Greenbelt Labor Day Parade Draws Diverse Participants

Cheerleaders, educators, cadets, drum lines and firefighters took over the streets of Greenbelt on Monday for the 65th annual Labor Day Parade. The Greenbelt Labor Day Festival was started in 1955 as a way of raising funds to build a Youth Center. It has been held every year since by the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival Committee. With such a diverse lineup of participants, the parade had something every spectator could enjoy. A recurring theme of each year’s parade is political activism. Even though only the Greenbelt City Council is up for election this fall, candidates for federal, state and county political offices marched chanting their campaign slogans, challenging Greenbelt citizens to be more politically active. Mothers from the local Boy Scout Council explained that their favorite part of the parade is how it caters to both the adults and children. The adults get to be politically involved in the community while the children indulge in carnival activities. Among the organizations that turned out to march for a cause, the Greenbelt Sensational Inspirational Talented Youth (S.I.T.Y.) Stars jumped rope through the parade to stress the importance of children being active. Head Coach Kim Bradshaw stated, “Our mission is to build disciplined, team-oriented children that love being active.” The Greenbelt Elementary School Parent Teacher Association sought to inspire the community with signs saying Read More Books and Build Schools Not Walls. Greenbelt animal shelter volunteers walked with dogs that are up for adoption and Greenbelt citizens emphasized environmental conservation with a line of electric cars. From circus jugglers to dog trainers, the Labor Day Parade is a place where residents can promote their organizations while celebrating the Greenbelt community. “This parade has been a staple of Greenbelt and its surrounding areas for as long as I have been in politics,” said Maryland District 22 Senator Paul Pinsky. “It’s an amazing tradition.” Ivan Torres is a graduate student in journalism at the University of Maryland reporting for the News Review.