Philly court restores Columbus Day holiday

Columbus Day will return to the City of Philadelphia’s calendar after the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court invalidated a 2021 executive order by former Mayor Jim Kenney on Aug. 6, 2025. The order had replaced the holiday with Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Judge Patricia McCullough wrote in her opinion that the seven judges ruled unanimously that the executive order was a violation of the separation of powers, and that Mayor Kenney lacked authority to remove Columbus Day. The court determined that establishing or changing official city holidays is a legislative power reserved exclusively for the city council.

George Bochetto, an attorney who sued on behalf of Italian American organizations and Councilman Mark F. Squilla, said the holiday is "back to how it should be." Squilla said the decision should have involved the city council.

Mabel Negrete, executive director of Indigenous Peoples' Day Philly, expressed disappointment, calling it a silencing of voices. She said Indigenous Peoples' Day celebrations would still proceed on October 13. The City of Philadelphia Law Department is reviewing the opinion and declined comment.