Mon 9/1 @ 11AM
Second only to St. Patrick’s Day, the 11th Congressional District Community Caucus Labor Day Parade is one of Northeast Ohio’s biggest parades. It was first hosted by Congressman Lou Stokes 53 years ago, then taken over by his successors Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Marcia Fudge and currently, Shontel Brown. They’ve kept the tradition going, with the theme “Empowering Our People.”
The parade lines up 147th and Kinsman and follows a long route to the reviewing stand at Luke Easter Park at 116th and MLK Drive. Every candidate or hopeful candidate for any office is there (expect to see anyone even thinking about running for judge) as well as political organizations, businesses, fraternal organizations, government agencies, nonprofits, Black fraternities and sororities (expect all of the Divine Nine to be dancing the street—see above—Marcia Fudge once jumped off the reviewing stand to join her Delta sorors), advocacy groups, labor unions, dance schools, cheerleaders, drill teams, dance schools, and those amazing high school bands. Lots of literature and candy are passed out — warning to parents about potential sugar shock!
When the parade arrives at the park, it’s greeting by Grand Marshall Brown, and other officials join her on the stand as they arrive. Afterwards there’s plenty to do inside the park where there’ll be food trucks, vendors, tables from local organizations, and a kids’ area — and probably candidates passing out more literature. It’s free to attend.