because observance is so uneven, whether schools, offices, or businesses close depends heavily on the state and city.

Other ways to count

Frequently asked questions

What day of the week is Columbus Day?

Columbus Day is always a Monday, because it falls on the second Monday of October.

Is Columbus Day a federal holiday?

Yes, it is a federal holiday, but many states and cities do not observe it or mark Indigenous Peoples' Day instead.

What is Columbus Day?

It commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492.

What is Indigenous Peoples' Day?

It is an alternative observance held on the same second Monday of October that honors Native American history and cultures rather than Columbus.

Is everything closed on Columbus Day?

Federal offices and banks close, but schools and businesses vary a great deal by state, since observance is far from uniform.

How do I put this countdown on my iPhone?

With NanoCount you can place this countdown as a widget on your Home or Lock Screen. Open the app, create the countdown, then press and hold your Home Screen to add the widget.