Labor Day Parade and Festival Returns to Luke Easter Park

Photo by Anastasia Pantsios

Mon 9/7 @ 11AM

The 11th Congressional District Labor Day Parade and Festival, has been a tradition on Cleveland’s east side since Louis Stokes represented the area when it was the 21st congressional district (1969-1999). His successors, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Marcia Fudge and now Shontel Brown, have continued to host it. (Stokes returned to host it for one years in 2008 when Tubbs Jones died unexpectedly less than two weeks before Labor Day.)This year’s theme is “Empowering Our People.” (That means VOTE!

The parameters of the festival, taking place at Luke Easter Park, have changed but it always kicks off with a mighty parade down Kinsman Avenue, featuring marchers from businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, fraternal organizations, the “Divine Nine” Black sororities and fraternities, high school bands, cheerleading and dance schools, politicians and candidates — always judicial candidates, seemingly vying to have the most marchers. They surge past the reviewing stand as Congresswoman Brown announces them (last year she was joined on the stand by former and hopefully future Senator, Sherrod Brown (Republicans are welcome and some have marched in the past).

The parade steps off at 11am way up Kinsman, so don’t expect it at the park for at least 15 minutes. After the last delegation has arrived, the action moves to the park interior where organizations and businesses man booths, food trucks stake out spaces, family and fraternal groups set up tents to hold private barbecues and there’s usually a face-off between two high school bands – don’t miss this! There are also speakers — usually local candidates — on a stage.

It’s a fun day, all free, and it takes place rain or shine.

11cdccparade.com

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