This Monday, October 12, Columbus Day is celebrated, a federal holiday in the United States that is also commemorated in various communities as Indigenous Peoples' Day (Indigenous Peoples' Day).
In Florida, the day features a combination of closed offices and services operating normally, depending on the institution and the county.
Just because Columbus Day is a federal holiday does not mean that schools, public transportation, supermarkets, or private businesses have to close.
In Miami-Dade, for example, administrative offices and public libraries will remain closed, while schools, public transport, and garbage and recycling collection will continue their usual activities.
Post offices, banks, and financial markets
The United States Postal Service (USPS) will suspend regular mail deliveries and routine service at its offices.
The official calendar of USPS includes Monday, October 12, among the holidays of 2026.
The Priority Mail Express service is available, as it operates 365 days a year, including federal holidays.
Most branches of major banks, such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, Capital One, and Truist, will remain closed, although there may be exceptions depending on the institution and the location.
ATMs, mobile applications, and online banking will remain available. However, some transfers and banking operations may not be completed until Tuesday, October 13th.
This is because the Federal Reserve also observes Columbus Day, meaning that certain payment and settlement systems, such as Fedwire and ACH, do not maintain their usual processing during the holiday.
Regarding the financial markets, the stock exchanges NYSE and Nasdaq will operate normally.
The bond market, on the other hand, will remain closed in accordance with the schedule recommended by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA).
The UPS and FedEx courier services will maintain their usual operations, including their stores, although users can check the hours of each location.
Government offices and courts
Federal government offices, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and federal courts will remain closed for Columbus Day, one of the officially recognized holidays in the United States.
In Florida, however, there is an important difference between the legal recognition of the date and the holidays observed by state agencies.
The section 683.01 of the Florida Statutes includes Columbus Day and Farmers' Day among the state's legal holidays, but section 110.117, which establishes paid holidays for state employees, does not include Columbus Day among the general closure days.
Therefore, not all state offices in Florida will be closed this Monday. Their operation will depend on the respective agency, while county and municipal governments may set their own schedules.
Florida does not generally recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day as a state holiday, although some local administrations do celebrate that date.
What will be closed in Miami-Dade?
In Miami-Dade, Columbus Day is an official holiday of the county government. The Miami-Dade holiday calendar confirms Monday, October 12, 2026, as a festive day.
The county administrative offices will remain closed, so those who need to conduct in-person procedures will have to wait until Tuesday, October 13.
The available digital services will continue to be accessible, although the attention and processing of certain procedures may be postponed until the next business day.
All public libraries in Miami-Dade will also be closed, according to the official calendar of the Miami-Dade Public Library System.
Another facility that will not open is the Pet Adoption and Protection Center, the county's pet adoption and protection center. Those planning to adopt or conduct other in-person transactions should check the service hours after the holiday.
The county also recognizes the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day, in honor of indigenous communities and the historical presence of the Miccosukee in South Florida.
Garbage and recycling will be collected as usual in Miami-Dade
Despite the closure of administrative offices, Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management will maintain regular garbage and recycling collection during Columbus Day.
Residents scheduled for collection this Monday, October 12, should put out their bins according to the usual calendar and schedule.
The county's collection service does have suspensions on certain holidays, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day, but Columbus Day is not included among those exceptions.
Therefore, those who receive the county's pickup service do not need to alter their routine due to this holiday. In municipalities with their own services, it is advisable to check local regulations.
Metrorail, Metromover, and Metrobus will operate on their regular schedule
Miami-Dade public transportation will not experience a general reduction in its services due to Columbus Day.
Metrorail, Metromover, and Metrobus will operate with their regular weekday schedules, allowing passengers to use these systems just like any other Monday.
Miami-Dade Transit implements special schedules, similar to Sunday hours, during 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.
This means that residents who rely on public transportation to get to work, study, or conduct errands will be able to travel using the usual schedules, except for specific operational changes.
Miami-Dade public schools will have classes
One of the main differences between the county's administrative calendar and the school calendar is that Miami-Dade public schools will indeed have classes this Monday, October 12.
The 2026-2027 school calendar of Miami-Dade County Public Schools does not identify that date as a holiday, teacher planning day, or day without students.
Therefore, public primary and secondary schools have their regular academic activities scheduled, even though the county government offices remain closed.
Additionally, Friday, October 16, marks the end of the first grading period, and the second begins on Monday, October 19. None of these changes to the academic calendar result in a suspension of classes during Columbus Day.
What is happening with the schools in the rest of Florida?
The school situation is not uniform across the state. Unlike Miami-Dade, numerous districts in Florida have designated Monday, October 12, as a day without classes for students, often intended for planning or teacher training.
Other districts are maintaining normal school activities, which requires families to check their county's calendar.
Among the districts with scheduled classes are Bradford, Citrus, DeSoto, Dixie, Hardee, Highlands, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lee, Liberty, Madison, Martin, Polk, Sumter, and Taylor.
In other counties, closures may coincide with autumn breaks or work days for teachers, without necessarily being an official celebration of Columbus Day.
Therefore, before taking the children to school, it is advisable to check the school calendar of the relevant district and any extraordinary notices published by the educational authorities.
The golf courses in Miami-Dade will remain open
Among the recreational services that will continue to operate during Columbus Day are the Miami-Dade golf courses, which will remain open despite the closure of various administrative offices in the county.
Those interested in playing during the holiday should check the specific schedules of each facility and the availability of reservations before going.
Stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies will open as usual
Supermarkets and large retail chains, such as Walmart, Target, Costco, Publix, and Aldi, will generally maintain their regular hours during Columbus Day.
The CVS and Walgreens pharmacies will also remain open in most of their locations, although some pharmacies located inside stores may operate with reduced hours.
Restaurants, shopping centers, and other private businesses are not required to close due to the federal holiday, so a large portion of commercial activity will continue as usual.
In any case, the hours may vary depending on the location and the decisions of each establishment.
Which services are operating and which will be closed on October 12th?
In summary, Columbus Day will not disrupt daily activities in Florida, although it will impact numerous administrative and financial services.
Residents are advised to check the schedule of each institution before traveling, especially if they need to conduct in-person procedures, banking transactions, or school-related tasks outside of Miami-Dade.
Related videos:
Filed under: