In any of the past 65 years of the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival, by this time during the week before the actual event, the community would be all a-buzz with activity. The midway, booths and main stage would be in various stages of setup. Sound systems would be checked and re-checked. From food vendors to performers to the many contest (Retro Town Fair, Pet Show, Photo contest) participants to those selling things (arts and crafts, used books), many folks would be making sure everything was in order for the upcoming onslaught. The Festival has been a mainstay of the community for a long time. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival Committee decided it would be necessary to cancel the in-person Festival, the 66th. That doesn’t mean, however, that the Festival would not happen at all. The committee, along with several community groups, have worked to make as many activities as they could virtual, available online.
The main thing to remember this year is that in order to participate in the various events, regularly check the Labor Day committee’s Facebook page (facebook.com/greenbeltlaborday) and its website (greenbeltlaborday.com).
What events will be happening this year? On Friday evening, September 4, there will be an Outstanding Citizen event. It will feature a retrospective of past Outstanding Citizens. The committee advises all who are interested to keep an eye on the website and Facebook page for more information.
Pet Show
This year’s festival will include, as usual, a pet show but, not as usual, it will be virtual. The show opens Wednesday, September 2 at noon and will close Sunday, September 6 at 5 p.m. Photos of pets will be accepted during this time. Pet show participants may post a photo on the Labor Day Festival Facebook event page. As the committee says on that page, “we may be missing the usual Labor Day Festival this year, but our pets aren’t any less cute.” Participants may post pictures of their pets by clicking on the pet show event photo, then clicking on Discussion on the event page. Virtual awards will be announced Monday, September 7, by 5 p.m., after being judged by Girl Scout Troop 27.
Crafts and Photos
This year’s craft fair will be, as it usually is, an opportunity for local artists to display their handmade crafts. This year’s virtual craft show will start on Friday, September 4 with videos from each of the craft fair participants posted to the Festival website. Also, several of the craftspeople will be selling their crafts via links that will be available through the Festival website and Facebook page.
Like the rest of the festival, the Community Photo Show will look and feel a little different this year. Online viewing of the photos entered into the show will begin on Saturday, September 5 at 1 p.m. and run through Monday, September 7. Both adults and children (12 years and younger) were invited to enter up to two photographs. Categories for photos this year included In a COVID-19 World, Proud America, Extreme Weather, Those Who Serve and Protect Us, Greener Living in Greenbelt, My Greenbelt/Greenbelt Memories, Landscapes: Sunrise/Sunset, Landscapes: All Other, People: Photos of Children, People: Photos of Adults/Families, Flowers, Wild Animals and Nature, Pets, Travel, Buildings/Architecture and Still Life/Pictorial/Abstract.
Parade
The 2020 Greenbelt Labor Day Festival Parade was scheduled to take place on Monday, September 7, from 10 a.m. to noon. This year would have marked the 65th year of the parade. The first parade took place in 1956 during the second year of the Labor Day Festival.
Unfortunately, with large crowds now prohibited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee will not be able to stage its traditional parade. Instead it will make available a historical video of the Greenbelt Labor Day Parade that will stream over the internet during the usual date and time of the parade, 10 a.m. to noon on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. This historical video will feature best in parade entrants over the past 20 years of the parade.
In addition, earlier during the Labor Day weekend (date/time TBD) the committee will stream the video of the entire 2019 Greenbelt Labor Day Parade.
Retro Town Fair
Entries for the Retro Town Fair were accepted through August 31. Winners will be announced Sunday, September 6 on the Greenbelt Museum’s website: greenbeltmuseum.org. The categories included: flowers and vegetables, baked goods, canned goods, needlework, crafts, open category (including items such as jewelry, woodworking, dollmaking) and mask/face covering. Also included in this year’s fair is the legacy handcraft exhibition. In this category, entrants are invited to share an item that is an heirloom handcraft made by an entrant, or by a family member, more than 10 years ago. This category will not be judged but is for viewing only. The winners of the Retro Town Fair will be announced on the Museum website.
