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FILE – Elevated view of members of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America in a Labor Day parade, Chicago, Illinois, May 1915. 10,000 garment workers marched in the parade and participated in union organizing efforts. This image was taken in the clothing

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, and families want to squeeze in one more weekend of fun before the back-to-school routine begins and cooler temperatures officially settle in.

With extra days off from work and school, Labor Day also provides a day for most families to travel, saving them the hassle of waiting in lines and incurring high expenses.

Here’s what you need to know about this federal holiday, and some tips for celebrating it:

What is Labor Day?

In short, Labor Day is a federal holiday honoring the American worker.

This year marks the 130th anniversary of the holiday. Its history dates back to the late 19th century, when activists first sought to establish a day to honor workers.

The first celebration of Labor Day in the United States took place in New York City on September 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers marched in a parade organized by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor.

Workers saw their quality of life decline as they moved from craft to factory work, while factory owners’ quality of life “just skyrocketed,” Todd Vachon, an assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, told The Associated Press.

Unions in the US were largely controversial at the time, and courts often declared strikes illegal, leading to violent conflict. It was not until the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 that private sector workers were given the right to unionize.

When is Labor Day?

Labor Day is always celebrated on the first Monday of September.

This year it falls on September 2, 2024.

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Labor Day Ideas

Labor Day is known as a day of “rest” for workers, but it also marks the unofficial end of summer. Friends and families typically cram regular summer activities into the holiday.

Popular Labor Day plans include:

• Barbecuing
• Hanging out at a pool
• Going to the beach
• Going to an amusement park
• Parades
• Parties
• Traveling somewhere for a long weekend
• Shopping in the sale

Labor Day Sales

Many retailers are offering Labor Day sales, which can already be found in stores and online.

If you’re looking for expensive home accessories, Labor Day might be the time to buy them.

“Long holiday weekends like Labor Day are a great time to buy big-ticket items like mattresses and furniture. … Retailers that sell these items are trying to maximize their sales and know that shoppers are more likely to shop around and buy when there’s a sale,” retail expert Andrea Woroch told Yahoo Life.

Outdoor gear is often discounted and stores must sell off their seasonal inventory.

Traveling on Labor Day

Anyone traveling over Labor Day weekend can expect plenty of company.

Airports, highways, beaches and amusement parks are expected to be full during the long holiday weekend.

Here are some tips for those traveling this weekend:

When is the best time to leave?

If you plan to start your trip on the Thursday or Friday before Labor Day, you’ll be sharing the road with commuters. It’s best to leave before the morning rush hour or even in the evening to avoid traffic.

According to transport data provider INRIX, the worst times to travel by car are on Thursday between 13:00 and 19:30 and on Friday between 14:00 and 18:00. On Saturday, it’s the other way around, because you don’t want to drive between 08:00 and 11:00.

According to INRIX, the return trip on Monday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., will be a drag most of the day.

When are airports busiest?

The Transportation Security Administration expects more than 17 million people to be screened between Thursday and next Wednesday, a record for the Labor Day period.

According to The Associated Press, the TSA expects Friday to be its busiest day.