Mon 9/5 @ 11AM
The 11th Congressional District Labor Day Parade is one of the city’s venerable traditions. It was started more than four decades ago by the late Congressman Louis Stokes back when it was the 21st district. When Stokes retired in 1999, he passed the tradition on to his successor Stephanie Tubbs-Jones. Sadly, he returned to host the event in 2008 when Tubbs-Jones died unexpectedly two weeks before Labor Day. Now it’s hosted by HER successor, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge.
The massively long parade, which comes down Kinsman and winds up in front of a reviewing stand in Luke Easter Park, features elected officials and candidates vying to have the most marchers and vehicles, fraternal organizations and lodges, high school bands, drill teams and dance groups, labor unions, government agencies, schools, community organizations and nonprofit groups. For a couple of miles, Kinsman is lined with children brandishing large bags to catch as much of the proffered candy as possible. You’ll most likely see a large contingent of elected officials joining Fudge on the reviewing stand.
But there’s more! The congresswoman has snagged BOTH Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine to appear following the parade, around 2pm. She’s also booked a lineup of local talent to perform before and after. So there’ll be plenty of reason to hang around afterward — food, vendors, information both, judicial candidates who want to shake your hand and people with clipboards asking if you are registered to vote. You’d better be!
Cleveland, OH 44104