With the Labor Day holiday falling so late in September and most schools already in session, I’m betting most of you guys will be in town this coming Labor Day weekend. (And if you’re not and you’re traveling someplace fancy and exotic? Please down an umbrella drink for all of us here at home dealing with cranky kids not used to getting up at 7am for school.)

Fortunately there’s the Annual Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade on Monday at 1pm to jazz up our day off. The parade will have fire engines, marching bands, giant balloons (including a massive Thomas the Tank Engine for all you families in the midst of a toddler train obsession,) clowns, horsies, those awesome South American traditional dancing troupes of guys that jump in the air six feet with bells on their pants, clowns, Shriners in mini-cars and more. The parade route winds through the streets of Olde Towne Gaithersburg, map here. Free parking is available.

This parade’s not only a blast, it’s an important MoCo tradition – it’s been held every year except during WWII in 1942.