Pasadena Open for Business Amid Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day Observances

Despite the observance of both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day by different agencies on Monday, October 9, the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Unified School District are open for business today.

Banks, some L.A. County departments, and federal government services (including the mail) are closed. State departments are open.

The federal government observes Columbus Day, while the state does not officially recognize either Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day.

The County observes Indigenous Peoples Day with some closures, and Pasadena unofficially observes Indigenous Peoples Day but remains fully operational across all departments.

This patchwork of holiday observances underscores the ongoing dialogue surrounding the recognition of Columbus Day across different tiers of government. The discussion continues to evoke differing views on historical narratives.

Los Angeles County officially observes Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday in October, a change established by a 2017 ordinance that replaced the former Columbus Day holiday on county calendars. As a result, all L.A. County Library locations will be closed today, October 9th, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The discontinuation of Columbus Day as a city holiday in Pasadena is part of a broader trend across the United States. Many cities and states have replaced or supplemented Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a way to honor the history, culture, and contributions of indigenous people.