Spend the last long weekend of summer at these Labor Day festivals and events in Pennsylvania.
The next three-day weekend will soon be upon us, and with it the opportunity to celebrate Labor Day and say goodbye to summer. To help you do so, we’ve rounded up 13 fun and free events happening this Labor Day weekend, including parades, concerts, and good old-fashioned festivals. Whether you’re cheering on workers at a Labor Day parade or soaking up a festival atmosphere, these events will help you make the most of the unofficial end of summer.
Labor Day weekend events in Eastern Pennsylvania
Tri-State Labor Day Parade – Philadelphia
Date: Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
Philadelphia has celebrated Labor Day with a parade for the tri-state area for nearly 40 years. Head to the 39th Annual Tri-State Labor Day Parade, hosted by the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, to honor workers while taking in the procession along Columbus Boulevard. Many of the area’s union members will be marching in the free parade, which steps off at 10 a.m. from the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 Union Hall.
FDR Park’s Labor Day Celebration – Philadelphia
Date: Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
For a free Labor Day event surrounded by nature, head to FDR Park in South Philadelphia for the park’s 4th Annual Labor Day Celebration, featuring fun family-friendly activities like nature walks, nature crafts, science activities, and archery. There will even be an appearance by everyone’s favorite wildfire prevention spokesperson, Smokey Bear.
Free concerts at SteelStacks – Bethlehem
Dates: Friday, Sept. 4 to Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026
Bethlehem’s Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks hosts free outdoor concerts all summer, and you can catch three shows during Labor Day weekend. The lineup features the Psychodelics on Friday, Judy Blank on Saturday, and the Adam Ezra Group on Sunday. You can grab food and drinks at Mack Truck and Palette Kitchen, or you can bring your own food and (non-alcoholic) drinks while you enjoy the show on the Levitt lawn.
La Festa Italiana – Scranton
Dates: Friday, Sept. 4 to Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
In 2026, Scranton’s La Festa Italiana celebrates 50 years of Italian food and fun. Head to downtown Scranton’s Courthouse Square for mouthwatering Italian cuisine, local and Italian American music, games of bocce, and exhibits on La Festa Italiana history. The family-friendly festival is free to attend and features a stacked lineup of live entertainment.
Stroudfest – Stroudsburg (Monroe County)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
Stroudsburg’s Stroudfest is hosted by the Pocono Mountain town’s Sherman Theater. The one-day Labor Day festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 5, along the square formed by downtown Stroudsburg’s Main Street, 7th Street, Monroe Street, and 6th Street. You can expect arts and crafts vendors, food and drink sellers, and plenty of live entertainment at the festival’s four stages. You can also enjoy the wonderful small businesses that make up downtown Stroudsburg year-round!
Coal Miner’s Heritage Festival – Lansford (Carbon County)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026
The 19th Annual Coal Miner’s Heritage Festival and Picnic is a free festival held at the historic No. 9 Coal Mine in Lansford. The annual event honors the region’s anthracite coal mining heritage and has live music, traditional crafts, food and drink, and family-friendly activities (including a coal shoveling contest). While festival activities are free, visitors can pay admission to descend into and tour the No. 9 Coal Mine.
Labor Day weekend events in Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade
Date: Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
The Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade, hosted by the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council, is one of the country’s largest and oldest parades honoring Labor Day. You can watch union members, marching bands, and more celebrate the city’s deep labor roots as they make their way through downtown Pittsburgh. The parade steps off at 10 a.m.
Pittsburgh Soul Food Festival
Dates: Friday, Sept. 4 to Sunday, Sept. 6
The Pittsburgh Soul Food Festival comes to downtown Pittsburgh over Labor Day weekend, offering free live entertainment, a craft vendor market, fun activities, and several opportunities to eat delicious soul food. Admission is free, so you can save your money for barbecue, mac and cheese, sweet potato pie, and other eats from over a dozen food vendors.
Labor United Celebration – Allegheny Township (Westmoreland County)
Dates: Sunday, Sept. 6 to Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
Held at Northmoreland Park, the largest Westmoreland County park, the Labor United Celebration is a two-day Labor Day festival featuring live music and entertainment, an arts and crafts marketplace, food vendors, a flea market, bingo, carnival rides, family activities, and even a circus. Admission and parking are totally free, though access to the circus and carnival requires a $5 all-day activity pass.
Cambria City Ethnic Festival – Johnstown (Cambria County)
Dates: Friday, Sept. 4 to Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026
The Cambria City Ethnic Festival in Johnstown is a multicultural celebration held in Johnstown’s Cambria City neighborhood. Held mostly on Chestnut Street, the festival’s eight blocks will be filled with heritage and cultural displays, international food vendors, live music, kids’ activities, lawn games, arts and crafts vendors, and more! Check the full schedule on the festival website to plan your days.
Buhl Day – Hermitage (Mercer County)
Date: Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
Hermitage has celebrated Buhl Day—the community’s large Labor Day celebration honoring the legacy of steel magnate and Shenango Valley philanthropist Frank H. Buhl—for more than 100 years. Taking place at Buhl Park, Buhl Day says goodbye to summer with a bang, and includes a parade, food vendors, a 5K race, live music, art exhibits, a car show, sports tournaments, pie-eating contests (!), and much more.
Labor Day weekend events in Central Pennsylvania
Kipona Festival – Harrisburg
Dates: Saturday, Sept. 5 to Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
The Kipona Festival, held every Labor Day weekend in Harrisburg, is a free, family-friendly festival celebrating the Susquehanna River. After all, the name Kipona means “on sparkling water.” The festival, more than 100 years old—the 2026 edition is its 110th anniversary—takes place at the capital city’s Riverfront Park and City Island.
Expect lots of food, live entertainment, family games and activities, an arts market, fireworks, and even a giant puppet parade. You can also spend time on the Susquehanna River herself, whether that’s by riverboat, paddleboard, kayak, or canoe.
Summer Music Fest – Gettysburg
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
Gettysburg Rec Park will host a day of live music and local food and drinks during its Summer Music Fest, giving community members a way to enjoy the last long weekend of summer outdoors. The music festival, returning for a second year after a successful launch in 2025, was rescheduled from Memorial Day weekend due to weather—all the better for Labor Day weekend warriors.
Performers will include Hanover alt-rock band Sugar Hysteria and Littlestown funk-rock group Heads or Tails Experience, among other local and regional acts. Admission and parking are free.
