Business

Labor Day parade held in La Crosse for the first time in 3 years

Published

2 years ago

September 5, 2022

Brad Williams

After two years of COVID-related cancellations, Labor Day festivities in La Crosse went ahead as planned Monday.

Local unions marched through the north side, then gathered at Copeland Park for a holiday picnic.

Bill Brockmiller, president of the the Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO, served as parade marshal.

“It was actually both a lot of fun, and I got some congratulations,” he said. “I’ve been working in the labor movement for about 25 years, so it felt right.”

Before Monday, the last Labor Day parade and Copeland Park picnic in La Crosse happened in 2019. The last two years were among nine times that the parade has been called off since it was started in the 1890’s.

Brockmiller added that union members missed having the celebration.

“We’re really glad to be back,” says Brockmiller, ” and glad having this day of celebration. It seems it’s worthwhile to a lot of the community, and we enjoy doing it.”

Several area Democrats took part in the parade, including retiring US House Rep, Ron Kind of Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. State Sen. Brad Pfaff, who is running for Kind’s seat, also took part.

Union members line up for tickets at the Copeland Park picnic

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.