Labor Day Weekend Events

A blue graphic reads "What to do this Labor Day Weekend in St. Louis Missouri"

Celebrate the holiday throughout St. Louis

Each year, the U.S. takes one day to celebrate workers throughout the country. This holiday is known as Labor Day, which occurs on the first Monday of September annually. Its roots come from the late nineteenth century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to honor the hard work and dedication of American workers. This year, the St. Louis area has many events occurring over the holiday weekend to celebrate the day. Below are just a few of them.

  • 2nd Annual Labor Festival
    • Enjoy Labor Day festivities sponsored by the Greater St. Louis Labor Council at their 2nd annual Labor Festival. The festival kicks off at Noon on August 25th at the Florissant Knights of Columbus (50 St. Francois Street, Florissant, Mo.). Celebrations include a tug-of-war, kid-friendly games, bounce houses, a petting zoo and live music.
  • Queeny Art Fair
    • Explore work from talented artists at the Queeny Art Fair. It takes place August 30th – September 1st at the Greensfelder Recreation Center in Manchester. There are over 100 artists from 20 states, making this art fair one of the biggest in the bi-state region. Types of media on display include clay, digital art, fiber, pastels, wood and many more.
  • Paint Louis
    • Experience live art at Paint Louis at the Flood Wall. This annual event brings together the four elements of Hip Hop which are graffiti, breakdancing, rapping and DJing. Watch as over 500 graffiti artists paint the world’s longest mural along the Mississippi River flood wall. This event takes place August 30th – September 1st from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. each day. From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., daily Paint Littles takes place, which is a special time when artists teach children how to hold spray cans and begin creating lettering and art.
      • Read about last year’s event here.
  • The Gateway Cup
    • August 30th – September 2nd, enjoy four days of bicycle races in four unique St. Louis neighborhoods. The 39th edition of the Bommarito Audi West County Gateway Cup takes place Labor Day weekend, with races of all ages and genders.
  • Japanese Festival
    • Taking place at the Missouri Botanical Garden, the annual Japanese Festival is a must-see experience this Labor Day weekend. Festivities include live music, sumo-wrestling and much more. The event takes place August 31st – September 2nd, from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday.
  • Big Muddy Blues Festival
    • Get lost in blues music at the Big Muddy Blues Festival at Laclede’s Landing. On September 1st, enjoy local food, live performances and riverfront views from 2-8 p.m. The festival expects well over 30,000 attendees, all joining together to celebrate the vibrant blues of St. Louis and listen to more than 50 local bands and musicians.
  • Belleville Labor Day Parade and Picnic
    • No Labor Day weekend is complete without a parade. Visit Belleville and enjoy a parade and picnic commemorating the holiday. The parade takes place on Labor Day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Hough Park in Belleville, Ill.
      • See the parade route here.