The Labor Day Festival is set to return once again to Bergman Park this year from noon until dark. Submitted photo

The city of Jamestown will be recognizing the end of summer and local labor force with its traditional Labor Day celebration.

This Sunday from noon until dark at Bergman Park, Collaborative Children’s Solutions, the city and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 106 will be hosting the annual event.

Patrick Smeraldo with Collaborative Children’s Solutions said the festival is to recognize both the end of summer and local labor force.

“We wanted it to be in line with honoring our labor force,” Smeraldo said. “The labor force does a lot for us, and this is an outpouring of support for what they do for us.”

The weather for the day is set to be 80 degrees and sunny, so Smeraldo expects it to be a beautiful day. Typical activities are expected to return this year, from food and craft vendors to live music to activities for the kids such as the petting zoo, a bounce house and a magician.

The day begins with the Daniel Feather Memorial 5K Race and Walk, which has been the start of the festival for years. Registration for the race begins at 8 a.m. and the race begins at 9:30 a.m. The day ends with fireworks at 8:30 p.m.

While the usual activities are planned, Smeraldo said they try to change up the live music each year. Live music this year includes the Jamestown Municipal Band, Polleywood Nights, For the People, Porcelain Bus Drivers, Harmony Express, Charity Nuse Duo, SON, and Pearl City Jazz.

One of the biggest activities for the Labor Day Festival is the awarding of the George Ritzer Labor Award at 4:30 p.m. The award was first given out in 1984 to recognize a labor leader affiliated with the Jamestown Area Labor Council. The award is given out to an individual who volunteers and contributes to the labor movement and volunteers time to community organizations.

This year’s recipient is Bob Whitney, who has lived in Jamestown his entire life and has been a member of the IBEW for 24 years. Whitney has spent 20 years on the Midget Football board, a Babe Ruth tournament director, a member of the city Parks Commission, and is currently coaching Jamestown City Rec as part of an 11-year span.

“He has done a lot for youth sports and goes above and beyond with the kids,” Smeraldo said. “He is definitely deserving of the award.”

Smeraldo referred to Whitney as an “incredible representative” of the local labor union. He will have a local police and honor guard welcome at the Labor Day festival.

Smeraldo said he is looking forward to the good weather, food and craft vendors and the music. There will be two different venues, one in the park and one at the basketball court.

He also encouraged everyone to take advantage of the $5 parking that will be available, “literally steps away from the festival.”

“I know we have a lot of live music fanatics in the area,” Smeraldo said. “The event is family friendly, which is a Collaborative Children’s Solutions staple. Families can bring kids to pet animals at the petting zoo and then go watch magic or go to the craft show and listen to music and eat lunch. There is something for everyone.”

Attendees are welcome to sit in and watch Whitney receive the Ritzer award. Smeraldo said he hopes people will come and learn to honor the local labor force like he has.

“Come on up and honor the local labor force,” he said. “Enjoy the day. “Celebrate with your family before school starts again. It’s a large park, come enjoy it.”