What to know about Labor Day and its history
Labor Day is more than just barbecues, shopping sales and a long weekend. Here’s what to know about the federal holiday.
Labor Day is quickly approaching, and you may be thinking of ways to get away and celebrate the final three-day weekend of the summer.
Here’s what you should know about the holiday that celebrates the “social and economic achievements of American workers,” according to the United States Department of Labor.
When is Labor Day 2025?
Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 1, 2025.
Since Congress officially recognized Labor Day as a federal holiday in 1894, Americans have celebrated it on the first Monday of September.
When is the Des Moines Labor Day parade?
Des Moines’ annual Labor Day parade starts at 11 a.m. Sept. 1, with local unions’ parade floats departing from the Iowa State Capitol and ending at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Following the parade, a picnic will be held for labor union members and their families at Union Labor Park, 4640 N.W. Morningstar Drive in Des Moines.
What are the best and worst times to drive for Labor Day weekend 2025?
The roads will be most congested during the afternoons of Thursday and Friday, as well as the early evening and morning of Saturday, according to historical data from INRIX. Returning home from the long weekend, drivers can expect the worst traffic on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday morning.
If you’re hoping to avoid traffic jams, plan to hit the road at night or early in the morning. The best times to drive for Labor Day weekend are before 11 a.m. on Thursday, before noon or after 7 p.m. on Friday, and after noon on Saturday. For returning home, depart before noon on Sunday, before 10 a.m. on Monday, or after 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
Des Moines Register reporter Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez contributed to this report.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.