Columbus Day, known in some communities as Indigenous Peoples Day, is a legal holiday in Massachusetts. That means offices and some government services are closed and other businesses have special hours.
Canceled events
Traditional Columbus Day weekend events are canceled for 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic:
- The Ashfield Fall Festival
- The Granville Harvest Fair
- The Second Baptist Church Craft Fair in South Hadley
- The Pulaski Day Parade in Northampton
Government
- Local government offices: Closed
- State government offices: Closed
- Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles: Closed
- Federal offices, including U.S. district courts in Springfield, Worcester and Boston: Closed
- Massachusetts state parks: Open
- Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Closed
- Cape Cod National Seashore: Open
- Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area: Open
- Post office: Closed
Finance
- Stock market: Open
- Banks: Most banks are closed for Columbus Day. But check with your branch to make sure.
Grocery and retail
- Liquor stores: Open in both Massachusetts and Connecticut
- Big Y: All Big Y supermarkets are open regular hours on Monday.
- Stop & Shop: All Stop & Shops are open regular hours on Monday.
- Holyoke Mall: Open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Hampshire Mall, Hadley: Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Eastfield Mall, Springfield: Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Lee Premium Outlets: The outlets on Route 20, off Exit 2 of the Massachusetts Turnpike, are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Aldi: Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Atkins Farms Country Market, Amherst: Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Randall’s Farm, Ludlow: Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Trader Joe’s: Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Whole Foods: Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Malls around Massachusetts
- Auburn Mall: Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Burlington Mall: Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Cape Cod Mall, Hyannis: Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Copley Place Mall, Boston: Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Emerald Square Mall, North Attleborough: Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston: Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Natick Mall: Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Prudential Center, Boston: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Solomon Pond Mall, Marlborough: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Peter Pan Bus Lines
Springfield-based Peter Pan Bus Lines warns that there will be heavy traffic this weekend and passengers should expect delays. Peter Pan suggests travelers take an earlier bus if the trip involves connecting service, traveling to an airport or time-sensitive plans.
There will be a series of schedule changes, outlined on the bus company’s website.
MBTA
The T doesn’t modify its schedule for Columbus Day.
PVTA
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority buses on Springfield and Northampton service operate on a Sunday schedule.
UMass Amherst service will have reduced service Monday for Indigenous Peoples Day. More details are available on the PVTA website.
CTrail’s Hartford Line
The passenger train route offers regular service Monday.
Airports
Bradley International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport and Worcester Regional Airport all warn travelers to expect crowds and prepare for delays.
Traffic
- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation warns motorists that Columbus Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year for travel.
- Drivers may dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions. Drivers may also visit mass511.com, a website that provides real-time traffic information.
High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes
MassDOT said there will be some changes in Boston-area highway schedules Columbus Day weekend:
- The Boston Interstate 93 HOV lane will open at 1 p.m. Friday. It will not be deployed on Monday.
- The Sumner Tunnel Swing Lane will open at 3 p.m. Friday and will remain open until 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
The Cape
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports there will be no lane restrictions on the Sagamore Bridge or Bourne Bridge during the Columbus Day weekend.
Foliage
We are starting to see moderate fall color in parts of Massachusetts and in southern Vermont and New Hampshire. Yankee Magazine has an online map of current foliage conditions.
