What You Need To Know About Columbus Day In Jersey City

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Columbus Day falls on Oct. 11 this year, and there are few things to know in Jersey City for the day.

No School

The first and most obvious is, school is out. The day was traditionally marked as a holiday by the school board but the decision has become controversial in recent years, as advocates for Indigenous Peoples' Day push for the holiday to be renamed in order to honor the indigenous population that was wiped out by Columbus' and similar explorers' efforts.

In June, the Jersey City board of Education voted 7-2 to keep the holiday as Columbus Day for the 2021 school year, citing more discussion was needed with Jersey City’s Italian-American community.

Street Parking

Columbus Day is also recognized as a holiday by the city, which means that alternate side of the street permit parking / street cleaning, residential permit parking, and metered parking are all suspended.

Office Closures

Jersey City Hall is closed on Columbus Day as well as the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission on Summit Ave, and all post offices throughout the city.