Greenbelt’s beloved Labor Day Festival, running Friday, September 4, through Monday, September 7, offers fun and activities for every age and interest. Carnival rides, bingo, food, sporting events, music performances, the big parade and more will take place over a long weekend forecast to cool from this week’s heat to be comfortably in the 80s.
This article focuses on getting the most out of Sunday and Monday offerings at the Festival. (We presented the Friday and Saturday schedule last week. For the pull-out program with the full schedule, see the August 27 issue.)
Sunday, September 6
For morning and cycling enthusiasts, the Tour De Greenbelt bike ride has two stages. The first leaves at 9 a.m. from the New Deal Café and heads to Greenbelt Station. The second leg leaves from the New Deal Café around 10 a.m. and finishes at Schrom Hills Park. Make sure to bring a bike and a helmet.
Braden Field hosts events for all ages: the egg spoon race starts at 10 a.m., the sack race at 10:30 a.m. and the water relay at 11:30 a.m. Over in Roosevelt Center, the renowned Craft Fair begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m.
At the Museum House, the Retro Town Fair will accept entries of flowers, vegetables, baked goods, canned goods and needlework/sewing from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and then display the entries with their winning ribbons from 1 to 4 p.m. Tours of the Museum’s historic house run from 1 to 5 p.m. on the half hour.
At 11 a.m. on the main stage, a memorial gathering will be held to honor loved ones who died in the past year. Then, join a family-friendly drum circle, sponsored by One True Pole, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Drums and hand-held percussion instruments are provided or participants can bring their own.
At noon, the food trucks, booths, book sale and bingo open for the day, and run until 10 p.m.
From 12:15 to 1 p.m., Katy & the Gongs play classic rock to dance and drum along with.
At 1 p.m., children’s bingo in the Youth Center and the cornhole tournament (for 12 and older) at Braden Field begin. Then, at 2 p.m. in the Youth Center, the youth table tennis tournament gets rolling.
From 1:15 to 2:45 p.m., woodwind specialist Seth Kibel performs at the stage.
In the Community Center gym, the Art Show and Photo Show feature local artists and photographers from 1 to 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to participate in voting for favorites. A performance by the Greenbelt Orchestra & Concert Band small ensembles will accompany the event.
The Rising Stars Performance Showcase offers local performers a chance to display their talent from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. Then Greenbelt Honk! Situation takes the stage from 5:30 to 7 p.m., offering their unique blend of tie-dyed brass and drums musicians playing funk, pop and street band favorites.
To close out the musical evening, The Nowhere Men and their powerhouse horn section offer songs from artists like Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Chicago and more.
Monday, September 7
The annual Labor Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. Led by the Grand Marshal (the 2026 Outstanding Citizen) and the Greenbelt Police Department Color Guard, and including the DuVal High School marching band, a variety of musical groups, all manner of local community organizations and more, the Parade will honor the city’s community spirit. The Parade route runs along Crescent Road, from Greenhill Road to the reviewing stand at the intersection with Southway, ending about noon.
At 11 a.m., the booths, rides and bingo open until 6 p.m. From noon to 6 p.m., the Craft Fair continues at Roosevelt Center. The Art and Photo Shows will be open from noon to 4 p.m.
After the Parade, from noon to 2 p.m., Luncheon on the Lawn will be held at Greenbelt Community Church (corner of Hillside and Crescent Roads), with BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, baked beans and more available for purchase. At the other side of Greenbelt Center, the Greenbelt American Legion Family Picnic offers food and activities for children and adults from 1 to 3 p.m. From 2 to 4 p.m., the Arts Advisory Board hosts a mixer with local artists and art supporters in the Community Center Art Gallery.
The stage holds numerous events throughout the evening. At 12:15 p.m., Griefcat, a genre-defying musical comedy duo will make listeners laugh, cry and question their life choices, all in a single chorus. Award presentations for the Art and Photo Shows as well as Parade entries begin at 1:45 p.m. At 2 p.m., Supernational Sound System presents hip-moving rhythms and soul-soothing melodies.
From 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the stage, 11-member musical crew Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band plays classic highlife, afrobeat and other sounds from Africa’s 1970s heyday to close out the Festival.
