Columbus Day is a federal holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. However, states and local governments can choose not to observe federal holidays.
Many states and cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a holiday that recognizes the native populations that European explorers displaced. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is also known as First People’s Day or Native American Day.
Indigenous PeoplePhoto byQuinn Dombrowski/Wikipedia Screenshot
Virginia has observed Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday of October since 2019. This holiday honors the Native American population of Virginia.
Some Virginia cities do not observe Columbus Day on October 14, 2024. Therefore, it would be wise to check in your own city to see if schools, banks, and post offices are open or closed.