A longstanding Labor Day tradition in the Rochester area will have a different look this year. The parade, usually one of the largest Labor Day parades in the state, will not be on the actual holiday, but is scheduled for Friday evening.
That's because local officials want to be able to have participation of some of the marching bands who are in town for this weekend's Drum Corp Associates' World Championships. The 50th anniversary of that event is being held Saturday and Sunday at Sahlen's Stadium. More than 3,500 band corps members and their families will be in town.
The Labor Day parade steps off at 6:30 p.m. at East Avenue and Lawrence Street (that is further west on East Avenue than the usual parade route).
Because of the parade there will be some street closures, including East Avenue from west of Alexander Street to Main Street; Main Street from East Avenue to Plymouth Avenue; and Plymouth Ave. from Main to Broad Streets.
There also is no parking along East Ave. from 2pm to 9pm from Alexander to Main St; and no parking on Main St. from East Ave. to North Plymouth Ave.
The theme of the parade, according to the Rochester Labor Council, is "Making Rochester Work," and labor officials say they want to both celebrate America's workers and also talk about challenges facing working people that they feel are not being address.
