Many cities throw fun festivals and parades over Labor Day weekend to give people something fun to enjoy on their extra day of rest. Although it is important to remember how this important day came to be. That’s exactly why the City of Portage honored the hard workers of America’s past on Saturday, September 2, with its inaugural Salute to Labor Festival. Countless people headed out to Founders Square for an evening of unforgettable fun and remembrance.
The City of Portage has long honored and supported its tradespeople--it was the first city to pass a responsible bidder ordinance and is a city that always hires work out to unions. This year, though, the city wanted to take that honor and support a bit further.
“Portage is one of the largest labor communities in Northwest Indiana. We have more union members than almost every surrounding city, but we’ve never had a Labor Day festival. We’ve never really done anything to celebrate Labor Day at all. A few weeks ago I got to talking with some people and said, ‘You know what, we should do something.’ Then we got to work,” said Collin Czilli, a member of the Portage City Council.
What started out as just a small event turned into quite an exciting affair. Three bands including the Too Fighters, Funkymonks, and Austin Edwards rocked the night away as people swayed along to the rhythm on the lawn. People had a blast relaxing in the beer garden and perusing several delicious food vendors. Even more thrilling was the kids’ zone. Between a climbing wall, several inflatable slides, and kid-friendly bull riding, the kids couldn’t contain their excitement. A favorite was the touch-a-truck section where kids could swing from a firetruck. There were also opportunities for kids to get in the driver's seat of several firetrucks, garbage trucks, and even a few dozers.
There was truly no better way to show the community how appreciated their hard work is.
“It’s a great way to celebrate the community and all of its hardworking men and women. It is also a way for the City of Portage to do something nice for its citizens and show that we appreciate their hard work, commitment, and dedication,” said Czilli.
The event was also a great way to show off the beauty of Founders Square--a hidden gem, even to many of the people who live in Portage.
“Founders Park is truly the perfect spot. It’s right in the hub of Portage in our downtown district. It’s beautiful with so many trees and nice sidewalks. We have so much going on here between Hannah’s playground, the splash pad, and the big stage with the lawn area. There’s plenty of parking and space for trucks. It’s just such a great place, but there are still so many people who have not been here,” said Amy Armstrong, who works for the parks department and is in charge of all of Portage’s programs and events.
Portage Parks and the city hope that all the people who came to the Salute to Labor Festival realize just how special the redesigned park is. They’re eager to hold more events in the square so people can enjoy the wonderful space.
“We really just want to keep programming the space and bringing people here so they can enjoy it. This is just the first step in new offerings for Portage,” said Czilli.
Most importantly, though, the day was a meaningful way to remind people what Labor Day is truly about. Portage Mayor Sue Lynch explained how she grew up in a steelworker and union family. Both of her grandparents worked for the railroad, her father was a steelworker for 43 years, and she has several nephews who are a part of unions. Her granddaughter even just graduated from welding school. For Lynch, Labor Day is more than just a holiday--it’s a reminder of the labor movement that ensured her family’s and countless others’ well-being.
“You can take a look at history and see how bloody those battles for workers’ rights were. So many people died. There’s so much that we have today thanks to our unions--everything from better pay, benefits, and labor laws. I think people forget that Labor Day isn’t just about roasting hotdogs over a fire. It’s about honoring the people who fought so hard for those rights. I thank God every day for everything that they did and it’s important that we remember them,” said Lynch.
With that message in mind, it’s clear that Portage’s very first Salute to Labor Festival couldn’t have done a better job at honoring the history of America’s labor unions, bringing people together, and showcasing all the beauty that Portage has to offer. Everyone who worked to make the event happen is grateful for everyone who came out and showed their support. They can’t wait to see how the event continues to grow in the future.
“The goal is always to make things bigger and better. We can’t wait for more people to come as the word gets out. We want to add more food vendors, make the truck zone a little bigger, and maybe even expand the kids' zone. Every year we just want to continue to improve,” said Armstrong.
For everyone who missed out on the Salute to Labor Festival, don’t worry, the City of Portage has plenty of more exciting things in store. The much-awaited Bacon Fest is slated for Saturday, September 16 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Harvest Festival is also coming up on Saturday, October 7. So grab a friend and head on out to Portage because it’s truly the place to be.
To learn more about the City of Portage and all of its fun events, visit portagein.gov.
