NORTHFIELD, Vt. (WCAX) – Chairs lined the sidewalk of Northfield for this year’s Labor Day weekend celebration.
“We have been to a few of them and they have been so much fun. Now that she is kind of old enough to see and respond to things, this is the perfect event for her,” said Jo Cote of Brookfield, who brought her 1-year-old daughter, Bellamy, out to enjoy the parade.
Cote said she loved seeing Bellamy interact with the lineup.
“So far she is really loving it. She loves all the sounds, watching all the people go by,” Cote said. “A great big thank you to all of our laborers in the word. You know, people that put in the work to make our lives sustainable.”
This is the 49th year of Northfield’s unique Labor Day parade. For almost half a century, thousands of people have lined the streets to watch the floats go by.
This year, more than 35 floats and organizations joined the mix, like first-timer Nick Sweet of Williamstown who brought his race car to the show.
“I am excited, honestly. It is a beautiful day. I was probably one of the first ones here. It is getting warmer and warmer, to get to go through the parade with these guys,” Sweet said.
Mike Gonneville, a veteran and longtime teacher known to his students as Mr. G., said he shows up to celebrate the hard workers of Vermont and America.
“To me, Labor Day is a celebration of all those regular people who work day in and day out to make this country what it is,” Gonneville said.
Organizers say for the parade’s 50th anniversary next year, they are planning something special.