How to Have a Safe and Fun Labor Day Celebration

Labor Day weekend is almost here, giving you and your family the chance to take a trip, go for a swim, or just gather in your backyard to say goodbye to summer.

And while we want you to have fun this Labor Day, we also want you to be safe. So before we offer our suggestions for having an enjoyable time during your end-of-summer festivities, we’ll turn to the Red Cross for these Labor Day safety tips.

When Traveling:

• Pack an emergency supply kit in your trunk. This kit should include jumper cables, a flashlight with extra batteries, first aid supplies, a gallon of water and non-perishable foods such as protein bars and nuts.
• Let someone know where you’ll be going, the route you’ll take to get there and what time you hope to arrive.
• Don’t drink and drive, wear your seatbelt, and follow the speed limit.

When Grilling:

• Keep your grill away from your house, tree branches, or anything else that could catch fire.
• Pay close attention to the grill manufacturer’s instructions.
• Never add lighter fluid or charcoal to the grill once you have a fire going.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill.

When Swimming:

• Pay attention to the weather forecast before you start swimming and during the day.
• Use the buddy system when swimming in an area supervised by a lifeguard.
• Young children and inexperienced swimmers need constant supervision. Try to stay at arm’s length when they’re in the water, and provide them with life jackets.

Now that we’ve addressed safety concerns, let’s look at some ways to celebrate this Labor Day:

Get Away For The Weekend

Warm weather won’t be with us much longer this year, so take advantage of what’s left of summer by spending some time by the water, whether it’s by a lake or at the beach. If your family enjoys being more active, consider going kayaking or white-water rafting, or tubing down your closest river.

Plan A Picnic

You may want to keep your Labor Day weekend a little more low-key. If so, have a simple picnic at a nearby park. Pack some sandwiches, desserts and other snacks, and some refreshing drinks (white wine for adults, iced tea and lemonade for kids and non-drinkers). Pack a Frisbee or some baseball gloves and a ball to toss around for some outdoor fun.

Host A Cookout

Nothing says “summer gathering” like the backyard barbecue. You can make this event a little less stressful by holding a potluck, allowing guests to bring what they want to see on the grill: vegetables, fish, kabobs, etc. in addition to the traditional burgers and dogs route.

Movie Night

Drive-in movie theaters are – sadly – a dying breed. If you have one close to home and your kids have never had the pleasure, use Labor Day weekend as a chance to fix that. If you don’t have a drive-in nearby, host an outdoor movie night at home. Set up a screen and project a movie from the comfort of your backyard, complete with snacks, blankets, and comfy chairs.

If you’re looking for other ways to make your backyard more fun and festive as summer winds down, visit Swingset & Toy Warehouse.

From swing sets to trampolines to basketball hoops, our products can help you and your family make memories in your backyard, in the waning days of this summer and in summers still to come.