You’re staring at your digital calendar and noticing that little colored block on Monday. It’s October 13. Maybe your kid’s school is closed, or perhaps your bank app is flashing a warning about delayed transfers. You might even be wondering if you should bother showing up to the office or if you can safely ignore that 9:00 AM Zoom call.
It’s confusing. Honestly, the mid-October holiday situation in the United States is a bit of a mess. Depending on where you live, who you work for, and even how you personally identify with history, this Monday is either a major day off or just another grueling start to the work week.
The Monday Holiday Oct 13 Reality Check
Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way first. Monday, October 13, 2025, marks the observance of a federal holiday. For the federal government, this is officially Columbus Day. However, since 2021, the White House has also issued annual proclamations recognizing it as Indigenous Peoples' Day.
This duality is exactly why your inbox is probably a mix of "Out of Office" replies and people asking if you're free for lunch.
Federal employees are the lucky ones here. If you work for a federal agency, you’re looking at a paid day off. The same goes for most bank employees and postal workers. If you’re waiting on a check in the mail or a wire transfer to clear, forget it. It’s not happening until Tuesday.
But for the rest of us in the private sector? It’s a gamble. Only about 15% to 20% of private companies give their employees the day off for the October holiday. It’s not like Thanksgiving or Christmas where the world just... stops. It's more of a "check your employee handbook" kind of day.
Who Is Actually Closed?
Banks are the big one. The Federal Reserve takes the day off, so most commercial banks like Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America follow suit. You can still use the ATM, obviously, but the lobby will be locked.
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Post offices? Closed. No mail delivery. UPS and FedEx, on the other hand, usually keep their trucks rolling, though some specific services might have minor delays.
Schools are where it gets really weird. In cities like New York or Chicago, the kids are home. But in many suburban districts or states that don’t officially recognize the holiday at the state level, it’s a normal school day. You've gotta check your specific district's calendar because there is zero national consistency.
The Great Name Debate: Columbus vs. Indigenous Peoples
We can't talk about the Monday holiday Oct 13 without acknowledging the massive cultural shift that's happened over the last decade. It’s not just a "day off" anymore; it’s a point of contention.
Columbus Day became a federal holiday back in 1937. For a long time, it was a way for Italian-Americans to celebrate their heritage and contribution to the country. It was a big deal, especially in places like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
But things changed.
People started looking closer at the history. They looked at the colonization, the violence, and the displacement of native populations. Now, dozens of states and hundreds of cities have ditched Columbus Day entirely.
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A State-by-State Patchwork
If you’re in South Dakota, you’re celebrating Native Americans' Day. In Hawaii, it’s Discoverers' Day. If you’re in Alabama, the state actually recognizes both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day simultaneously. It’s a lot to keep track of.
States like Oregon, Maine, and New Mexico have officially pivoted to Indigenous Peoples' Day. In these places, the focus is on celebrating the cultures and histories of Native American tribes rather than the 1492 voyage. This shift isn't just symbolic; it changes how the day is taught in schools and what kind of public events you’ll see in the local square.
Traveling on the October Holiday Weekend
If you’re planning to hit the road, be ready for company. October 13 falls right in the middle of "peak foliage" for a huge chunk of the Northeast and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Because it’s a long weekend for some, it’s one of the busiest travel windows of the fall. Prices for Airbnbs in places like Asheville, North Carolina, or the White Mountains in New Hampshire usually skyrocket this weekend. If you haven't booked yet, you’re probably going to pay a premium.
Traffic is another beast. Expect the "Friday escape" to start as early as 2:00 PM on the Friday before. And the Monday return? It’s usually a crawl on major arteries like I-95 or I-87.
Actually, here's a pro tip: if you don't have the Monday holiday off but your kids do, consider a "staycation." The local museums and zoos are often packed on this Monday, but the hiking trails just outside the city might be slightly more manageable if you go early.
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Retail and Shopping Deals
Is it a big shopping holiday? Kinda.
It’s not Black Friday, but retailers have caught on that people like to shop when they have a random Monday off. You’ll see "Fall Clearance" sales or "Columbus Day Weekend" promos.
Mattresses and appliances are the big ones. For some reason, the industry decided that mid-October is the perfect time to buy a fridge. If yours is on its last legs, this might be the weekend to pull the trigger.
What You Should Do If You're Working
If you’re stuck at your desk while your friends are posting "leaf peeping" photos on Instagram, don't sweat it. The Monday holiday Oct 13 is actually one of the most productive days of the year for people in the office.
Why?
Because the "interruptions" are gone. Since federal offices and many vendors are closed, your inbox will be surprisingly quiet. There are fewer meetings. No one is calling you with "urgent" requests that need to be solved by 5:00 PM. It’s the perfect day to knock out that massive project you’ve been procrastinating on for three weeks.
Practical Steps for the October 13 Holiday
Don't let the day catch you off guard. Whether you're celebrating, working, or just trying to get errands done, here is the move:
- Verify your bank needs: If you have bills due on Monday, pay them by Friday. Digital transfers might not post until Tuesday, and you don't want a late fee because of a federal holiday you forgot about.
- Check the school portal: Don't be the parent who drops their kid off at a locked school building. Most districts have their 2025-2026 calendars online now. Look for "Staff Development Day" or "Holiday - Closed."
- Support local Indigenous events: If your city has shifted to Indigenous Peoples' Day, look for local markets or cultural performances. It's a great way to learn about the actual history of the land you're standing on.
- Plan for traffic: If you are traveling, try to head back Sunday night or very early Tuesday morning. Monday afternoon traffic during a holiday weekend is consistently a nightmare.
- Check your trash pickup: In many municipalities, garbage and recycling pickup is pushed back one day. If your normal day is Monday, they might not come until Tuesday. Check your city's waste management website to avoid leaving your bins on the curb for no reason.
The October 13 holiday is basically the "choose your own adventure" of the American calendar. It’s a mix of history, controversy, and a much-needed break from the autumn grind. Just make sure you know which version of the day your boss and your bank are participating in before you make big plans.