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How To Celebrate Labor Day Like A True Chicagoan

By Kelly Bauer | September 5, 2016 5:50am
 A Labor Day Parade in East Side celebrated unions and laborers in the city.
Labor Day Parade
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EAST SIDE — Chicagoans have Labor Day down to an art.

The holiday, which honors the history of laborers in Chicago, means most people will have Monday off work and school. But what to make of that free time?

"It's just so amazing and there's a lot of things that you can enjoy," said 9-year-old Elena Ontivaros. She liked the East Side parade "very much."

We asked Chicagoans how to celebrate:

1. Get the family together

David Ontivaros, of East Side, said his favorite part of Labor Day is being home with his family and having the day off. (His daughter, Carmen Ontivaros, 7, is a big fan of the holiday candy.)

Getting together with family is also a key part of the day for Orlando Marin, of East Side. Marin works two jobs and sometimes has only one day off a week, he said, so having Labor Day off work means he can relax with family.

"Just us gathering together and be together ... everyone united, that's the best part about it," Marin said.

2. Get to a park

Marin said his family heads up to Tinley Park to celebrate Labor Day. They barbecue and watch home movies.

"We get a couple grills going, bring out a project screen, stuff like that, and speakers," Marin. "We ... celebrate it real good."

Tinley Park too far? Marin said Calumet Park is nice if you're on the South Side. You can also look up parks on the Chicago Park District's website.

[Flickr/stevendepolo]

3. Barbecue

Mirelle Rivera, of East Side, said a barbecue is key to Labor Day celebrations. But don't be boring: Rivera recommends ribs (her mom has four slabs ready for Monday), pork chops, Polish sausage and arrachera (a type of steak) with frijoles a la charra.

"We always do a barbecue," Rivera said. "Especially since it's the day before school starts, so it's a nice way to celebrate the end of the summer with the family, just get together and enjoy each other's company."

4. Celebrate unions

Joan Vandenbosch, a union member, came down from North Center to East Side to watch the parade so she could honor fellow union members.

"People actually died to get us a five-day work week and eight-hour workday, sick time, to be allowed to go to the bathroom without having to ask permission or being docked pay," Vandenbosch said. "Because of the unions having that, so does everybody else."

Kathleen Ontivaros, of East Side, said her favorite part of the day is honoring unions and showing she appreciates the hard work of laborers.

She likes to "celebrate the guys that work physically and show them we appreciate it," Kathleen Ontivaros said.

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