The State Of Columbus Day
Columbus, Ohio, which once celebrated Christopher Columbus with a parade and fireworks, has more modest plans today.
Columbus, Ind., has none.
Columbus, N.D. -- population 100 -- says it's too small to throw a shindig.
Columbus, Pa., says the weather is usually too cold.
Does no Columbus celebrate the federal holiday anymore?
Actually, some do -- though not necessarily on Columbus Day itself.
Here's what our search for Columbus celebrations found (along with other interesting discoveries about towns that share a name with ours):
Columbus, Neb.
A mere day won't do it for this city of 21,000: It celebrates Columbus Days -- during the summer.
"We used to have our Columbus Days in October, but the weather is iffy, so we moved it to August," said Barbara Grachek, director of the convention and visitors bureau.
The four-day celebration features food, music and merchandise.
Every year, two distinguished residents are crowned King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella; they reign over the festivities.
The city has a bell tower, dedicated in 1992, that marks the 500th anniversary of the explorer's voyage to the New World.
By the way: Columbus, Neb., was named for Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1856 by several Ohioans seeking to cash in on the coming of the transcontinental railroad by planting a town along its route.
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Columbus, N.Y.
Possibly the oldest Columbus in the nation, this central New York town of about 800 was founded in 1805, says town historian Barbara Avery. (Columbus, Ohio, came along in 1812.)
No one knows whether the town was named for the explorer, but residents celebrate Columbus Day every year anyway. Christopher Columbus himself is usually not mentioned.
"It's just a get-together for townfolks," said farmer Don Johnson, who is coordinating the tractor pull.
This year's event was Saturday, when the town celebrated both Columbus Day and the bicentennial of its founding.
By the way: Columbus, in dairy country, once housed the world's largest cheese factory.