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10-12-2026 8:45am
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day or Columbus Day Depends on Where You Live
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Since 2024, the Town of Westwood has publicly marked the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day, a trend that many towns in Massachusetts are officially making in a move away from calling the holiday "Columbus Day."
Those making the change also differ in the spelling of the holiday, some using the singular term, "People," and others using "Peoples" as a plural, cultural, or a possessive term with an apostrophe. Others recognize both holidays. The second Monday in October remains "Columbus Day" in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth lists Monday, October 12, 2026 along with the second Monday of October for the next two years as "Columbus Day" in a list of the "legal holidays observed in Massachusetts" throughout the year. However, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority lists the holiday as "Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day," on its list of holiday schedules.
Locally, here's a sampling of how area towns are treating the holiday:
Westwood - Indigenous Peoples' Day
Canton - Indigenous People Day
Dover - Indigenous Peoples Day
Medfield - Columbus Day
Needham - Indigenous Peoples Day
Norwood - Columbus Day (However, the town's announcement of office closures lists gives no reason for the closure)
Walpole - Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day is listed on Walpole's holiday trash schedule, but the occurance of the holiday by any name, or closure of town offices, is not apparant on the town's website.
