The south's longest annual Labor Day festival and parade is back

Colleen Casey, The Mountaineer, Waynesville, N.C.
·2 min read

Aug. 31—CANTON — The 114th Labor Day Festival and parade is back in full swing for the first time since 2019 after last year's scaled down event.

Canton's Labor Day festival began in 1906 as a celebration of the Western North Carolina worker whose grit and fierce determination led to the construction of the Champion Fibre Company paper mill that would persevere through a great depression, two world wars and two buy outs.

Assistant Town Manager of Canton Lisa Stinnett said the parade starts at 10 a.m. Monday and will include a variety of civic groups, churches, businesses, floats, school groups and more.

The Miss Labor Day winner, Haley Lopez, and the rest of the pageant contestants will also be in the parade.

Stinnett said in past years, over the course of the two days, they have had crowds of 20,000 come to the Labor Day music festival and parade.

"People of all ages enjoy this historic event," Stinnett said. "The event has something for all ages and interest in a family friendly safe environment. It is very affordable event that allows for all of our citizens and visitors alike to be able to enjoy music, crafts, food, antique cars, craft beer, air dog show all while keeping the kids happy and cooled off at the water slide and splash pad," she said.

The parade will start on Blackwell Drive, turn toward Main Street downtown, turn onto Depot to get back to Park Street and end back at Blackwell Drive.

"We hope everyone will come out and fellowship with your neighbors and enjoy the weekend with us in downtown Canton," Stinnett said.

Diamond Rio will headline the Labor Day event on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m.

Chairs are not provided at this event, so anyone wanting a seat should bring their own chair. Chairs are required for the music events since there will be no standing. Pop up tents and coolers are not allowed.

The music festival is from noon — 10 p.m. and it takes place at Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton.

Single day passes must be purchased at the gate the day of the event. They are not available at Ingles.

Sunday only passes are listed at $10.

Monday only passes are listed at $10.

Two day passes must be purchased in advanced at participating Ingles beginning Aug. 22 — Sept. 3 by midnight.

The celebrations are sponsored by Champion Credit Union, Ingles, Haywood Regional Medical Center, McGill, Stanberry Insurance, Pactiv Evergreen and Haywood Baptist Association.