Listed below are free and cheap things to do for the Labor Day holiday weekend, September 2-5, 2022. It’s a collection of links to information found on Greater Seattle on the Cheap as well as our “mother ship”, the national Living on the cheap website.
What is Labor Day?
Labor Day is a federal holiday, celebrated on the first Monday in September. The day was conceived to recognize the contributions American workers make to the prosperity of the country. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City as proposed by the Central Labor Union. Over the next decade, other states joined in to celebrate Labor Day, organizing parades, speeches by prominent labor leaders, and an amusement festival for labor workers and their families. As more states adopted the tradition, support for a national holiday grew. In 1894, Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday.
The character of the Labor Day celebration has continued to change over time. Today, Labor Day is a low-key holiday, primarily for rest and relaxation. It’s the last chance to celebrate summer before the autumn season begins. Labor Day activities include typical summer fun, such as fireworks displays, picnics, barbecues, camping trips, and that all-American pastime: shopping (particularly for back-to-school). Most retailers hold Labor Day weekend sales with discounts especially for back-to-school clothes and supplies, with deals rivaling Black Friday in November after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Labor Day was conceived to recognize the contributions American workers make to the prosperity of the country. – DepositPhotos.com
Free and cheap things to do Labor Day Weekend
Outdoor Recreation
- Ultimate Guide to free spray parks, wading pools, beaches
- Take a hike! Metro summer bus service to Cascade trailheads
- Popular King County Parks for day hikes
- Free Seattle trail maps for running or walking
- Free apps and online maps for walking tours of Seattle
- Our big list of public gardens and garden tours
- Most amazing natural wonders in Washington State
- Where to watch wildlife in Washington State (free!)
- Canoe & kayak rentals at UW Seattle
- 16 Puget Sound lighthouses you can visit for free
- 10 best free outdoor activities year-round
School: Sales, Shopping, and more
- Annual Ski Bonkers ski & snowboard sale in Bellevue
- Punk Rock Flea Market in Tacoma
- Where to find outlet malls for Labor Day weekend sale shopping
- Seattle Premium Outlets back-to-school denim drive in Tulalip
- Free and low-cost resources for homeschooling
- 6 ways to save on kids’ back-to-school clothes
- 7 ways to save money on school supplies
Fun for kids and teens
Arts & Entertainment
Fairs, Festivals, Special Events & Activities
- Evergreen State Fair in Monroe
- 2022 Washington State Fair in Puyallup
- BECU FREE kids admission Labor Day Weekend at Washington State Fair
- KOMO Food Drive FREE admission with non-perishable food at Washington Fair
- Free Olympia Harbor Days
- Sunflowers Fields & Festivals in Washington State
- 10 places at Pike Place Market to while away time
- Woodland Park Zoo: discount tickets & special exhibits
- How to get free or low cost tickets to Seattle Aquarium
- Free outdoor Spoken Word Festival in south Seattle
- Getaway: “Heart of the Cascades” art exhibit at Dru Bru Taproom in Cle Elum (80 mi. SE)
- Getaway: Kittitas County Fair & Rodeo in Ellensburg (107 mi. SE)
- Getaway: rodeo in Ellensburg (110 mi. SE)
Food, Picnics & Barbecue
- Free Blackberry Festival in Bremerton
- Popular u pick crops for September: apples, grapes, pears
- Save on Taylor Shellfish Farms tinned products with LABORDAY22 code
- How to throw a picnic for less
- How to save money on a summer party
- Cheap recipes for your barbecue
- Free guides on how to barbecue safely
- More free food safety apps and guides
- Save money with healthy summer salads
- Easy recipes with cheap summer sweet corn
- Keep the kids cool with DIY ice pops
But wait! There’s more.
