Next Monday, October 12, will be Columbus Day, a federal holiday and also an official holiday in Miami-Dade, but that doesn’t mean that all activity in the county will come to a halt.
The administrative offices of Miami-Dade, public libraries, and the Pet Adoption and Protection Center will remain closed, while public transportation, garbage and recycling collection, and public schools will continue operation.
The official Miami-Dade holiday calendar confirms Monday, October 12, as Columbus Day in 2026.
The County also recognizes the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day, in acknowledgment of Indigenous communities, including the historic presence of the Miccosukee in South Florida.
Miami-Dade offices will be closed
The county administrative offices will be closed on Monday.
Therefore, those who need to carry out in-person procedures in Miami-Dade should do so before the weekend or wait until Tuesday, October 13th.
The online services that are available may continue to be used, although the attention or processing of certain procedures may be delayed until the next business day.
Libraries also close
The Miami-Dade Public Library System confirms in its official calendar that all its libraries will be closed on Monday, October 12.
The branches will resume their regular schedule after the holiday.
Trash and recycling will be collected as usual
One of the common questions during holiday periods is whether or not to take the bins out to the street.
In this case, Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management will maintain regular garbage and recycling collection.
The general calendar of the County states that collection continues during Columbus Day. The main holidays on which collection is suspended are Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day.
Therefore, those with scheduled collection for Monday the 12th should take out their containers according to their usual schedule.
Metrorail, Metromover, and Metrobus will operate on a regular schedule on Monday
Miami-Dade Transit will also not operate on a reduced schedule for Columbus Day.
Metrorail, Metromover, and Metrobus will operate with the normal service corresponding to a weekday, according to information published by the County.
Miami-Dade uses special Sunday schedules on certain holidays such as New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, but Columbus Day is not included among them.
Miami-Dade public schools will have classes
Families with children in public schools should pay special attention because the school calendar does not align with the County office calendar.
The official 2026-2027 calendar of Miami-Dade County Public Schools does not designate October 12 as a holiday, teacher planning day, or student-free day.
This means that public elementary and secondary schools have classes scheduled normally that Monday.
Friday, October 16 marks the end of the first grading period, and the second begins on Monday, October 19, but neither of these changes implies a school closure on the 12th.
The federal postal service also observes Columbus Day
The United States Postal Service (USPS) includes Monday, October 12, in its official holiday calendar for 2026.
Therefore, those who need to visit a post office in person or are expecting regular mail should take the holiday into account and plan their transactions for the next business day.
The federal offices will be closed
Columbus Day is one of the federally recognized holidays in the United States.
The Office of Personnel Management of the federal government designates Monday, October 12, 2026 as a holiday for most federal employees.
This affects numerous federal administrative offices and other government services that typically operate from Monday to Friday.
What is happening with the banks?
The Federal Reserve also includes Columbus Day among its official holidays for 2026.
During those days, operations for systems like Fedwire, ACH, and other settlement mechanisms managed by the Federal Reserve are not processed normally.
Many bank branches may remain closed, although the hours depend on each institution, and some entities keep certain offices open.
Online banking operations may still be available, but some transfers or transactions may not be completed until Tuesday the 13th.
The county's golf courses will remain open
Miami-Dade also reported that the Golf Miami-Dade courses will remain open during the holiday.
Users should check the specific schedule and availability of the field before going.
The pet adoption center will indeed be closed
The Pet Adoption and Protection Center in Miami-Dade is among the facilities that will remain closed on Monday the 12th.
Those planning to adopt or engage in any in-person processes should check the hours following the holiday.
A pattern similar to that of previous years
The operation will be similar to that recorded during last year's holiday.
CiberCuba published a guide in 2025 regarding the services that were open and closed during Columbus Day in the United States, when Miami-Dade also kept its public schools open while various government offices closed.
The main recommendation this year is once again to check each service before heading out: the fact that Columbus Day is a federal holiday does not mean that schools, transportation, garbage collection, stores, or private businesses have to close.
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