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Labor Day weekend is coming up this weekend, and with the long weekend comes the annual Labor Day Festival tradition, done in partnership between the city and Collaborative Children's Solutions.
This year's festival marks the 45th year of the festival, and is set for Sunday, Sept. 6, from noon until dark at Bergman Park. Main stage events include: Magic with Nick Mambretti at 12:30 p.m., Pearl City Jazz from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., George Ritzer Presentation Robert Dando at 4 p.m., the Johnny Bauer Band from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Porcelain Busdrivers from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Other events will be held across the festival including professional wrestling and kids games and more throughout the afternoon.
"There's something for everyone," Collaborative Children's Solutions President, Patrick Smeraldo said. "There's pro wrestling that starts at noon. There's a magician at 12:30. There's midget football with All City Football at 1, and then we roll into our music and kids games and all kinds of things. I think it's kind of spaced out ok, where for example if the kids that are playing football are getting ready and prepped and the little brother or sister doesn't want to stay and watch they can go see the magician, or mom and dad can go watch wrestling."
Smeraldo said the festival is a tradition as well, including things such as the music and community bingo. Most importantly, he said, the festival helps to celebrate Labor Day.
"Labor Day to me is not just a long weekend off, it celebrates our labor force," Smeraldo said. "Our labor force takes care of us every day. A big part of our labor force that helps directly with this festival is, number one, city employees; parks, police, fire will be up there, the whole deal. But also, the electrician's union, Local IBBW 106, they volunteer all day with parking cars up there and they're a financial backer of the event."
Smeraldo added that all of the formal labor unions are celebrated, including at the 4 p.m. presentation of the George Ritzer award. He said that Labor Day is for celebrating and remembering the labor force and all that they do.
The day is set to have good weather, and the event is free besides the five dollar parking fee and paying for food. Smeraldo said people can stay from noon until 8:30 p.m. for the fireworks show and participate in everything the festival has going on.
"It's a day and night worth of entertainment for free," Smeraldo said. "I mean, you buy your lunch and it's $5 to park, but you can play bingo for free; watch live entertainment for free, different types of entertainment. Kids can be entertained, adults can be entertained, and it's free, and scheduled to be 75 degrees and sunny."
Smeraldo noted that Jamestown has some staple celebrations, such as the Memorial Day parade, Christmas parade, and the Labor Day festival is up there with those. He said people should treat the event as a Jamestown staple where they can come to a safe environment for free and enjoy the close of summer.
"As president of Collaborative Children's Solutions and the organization itself, we take great pride in standing with the city side by side and putting on these events," Smeraldo said. "It's not just an event to us; it's community to us. We take great pride in that."