This weekend will mark the 142nd anniversary of Labor Day. While this unfortunately signifies the end of summer as many see it, this scorching Cleveland summer will go out with a bang, all across Cleveland, from lakeshore to heights and all in between. 

Traditionally, sports are a massive part of American holidays, and Labor Day is no different. Downtown you can catch the Pittsburgh Pirates play the Cleveland Guardians in a three-day series from Aug. 30 through Sept. 1. Though Guardians pitchers Ben Lively is locked in to start on Friday and Matthew Boyd will start Saturday, both teams have left the bullpen open to the healthy pitchers at the Sunday game. 

Earlier in the series, there were no clear decisions on pitchers on behalf of the Pirates, though Mitch Keller, Jared Jones and, most excitingly, Paul Skenes, are all possible options. The rookie pitcher who was the second-ranked prospect in the MLB Draft of 2023 has rocked professional baseball, helping the troubled Pirates crawl from barely above a .400 win percentage in May to above .470 by Aug. 28, which in the world of baseball is a significant glow up. Regardless, with stars on the field, and a Phantom Fireworks Night lighting up the sky, there is plenty of room for MLB excitement in Cleveland this Labor Day. 

Musically, plenty is going on, with “Pitbull: Party After Dark Tour” arriving in Cleveland on Thursday, Aug. 29. Rappers T-Pain and Lil John will open and perform with Pitbull. Pitbull, has been on tour since last weekend, when he started his newest American tour at Bristow Music Center in Virginia. Pitbull performs next week in Burgettstown, outside of Pittsburgh, and finally in Cincinnati on Sept. 19, which will round out the Midwest segment of the tour. 

For the whole family, there is the iconic Cleveland Air Show, which you can see at Burke Lakefront Airport from Aug. 30, through Sept. 2. Celebrating over sixty years of flight, the Golden Knights Army Parachute Team, Airforce A-130s and A-10s along with the historic finale performance by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will all perform aeronautic tricks, along with half a dozen civilian pilots. 

Finally, going all the way to Geauga County is the Geauga County Fair. Running since 1822, the fair is a Northwest Ohio, and even state staple, there will be Labor Day events from Thursday Aug. 29 through Monday Sept. 1. On Thursday, at 8 p.m., there will be a demolition derby, sponsored by Derbydog Demolition Derby Professionals, which will run until Saturday. On Sunday, a tractor and truck tug pull with go down the bracket to find the most formidable trucks and tractors in the state, all modified to be the toughest. To round out  Labor Day weekend, there will be a rodeo on Monday, sponsored by High Steel Rodeo company, with bucking broncos, crazy cattle wrangling, and “a spirit of the west” the organizers say, brought here to Ohio. 

So, whether a the shores of Lake Erie to the heart of downtown or the fairgrounds of Blossom or Geauga County, Cleveland is full of events to celebrate this Labor Day.