Celebrating with your neighbors never looked this fun
By Kristy Alpert
Designed as a working-man’s holiday, the first Labor Day celebration took place on September 5, 1888, in New York City when thousands of the overworked labor force joined together to skip work and march in a parade up the streets to Wendel’s Elm Park for a picnic, concert, and day of speeches.
Today, neighbors still get together for a picnic or potluck; they gather at concerts and amusement parks for one last farewell to summer; and sports fans everywhere discuss their picks as the 2010 football season kicks off Labor Day weekend. So whether you think of Labor Day as the start of football season, the end of summer, or simply a chance to take a break from your hectic work schedule, this little holiday is always a great excuse to hang out with your neighbors!
Here are a few ways to unwind while enjoying your community.
Host a block party
It only seems fitting to eat outdoors on Labor Day, especially since that’s how the first Labor-Day-ers celebrated. Themed parties are always fun, so get creative with your theme. A luau is perfect for celebrating the end of summer, while a fall-themed party is an appropriate way to welcome the new season with harvest décor and spiced ciders. Either way, hosting a block party is a great way to cook out and chill out this Labor Day, especially if you center the party around a pool. What better way to celebrate Labor Day than relaxing with neighbors by the pool with a chilled cocktail?
Organize an art sale
These days, Labor Day means S-A-L-E to most people. So why not host your own Labor Day Sale in your area with an art show to raise money for your neighborhood? You could collect artwork from around the community (homemade or store-bought pieces) and set it up like a garage sale with all the proceeds going towards bettering your community. Make sure to advertise your sale online or in the local newspaper well in advance to guarantee a good turn-out.
Round up the neighbors for Manual Labor Day
It may seem counter-intuitive to do work on Labor Day, but that’s exactly what makes it so much fun. On Manual Labor Day, you can organize your neighbors to get together and work on making your community a more beautiful place to live by planting fall veggies in a community garden, sweeping the streets, or even coming together to clean up your neighborhood park. Make it fun by sending out flyers in advance and keep spirits high with refreshments throughout the day and some work-related-games thrown into the mix—whoever pulls the most weeds in three minutes gets a maid-service gift card!
Host a Great Labor Day Party
Celebrating with your neighbors never looked this fun
By Kristy Alpert
Designed as a working-man’s holiday, the first Labor Day celebration took place on September 5, 1888, in New York City when thousands of the overworked labor force joined together to skip work and march in a parade up the streets to Wendel’s Elm Park for a picnic, concert, and day of speeches.
Today, neighbors still get together for a picnic or potluck; they gather at concerts and amusement parks for one last farewell to summer; and sports fans everywhere discuss their picks as the 2010 football season kicks off Labor Day weekend. So whether you think of Labor Day as the start of football season, the end of summer, or simply a chance to take a break from your hectic work schedule, this little holiday is always a great excuse to hang out with your neighbors!
Here are a few ways to unwind while enjoying your community.
Host a block party
It only seems fitting to eat outdoors on Labor Day, especially since that’s how the first Labor-Day-ers celebrated. Themed parties are always fun, so get creative with your theme. A luau is perfect for celebrating the end of summer, while a fall-themed party is an appropriate way to welcome the new season with harvest décor and spiced ciders. Either way, hosting a block party is a great way to cook out and chill out this Labor Day, especially if you center the party around a pool. What better way to celebrate Labor Day than relaxing with neighbors by the pool with a chilled cocktail?
Organize an art sale
These days, Labor Day means S-A-L-E to most people. So why not host your own Labor Day Sale in your area with an art show to raise money for your neighborhood? You could collect artwork from around the community (homemade or store-bought pieces) and set it up like a garage sale with all the proceeds going towards bettering your community. Make sure to advertise your sale online or in the local newspaper well in advance to guarantee a good turn-out.
Round up the neighbors for Manual Labor Day
It may seem counter-intuitive to do work on Labor Day, but that’s exactly what makes it so much fun. On Manual Labor Day, you can organize your neighbors to get together and work on making your community a more beautiful place to live by planting fall veggies in a community garden, sweeping the streets, or even coming together to clean up your neighborhood park. Make it fun by sending out flyers in advance and keep spirits high with refreshments throughout the day and some work-related-games thrown into the mix—whoever pulls the most weeds in three minutes gets a maid-service gift card!