What's Open, Closed on Columbus Day?

Monday, Oct. 12, is Columbus Day and for many it’s a holiday, and that means some businesses will be closed including: banks, schools, the post office and more.

Columbus Day became a national holiday in 1937, under President Roosevelt. The day had been celebrated for centuries before, though, mainly in the form of religious celebration or parades honoring both Italian Heritage and Christopher Columbus.

Chicago’s annual Columbus Day parade will step off at 12:30 p.m. on Monday. The parade will be on State Street from Wacker to Van Buren. The festivities begin with a 9 a.m. Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, 1224 W. Lexington St. A wreath laying ceremony in Arrigo Park at the Columbus statue, together with the Grand Lodge, State of Illinois, Order Sons of Italy in America, followed by the parade.

Columbus Day was observed every Oct. 12, the date Columbus discovered the New World. In 1971 it was changed to the second Monday in October.

Check our list of what’s open and closed on the holiday.

• Transit: Metra will run on a normal schedule, as will the CTA
• Municipal, State, Federal Offices: Closed
• Schools: Closed
• Libraries: Closed
• Banks: Open at bank’s discretion
• Mail: Post offices closed; express delivery only
• Supermarkets: Open
• Convenience Stores: Open
• Retail Stores: Open at owner’s discretion
• Restaurants, Bars: Open at owner’s discretion
• Liquor Stores: Open at owner’s discretion