Milwaukee Labor Day Events

Milwaukee, which lies on the shores of Lake Michigan, is rich with Labor Day festivities.south milwaukee image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com

Labor Day festivities in Milwaukee allow attendants to both honor the working men and women of the United States and celebrate with their friends and family. Besides the main parade sponsored by the Milwaukee Labor Council, the city hosts other events which coincide with the holiday such as the Highland Games and the Harley-Davidson Rally, both annual events.

Laborfest

Since 1965, Laborfest has been a Labor Day tradition in Milwaukee. It begins with a parade through the streets of downtown. The majority of the festival takes place in Zeidler Square. Some of the events include basketball contests, musical performances, wrestling exhibitions and bingo. The festival also has children's activities such as a clown and magic show. All is free except for the food and refreshments.

Located in Milwaukee County, the town of St. Francis has its own special Labor Day event entitled St. Francis Days. This event is a family-oriented affair which takes place over four days. It has live music, a parade which passes through downtown St. Francis and many games for children. As of 2010 children could gain unlimited access to all the games with a wristband which cost $10. Plenty of food and refreshments are also for sale.

This annual Labor Day event celebrates Celtic heritage with a host of activities for both children and adults alike. Tickets cost $8 at the gate or may be purchased in advance for $5. Children under 12 may enter for free. Many of the events at the festival center around Scottish, Welsh, or Irish traditions. They include longbow and rugby tournaments, battle axe and knife throwing, and Highland dancing competitions. Live music featuring bagpipes also occurs at the festival and plenty of Celtic dishes such as haggis and chips are available for purchase.