You’ve made it through some of the most unusual summers ever. This year Labor Day, the quintessential end-of-summer holiday also promises to be a return to normal life. There are plenty of things to do and a lot of ways to safely celebrate Labor Day Weekend 2022, wherever you are! Whether you’re looking to have some fun locally, or planning a backyard BBQ, there are still plenty of things to do on Labor Day weekend.
When is Labor Day 2022?
This year, Labor Day will be celebrated on Monday, September 5, 2022.
What is Labor Day all about?
Labor Day is a national holiday that celebrates the contributions and achievements of working Americans. The very first Labor Day celebration was held in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. It was celebrated with a picnic, concert, speech, and a parade of ten thousand workers marching from City Hall to Union Square. Over the next decade, more states joined in to celebrate Labor Day. In 1894, Congress made Labor Day a national holiday that would be celebrated on the first Monday of September each year.
Generations of Americans have used Labor Day weekend as a well-deserved break from work to soak up the final rays of the summer sun. Some of the popular things to do on a Labor Day weekend are spending time with family and friends, watching parades, barbeques, picnics, camping out, and just generally letting your hair down! Here’s what you can do to celebrate Labor Day Weekend 2022 in some of the major cities across the US.
What To Do For Labor Day Weekend 2022
Chicago Labor Day WeekendÂ
Chicago has plenty of fantastic picnic spots like Lincoln Park, Jackson Park, and Humboldt Park. These parks are pretty large, and you can enjoy yourselves while maintaining a respectable distance. If you want to head out of the city, Indiana Dunes State Park, Starved Rock State Park, Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, Kankakee River State Park, and Matthiessen State Park are all around 90 minutes (or less) away. Another fun option is to grab your blanket, some snacks, your mask, and make your way to one of the neighborhood parks that show outdoor movies. If these things to do on Labor Day weekend feel like too much effort, you could also just stay home, chill, and head over to the Riverwalk in the evening to enjoy great waterfront views and drinks!
San Francisco Labor Day WeekendÂ
Commune with nature on a hike through the Muir Woods. There’s a parking reservation in place now, so you’ll need to book your trip on GoMuirWoods.com or call 1-800-410-2419. The San Francisco Zoo will be open on Labor Day 2022 at 50% capacity, so book in advance. If you want to get out of San Francisco for the weekend, why not drive up to Lake Shasta, where you can rent a houseboat and have a barbeque on the deck! Other cool places you can drive to are Fort Bragg, Lassen Volcanic National Park, or Lake Tahoe.
Las Vegas Labor Day WeekendÂ
Las Vegas has plenty of things to do on Labor Day weekend 2022 and all through the year too! After being shuttered for months, hotels and casinos in Vegas are opening up in time for Labor Day 2022. Stringent sanitization, temperature check, and social distancing measures will be in place to keep guests and hotel workers safe. Vegas offers many attractions other than just the casinos. Drive down to Grand Canyon (only 250 miles from the Las Vegas Strip) to take in glorious views of the sunrise or sunset.
You could also take a helicopter or a hot air balloon ride to get a bird’s eye view of the Grand Canyon. Lake Mead, with its gorgeous rock formations and numerous hiking trails, is just an hour away from Vegas. Head out to the Mojave Desert for an ATV ride or shred through the Valley of Fire in a dune buggy. Don’t forget to take a stroll across the glass-bottomed Grand Canyon Skywalk Bridge for unparalleled views, 4,000 feet above the Canyon floor. You could also book yourself into a resort and spend Labor Day weekend 2022 on some R&R, sipping on mimosas or mai-tais by the poolside!
Atlanta Labor Day WeekendÂ
Atlanta has some live events scheduled for Labor Day Weekend 2022, like the balloon Hot Air Balloon Festival at Callaway Gardens. The event promises 3 nights of glowing balloons and fireworks! (Please be sure to wear a protective face covering, and maintain social distancing when you’re out and about.) Enjoy reggae music and delicious jerk cuisine at the Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival scheduled to be held on Sunday, September 6, at the Southeast Athletic Complex.
The Decatur Book Festival and Dragon Con aren’t canceled but will be available online as virtual events. If you’d rather avoid crowded events, you could explore several hiking trails available near Atlanta. Hike to the top of Stone Mountain (20 miles from downtown), or hike through the easy 2-mile loop in Cascade Springs Nature Preserve (7 miles from downtown). South Peachtree Creek Trail, Sweetwater Creek State Park, Doll’s Head Trail, and the Murphey Candler Trail are other places for you to enjoy the fresh air while maintaining a distance.
NYC Labor Day WeekendÂ
While most live events and parades remain canceled, there are still plenty of things to do on Labor Day Weekend 2022 in New York. The West Indian American Day Carnival is going online with virtual talent showcases, music fests, and even a virtual road march! The quirky unicycle festival on Governors Island will take place in an abbreviated form. While the festival has dropped all events that require close contact (unicycle hockey and basketball), you can still have fun doing long-distance unicycle races!
If you’re looking for something a little more laidback, you could pack up some food, grab a blanket, and enjoy a picnic in Central Park. If you feel like getting out of the city, the Adirondacks (a 3-hour drive) offer stunning views and fresh air. Drive down to the Catskills for amazing mountain views or Montauk for picturesque white-sand beaches. If you’ve been missing live music, Farm to Treble, at Stone Ridge Orchard near New Paltz, is kicking off a series of fundraiser events. Dinner and dessert under the stars in socially-distanced 10-foot pods overlooking the orchard, with live bands playing, is what’s on the menu.
A word to the wise – places, especially popular hangouts, can get crowded during Labor Day weekend. So book your parking spot early enough. Or you’ll be spending the weekend driving around looking for a place to park!Â
Go on and make the best of your Labor Day Weekend 2022! Don’t forget to travel safely by booking your contactless parking spot through Way!
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