Veterans Day is on Saturday, but is observed by many on Friday. What's open, what's closed.

Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch
Updated ·3 min read
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 at Columbus, Ohio.
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 at Columbus, Ohio.

Veterans Day is on Saturday this year, but you may be confused about what's open and what's closed because government and school entities will be observing the holiday on Friday. Don't worry, we've got you covered.

What's closed and when?

  • Non-essential federal, state, county, Columbus city, other government offices are closed Friday, including the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

  • Many school districts are closed on Friday. but Columbus City Schools, the state's largest school district, is open Friday, according to the district's 2023-24 school calendar.

  • Post offices are closed on Saturday, and the U.S. Postal Service will have no regular mail delivery. FedEx will have modified Express service and Ground Economy service on Friday, and FedEx Ground, Ground Economy and Freight operations will be closed Saturday. United Parcel Service is open and operating Saturday.

  • The Columbus Parking Services Division offices are closed Friday along with other city offices. However, street parking kiosks and meters will be enforced Friday. Motorists may park free of charge at kiosks and meters on the Veterans Day holiday on Saturday, though parking restriction signage at some meters will be enforced that day, including but not limited to morning and evening rush hours and zones marked for valets, taxis, loading, handicapped-only and residential parking permit areas. Motorists are advised to read signs.

  • The city of Columbus will not collect trash on Friday. Residents with color-coded trash collection dates will rotate forward by one weekday until the next holiday on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23. For residents without a color code, trash collection will move ahead one day to Saturday. However, Rumpke weekly recycling collection and biweekly yard waste collections in the city will operate as usual and will not be affected by the holiday.

  • City offices, including the Griswold Center, will be closed on Friday, November 10th. The Community Center will remain open from 5:30am to 9pm.

  • City of Worthington offices, as well as the Griswold Center, will be closed on Friday. However, the Community Center will remain open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and trash, recycling and yard waste will be picked up as normal on Friday.

  • Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College campuses are closed.

What's open?

  • Columbus Metropolitan Library branches are open on Saturday.

  • Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) will operate on a regular service schedule and provide free rides to all active and retired military personnel on Friday.  For customers to receive this benefit, they can provide military-issued identification to the transit operator when boarding, wear a veterans hat or article of clothing, or they can verbally identify as a veteran or member of the military. The COTA Customer Care call center at (614) 228-1776 will be open Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Rumpke trash collections will operate on its regular schedule. (See above)

  • Most businesses will be open, even Costco, which closes on most major holidays, and some will be offering free food or discounted services to veterans and members of the military with identification.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Are Columbus schools closed for Veterans Day?