Labor Day guide for metro Detroit: Weather, travel predictions, must-attend events

With Labor Day just around the corner, on Monday, Sept. 4, the prospect of a long weekend has many people eager with anticipation.

To ensure you maximize your time during this holiday break, here are some things to consider:

Labor Day weekend weather

Luckily, weather in southeast Michigan will not interfere with any Labor Day weekend plans — as it is expected to be sunny and dry from Thursday until Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Metro Detroit will see rising temperatures, day by day, said NWS White Lake meteorologist Alex Manion. Despite Thursday morning feeling like an early fall day, with lows in the upper 40s, highs will reach the lower 70s later in the day.

On Friday, temperatures are expected to be in the mid 70s; Saturday temperatures will climb to the low to mid 80s.

"By Sunday and Monday we're looking at temperatures in the upper 80s, lower 90s," Manion said. "Labor Day is lower 90s for highs."

Gas Prices and travel times

As of Wednesday, Michigan's gas prices fell to an average of $3.74 a gallon, which is about eight cents less than this time last week.

"We may see those prices hold steady, or go up slightly as we're heading into Labor Day, and that really just depends on the demand numbers," said Adrienne Woodland, a spokeswoman with AAA.

More: Gas prices in Michigan fall ahead of Labor Day, a big travel day

"Drivers taking road trips this Labor Day weekend will likely see gas prices similar to last year," according to AAA. "The Michigan state average for a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.83 on Labor Day 2022."

Most travelers leave on Thursday or Friday to take advantage of the long Labor Day weekend. Drivers can expect Thursday, between 2 and 6 p.m., to be the busiest day for travel this weekend. Friday, Sept. 1, will also see higher traffic than usual between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.

“The best times to travel by car over Labor Day weekend are early in the morning or in the evening,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in the release. “If you must travel during heavy traffic, navigation apps and local departments of transportation can help steer drivers around long delays.”

From Detroit to Grand Rapids, westbound Interstate 96 will be one of the busiest traffic areas — with peak congestion time of 10:15 a.m. on Saturday.

"We're expecting about a 35% increase in the time that route normally takes," Woodland said.

These are the best times to travel by car this weekend, AAA further stated:

• Wednesday, Aug. 30: Before 7 a.m.

• Thursday, Aug. 31: Before 7 a.m.

• Friday, Sept. 1: Before 11 a.m.

• Saturday, Sept. 2: After 6 p.m.

• Sunday, Sept. 3: Minimal traffic disruptions expected

• Monday, Sept. 4: After 7 p.m.

These are the worst times to travel by car this weekend:

• Wednesday, Aug. 30: between noon and 8 p.m.

• Thursday, Aug. 31: between noon and 8 p.m.

• Friday, Sept. 1: between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.

• Saturday, Sept. 2: between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Monday, Sept. 4: between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Before heading out, make sure your vehicle is inspected, Woodland said. Check your car battery, oil levels, tire conditions and any other potential areas of concern to prevent breakdowns on the road. While driving, put down all distractions.

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Labor Day events

• Detroit's Labor Day Parade: After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Detroit's Labor Day parade is back. Hosted by the Metro-Detroit AFL-CIO, the march will step off at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 4. at Michigan Avenue and Sixth Street. The event ends at Roosevelt Park, where a program will be held for attendees. UAW members, UAW activists and union supporters are welcome. For more information click here.

• Detroit Jazz Festival: The free, four-day event will take place in the Hart Plaza and Campus Martius in downtown Detroit, Friday Sept. 1 - Monday, Sept. 4. Throughout the Labor Day weekend, artists and bands will be performing on the JP Morgan Chase Main Stage, the Carhartt Amphitheater Stage and the Absopure Waterfront Stage; this year's changes allow for larger audiences and increased access to artists. A schedule of the festival can be found here.

• Hamtramck Labor Day Festival: Another free Labor Day weekend event is Hamtramck's annual festival on Joseph Campau St, held Saturday, Sept. 2 - Monday, Sept. 4. The festival features carnival rides, yacht races, wrestling, a parade, music, food and more.

• Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats: Oakland County's Labor Day weekend celebration is returning to downtown Royal Oak Friday, Sept. 1 - Monday, Sept. 4. Several ticket options are available; the event is only free until 5 p.m. Friday. This year, the festival will have its own onsite cannabis zone for sales and consumption. Over 200 music acts and family entertainers are set to perform on nine stages. Food vendors, art booths, beer tents and much more are also available all weekend.

• Michigan State Fair: This Labor Day weekend, the Michigan State Fair will feature carnival rides, live music, a 5K race, animals, a circus, an aquatic acrobat show, art stations, games, contests, a blood drive and more. Starting Thursday, Aug. 31 - Monday, Sept. 4, the event is held at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Tickets for the fair are $20 each, while the ultimate admission tickets are $42 each. More ticketing information can be found here. The event schedule can be found here.

• Romeo Peach Festival: Returning for its 92nd year, Romeo Peach Festival is a beloved Labor Day tradition. From Thursday, Aug. 31 - Monday, Sept. 4, attendees can purchase peaches and various peach products from vendors, enjoy the beer tent, food trucks, live music, carnival rides, car show, golf tournament, fireworks and many other family-friendly activities. On Monday, the Labor Day Children's Parade will be kick off at 10 a.m., while the Hometown Parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. For further details, check out the Romeo Peach Festival schedule.

• Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk: Thousands of people participate in this free Labor Day tradition every year. The Mackinac Bridge Walk is a tribute to the original builders of the bridge, which was constructed in 1958. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is scheduled to kickstart the event at 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 4. The bridge will be closed to public traffic from 6:30 a.m. until noon. No registration is required. For instructions and further information, visit the Mackinac Bridge Walk website.

Last-minute plans

If you want to stay local but don't want to participate in any of the events listed above, consider a quiet getaway at a private lake house or cabin along one of Michigan's Great Lakes. Check out Airbnb or Verbo for available options.

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To book a last-minute flight, a variety of deals are available at Google Flights, Skyscanner, Orbitz, Expedia and other travel sites. Just insert your destination, dates and search for a deal that suits your needs.

The top 5 domestic destinations this Labor Day weekend are Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, New York and Las Vegas, according to AAA booking data. Internationally, Vancouver, Rome, London, Dublin and Paris are the top 5 destinations.

Contact Nour Rahal: nrahal@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Labor Day 2023 in metro Detroit: Weather, gas prices, events, travel