Here’s where you can watch Labor Day parades in the metro-east

Area schools and many businesses will be closed on Monday in honor of Labor Day. If you’re looking for something to do, we have a couple suggestions.

▪ Belleville parade and picnic — Parade starts at 10 a.m. Monday in the fourth block of South First Street, ending at Hough Park with the annual picnic. The first $500 worth of rides will be free. Music, drinks and food will be available for purchase.

▪ Immaculate Conception Labor Day Picnic — 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday. Immaculate Conception School, 321 S. Metter Road, Columbia. Fried chicken dinners with homemade pie, hand-stitched quilt/cash bingo, attendance prizes, games, used book sale, crafts, plants, live music and dancing. Chicken dinners are $12. Fellowship for all. 618-281-5105 or www.icc-columbia-il.us.

▪ Granite City parade and picnic — Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, in downtown Granite City, and proceed one mile north to Wilson Park for a picnic. The event features live music, speeches, food, refreshments and kids’ activities.

▪ St. Louis Labor Day parade — More than 5,000 marchers from 30 unions with miles of equipment, trucks, floats, marching bands, drill teams and other units will step off at 9 a.m. Monday from 15th and Olive in St. Louis, go east to Tucker Blvd., south to Market and west on Market to the parade stand at 15th and Market. Following the parade, numerous unions will have picnics in the park between Chestnut and Market. The parade’s theme is “Together We Win.” The parade is expected to last around two hours. Attendees are invited to bring lawn chairs.

This story was originally published September 2, 2017 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Here’s where you can watch Labor Day parades in the metro-east."