St. Louis Labor Council’s 2nd Annual Labor Festival set for this Sunday, Aug. 25

Illinois festivities planned through Labor Day

By SHERI GASSAWAY
Assistant Editor

Florissant, MO – The St. Louis Labor Council’s 2nd Annual Labor Festival will be held on Sunday, Aug. 25 from noon to 4.p.m. at the Knights of Columbus at 50 St. Francois St. in Florissant, Mo.

The festival will include a Labor tug-o-war, cornhole tournament, games for the kids, bounce houses, a petting zoo and live music and will be held rain or shine.

“Last year we had over 3,000 people at the festival,” said Dave Meinell, festival organizer. “We’re expecting the same amount of people as last year and if it’s a nice day out, we could have as many as 5,000 people.”

Limited parking is available at the park, and Florissant police will be on hand to direct traffic, said Meinell, president emeritus of the Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans. Or festival goers may take a free shuttle from the Florissant Schnucks, 8200 N. Lindbergh, or the Florissant Dierbergs, 222 N. Highway 67.

For information regarding sponsorship, call Travis Barnes at 573-631-4395.

ILLINOIS LABOR DAY FESTIVITIES
In Illinois, planned Labor Day festivities include:

• Aug. 24 – Wood River/East Alton Parade and Picnic. The parade will step off at 10 a.m. at the Wood River Round House parking lot and continue south on Wood River Avenue, east on Ferguson, north on 6th Street and end at the Emerick Sports Complex at 1001 N. 6th St.

There the program will include food, refreshments and the concluding game of the James Stanley Memorial Charity Softball Tournament, which started on Aug. 21. The winning team in the tournament will select the recipient of the prize money and receive the “traveling trophy” for display in their union hall. Madison County Transit will provide free shuttle service starting at 8 a.m. and run every 15 minutes to the start of the parade. After the parade, shuttle service will be provided back to the Round House. For more information contact B. Dean Webb at 618-259-8558.

• Sept. 2 – 44th Annual Tri-City Labor Day Parade and Picnic will step off at 10 a.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 2. Parade assembly will begin at 8 a.m. in downtown Granite City on State Street between Niedringhaus and 18th Street. The parade will end at Wilson Park with a Union Family and Friends Picnic including live music, speeches, children’s games, food and refreshments. Madison County Transit will be providing free shuttle service to and from the parade that runs every 15 minutes. For more information contact B. Dean Webb at 618-259-8558.

• Sept. 2 – Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council Parade in downtown Belleville will step off at 10 a.m. in the fourth block of South 1st Street and end at Hough Park with the annual picnic. Vehicles should be in place between 8 and 9 a.m. and lineup will be from 9 to 10 a.m. The parade and picnic are open to union members and their families. Food, beverages, rides and games for kids are available. No animals of any kind are allowed at the parade or picnic. For more information, contact Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council President Scot Luchtefeld at 618-340-8300.