U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, who inherited the parade from her predecessors, led Monday’s event. It stepped off at East 147th Street and Kinsman Avenue and lasted more than two hours before ending at Cleveland’s Luke Easter Park.

U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown led the annual event. Mark Naymik/Signal Cleveland

Started in the early 1970s by Mayor Carl B. Stokes and his brother, longtime U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes, the parade has always been infused with Democratic politics, often attracting elected officials from Cleveland and beyond. This year, the Democratic candidates for Ohio Supreme Court were working the crowds along the parade route.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody Stewart introduces herself to people along the parade route. Mark Naymik/Signal Cleveland Credit: Mark Naymik

As in years past, the event also attracted school bands, fraternities and sororities, historic cars and trucks with loud speakers, dancers and labor groups. 

Grade school dancers were a big hit along the parade route. Mark Naymik/Signal Cleveland Credit: Mark Naymik

With a presidential election topping the November ballot, many groups were encouraging people to vote, a message that was displayed on signs and discussed throughout the parade. 

The parade also included a small presence for the Democratic presidential ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

The Democratic presidential ticket got some attention during the Labor Day parade, though local races were much more visible. Mark Naymik/Signal Cleveland Credit: Mark Naymik





Signal Statewide Bureau Chief/Editor-At-Large
I assist a team of storytellers as they pursue original enterprise and investigative stories that capture untold narratives about people and policies. I use my decades of experience in print, digital and broadcast media to help Signal staff build skills to present stories in useful and interesting ways.