Visiting the Detroit Zoo on Mondays is a treat. Mid-week visits are a wonderful opportunity to see the animals and stroll the pathways with limited guests.
Sure, you'll occasionally encounter a school field trip, but chances are it'll be a relaxing visit with small attendance.
However, when I visited on a recent Monday in May, something was different. There was a line at the entrance and the large viewing windows at the penguin exhibit had people standing shoulder to shoulder. I started hearing Canadian accents and noticed more than one Toronto Blue Jays hat.
I did a quick Google search on my phone and discovered May 20 was Victoria Day in Canada, a federal holiday that many Canadians get off from work.
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With a free day on their hands, some had headed to Royal Oak to visit the zoo. On my way out, I noticed signs at the ticket booths noting the zoo was accepting Canadian money that day.
It's no surprise Canadians would visit metro Detroit attractions on their extra day off due to the proximity. However, it can be an unexpected when you're trying to sneak in a quiet day at your favorite spot.
It can be helpful to make a mental note of Canadian holidays, if you're planning an outing, or even a trip to Canada , since the next one is Aug. 5 — Civic Holiday. Here's a list of the remaining public holidays in Canada this year.
Canadian public holidays remaining in 2024
- Civic Holiday: Aug. 5 (Excluding Quebec)
- Labour Day: Sept. 2
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Sept. 30
- Thanksgiving Day: Oct. 14
- Remembrance Day: Nov. 11
- Christmas Day: Dec. 25
- Boxing Day: Dec. 26
Canadian public holidays in 2025
- New Year's Day: Jan. 1, 2025
- Good Friday: April 18, 2025
- Easter Monday: April 21, 2025
- Victoria Day: May 19, 2025
- Saint-Jean-Baptise Day: June 24, 2025 (Quebec only)
- Canada Day: July 1, 2025
- Civic Holiday: Aug. 4, 2025 (Excluding Quebec)
- Labour Day: Sept. 1, 2025
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Sept. 30, 2025
- Thanksgiving Day: Oct. 13, 2025
- Remembrance Day: Nov. 11, 2025
- Christmas Day: Dec. 25, 2025
- Boxing Day: Dec. 26, 2025
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Don't be surprised to encounter Canadians in metro Detroit on federal holidays
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