Labor Day Closings, Parade Details

Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. But it also symbolizes the end of summer and is usually celebrated with parties, parades, and athletic events.

History
The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City. Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary, organized the event.

By 1893, more than half the states were observing Labor Day on one day or another. Congress passed a bill to establish a federal holiday in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day. 

In Pittsburgh, the annual Labor Day parade steps off at 10 a.m. from the site of the old Mellon Arena and travels down Grant street, to the Boulevard of the Allies, ending at Commonwealth Place.

Port Authority buses and trolleys will operate on a holiday schedule, which is the same as a Sunday schedule. Riders should also expect delays and detours because of the annual downtown parade. More information is posted at www.portauthority.org.

Bring blankets to Henle Park in Leetsdale and enjoy the second annual Community Picnic from noon to 4 p.m. as part of the last official day of summer.

The splash pad will be open for a final summer hoorah. Hot dogs, hamburgers and snacks will be provided by the ,  and . 

Municipal offices will be closed Monday, as well Sewickley Public Library .

State offices, state liquor stores, and Pennsylvania drivers' license and photo centers are closed.

Allegheny county offices and courts are closed, along with federal offices and courthouses. Labor day is also the last day Allegheny County's public pools will be open this year. 

Banks and the U.S. stock market are also closed.

Going to the Labor Day Parade or another celebration? Upload your pictures, or photos from any Labor Day event, by clicking in the upload photos and videos tab.