LABOR DAY 2016

Labor Day: What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From these, a movement developed to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

Visit the Department of Labor website for more information.

Here is a list of some events happening in and around the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport:

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

• City of Los Angeles Birthday Celebration
  The early morning "Los Pobladores - Walk to Los Angeles" is an annual re-enactment of the nine-mile walk from the San Gabriel Mission (428 @. Mission Ave., San Gabriel) to found El Pueblo de Los Angeles at the current Olvera Street. Walkers can also join the procession at Lincoln Park (3401 Valley Blvd., LA) for a shorter 3-mile walk. At Olvera Street, walkers and others will find live music, food and artists booths at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Site. Note: I left this on the list because it's usually Labor Day Weekend, but this year, it's the Saturday before.
  When: Saturday, Aug 27, 2016, 6:00 am - 9:30 am, Post walk celebration on Olvera Street 9 am - 1 pm
  Where: El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Site, 125 Paseo de la Plaza, Los Angeles, 90012 at Olvera Street.
  Cost: Free
  Metro: Red Line to Union Station
  Info: www.elpueblo.lacity.org, (213) 485-8372
• Buskerfest in Downtown Long Beach
  Buskerfest is one of Long Beach's most beloved music festivals. It's a free street party on 1st Street in the East Village Arts District with a friendly competition between acoustic bands playing mostly on the street or on truck beds. Pick up your stack of wooden nickels at the information booth to cast your votes.
  When: Sat Sept 3, 2016, 5 - 11 pm
  Where: 1st Street between Linden and Elm in the Long Beach East Village Arts District
  Cost: Free
  Info: www.summerandmusic.com/buskerfest/
• Long Beach Greek Festival
  Live music by the Olympians, exhibit dancing and social dancing, Greek food and product booths, children's games.
  When: Labor Day Weekend, Sat-Mon, noon - 9 pm
  Where: Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 5761 E. Colorado St, Long Beach 90814
  Cost: $3, children 11 and under free
  Info: (562) 494-8929, www.lbgreekfest.org
  More: Southern California Greek Festivals and Greek Dance Etiquette
• 626 Night Market
  Over 200 Asian vendors selling food and merchandise, live entertainment, arts, games and more at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.
  When: Labor Day Weekend, Sept 3-4, 2016, Friday - Sunday 4 pm - 1 am 
  Where: Santa Anita Park, 285 W Huntington Dr, Arcadia, CA 91007, Enter through Gates 3 & 5 on Huntington Drive or Gate 8 on Baldwin Ave.
  Cost: $3 ages 7 and up, many vendors take cash only, so come prepared.
  Parking: Free
  Info: www.626nightmarket.com
• Fiesta Hermosa
  Three-day arts and crafts festival with 270 vendors, live music and a kiddie carnival.
  When: Labor Day Weekend, Sat-Mon, 10 am - 6 pm
  Where: Hermosa Beach Pier, Hermosa Beach
  Cost: Free
  Info: www.fiestahermosa.com

ORANGE COUNTY

• Orange International Street Fair
  Four city streets are blocked off around the traffic circle in Old Town Orange. A craft fair is arranged around the circle and street segments are converted into streets of the world with appropriate food and entertainment. Nine stages include an Irish Stage with some of the best local Irish bands, a Greek Stage, German Stage, Mexican Stage, Polynesian Stage, English Stage and All American Stage as well as a Children's Stage and activities. There's also food and fun from other parts of the world including Japan, Denmark, Holland, Australia and more.
  When: Labor Day Weekend, Fri-Sun, Fri 5-10 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am - 10 pm. Alcohol sales start at noon Saturday and Sunday and end at 9 nightly.
  Where: Plaza Square, Chapman and Glassel in the City of Orange, 92855
  Cost: Free
  Parking: Street parking. Lots are available for a fee. Everyone in the neighborhood rents out parking spaces for the festival, so look around for the lowest rates.
  Info: www.orangestreetfair.org
  Note: This is a very family friendly festival during the day, but it gets very crowded in the evening and a lot of people who have been drinking all day are sloppy drunk and obnoxious by dusk.
• Knott's Berry Farm Labor Day BBQ
  Knott's Berry Farm hosts a BBQ in Calico Square with live country music in Wagon Camp all weekend, and Sunday night fireworks at 10 pm. It's also the final weekend of most of the summer shows. Knott's Soak City water park is also having a weekend BBQ. 
• Laguna Beach Art Festivals
  Labor Day weekend is the final weekend of the three summer-long Laguna Beach Arts Festivals, including Festival of the Arts - Pageant of the Masters, which ends Saturday, and Art-A-Fair and the Sawdust Art Festival, which both end Sunday.