August 24, 2025

Labor Day is a great day to show your union pride by marching in a Labor Day parade or going to a union picnic.

Parades, picnics and Labor Day celebrations are scheduled across the state on Monday, Sept. 1, including in Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse. The New York City Labor Day parade will be held the following weekend, on Saturday, Sept. 6. UUP will march in that parade.

But this year, America’s celebration of working families presents a different—and very important—opportunity: to protest many of the actions taken by the Republican-led administration over the past seven-plus months. ”

Two nationwide activist groups—May Day Strong and Organized Power in Numbers—have organized Sept. 1 rallies in cities and towns across America to hit back at billionaires and the administration’s attacks on working people and working families. Those attacks include massive cuts and funding freezes to federal research funding, public broadcasting, Medicare and health care, and the list goes on and on.

“This year, Labor Day events are taking on a national purpose: that is to raise the voices of workers to oppose what is transpiring in Washington, D.C.,” said UUP President Fred Kowal in a recent email to chapter leaders. “It’s vital to be present at Labor Day events across the state.”

May Day Strong is organizing an event called “SolidaritySeptember.” Organized Power in Numbers is pushing its event, “#WorkersOverBillionaires.” You can find a lengthy statewide listing of these events on the UUP website, at "https://uupinfo.org/events/.

Saturday, Aug. 30

Poughkeepsie

The Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation and the Dutchess County Central Labor Council are sponsoring a Labor Day 2025 Rally against the Big Ugly Bill and the Republican-led administration’s drastic cuts to Medicare and SNAP. Union-friendly elected officials will speak at the event, which will include the distribution of 100 backpacks to area students.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be held at 272 Mill St. Click HERE for more information.

Monday, Sept. 1

Albany

The Michael L. Burns Labor Day Celebration runs from noon to 4 p.m. at Lanthier’s Grove, 4 Dunsbach Ferry Road in Latham. Co-sponsored by the Capital District Area Labor Federation, the Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades and the Labor Parade Committee. Click HERE and HERE for more information.

Buffalo

Buffalo Central Labor Council Labor Day Parade and Cookout will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Fighting for Freedom, Fairness and Security.” The annual Labor Day Mass will be held at 9 a.m. at St. Martin of Tours Church, 1140 Abbott Road.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. Participants should assemble at 10 a.m. at Dorrance Avenue and McKinley Parkway. Marchers are asked to park their cars at or near Cazenovia Park; buses will shuttle marchers from the Peter J. Crotty Casino to Dorrance Avenue from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

The parade ends at Cazenovia Park, where a picnic will be held starting at noon. Click HERE and HERE for more information.

Massena

The 45th annual Solidarity Day Labor Day parade starts at 11 a.m. The parade will step off at the intersection of Center and Willow streets and finish at the Harte Haven Shopping Center. The two-mile parade ends at Springs Park (off of West Hatfield Street) where a picnic will be held. Click HERE for more information.

Rochester

The Labor Day parade starts at 11 a.m. at the corner of East Avenue and Alexander Street. It will head west on Main Street and end at the intersection of Main and St. Paul Street. A Labor Day picnic follows the parade at Innovative Field. Click HERE and HERE for more information.

Syracuse

The annual Central New York Labor Day parade will once again be held at the New York State Fairgrounds, on the last day of the New York State Fair. Marchers can start lining up for the parade at 10:30 a.m.; meet at the back of the Exposition Center. The parade route will follow the perimeter of the building down Broadway, around Cayuga Avenue, and back around the other side of the center. A rally will follow the parade.

There’s a new part to the parade this year: Family Hour.

Family Hour, which starts at 10 a.m., is especially for families with kids. There will be games, activities, prizes and giveaways. Family Hour will be held in back of Exposition Center. Click HERE and HERE for more information.

Saturday, Sept. 6

New York City

UUP will march in the annual New York City Labor Day parade, America’s largest Labor Day parade. The parade steps off at 10 a.m.; It will start at 44th Street and Fifth Avenue and proceed down Fifth Avenue to 64th Street.

Before the parade, UUP will gather at 9:15 a.m. at W. 44th St. between 6th Avenue and Broadway. UUP will march at 10:15 a.m., along with 16 other unions, including the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, the American Federation of Government Employees, NYSUT and the Professional Staff Congress/CUNY.

The parade heads north on Fifth Avenue and ends at 64th Street.

Click HERE to register to march. Click HERE for more information about the parade.