Updated with current information for 2023
Who thinks about celebrating the American worker these days on Labor Day?
Not many of us, and that’s evidenced by the way we spend that September holiday. For most, it’s a day off from work (or classes), and we celebrate by barbecuing or having a party with a lot of beer at our Athens Ohio rental. Nothing wrong with that, but if you’d really like to do something beyond paying lip service to the great American worker, here are some suggestions.
- Buy American. You can go up and down the aisles at your local big box stores and likely find it challenging to find much of anything made in America. Or you can go online to the USA Love List and find something made in the USA that you might need to buy. Look for local organic poultry, beef or lamb farmers. Beer shouldn’t be too much of a challenge – you can buy it directly from three quality craft breweries in Athens.
- Organize a trip for local schoolchildren (schools can educate you about responsibilities involved – chaperones, background checks, etc.) to a factory or farm and show the kids what goes into making the things they use or eat.
- Check local Athens events for Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 4) including OU Bobcat football at Peden Stadium against the LIU Sharks on Saturday, Sept. 2. Also, discover the farms, foods and spirits crafted within a 30-mile radius of Athens. The 30 Mile Meal logo will guide you, and we promise, it’s a locavore’s dream.
If you want to go the barbeque route…
Look, we get it. It’s hard not to be outside, having fun with your friends on Labor Day. It is, after all, the unofficial end of the summer.
If you live in a rental with a yard, have that barbeque and invite some buds over for a good time. But if you want to do your part for the American worker, maybe have everyone bring a few bucks, and consider donating them to a local union or nonprofit supporting workers’ rights. A little light philanthropy on your end could go a long way towards making a difference in the community.
Want to get out of town?
Similarly, you might be wanting to get off-campus and do something nice and enjoyable for the holiday.
We’ve listed a few possibilities in the bullets above, but here are a few more suggestions:
- A trip to Strouds Run State Park. Located only a few minutes away from Athens, this park will likely be popping with students during the holiday.
- A day trip to Columbus. If you have parking at your rental and can get pretty mobile, consider an excursion to the city. More cultural options will be here if you want to spend the holiday learning about the history of the day and the events surrounding its creation. It’s an easy way to be more thoughtful and present of the importance of Labor Day.
And for the lazier types – if you live in an apartment near campus, and want to just hang out all day, doing nothing in preparation for the semester, crack open a window, enjoy the nice weather and that awesome view from your rental. It’s free and refreshing.
No matter how you celebrate, Labor Day is an important holiday – even outside the pomp and circumstance its come to be associated with. Take some time to be thoughtful and appreciate the reason for the day off school.