For many, the Labor Day holiday marks the unofficial end of the summer season. The days and nights tend to turn cooler, and in many states, the heat and humidity experienced during July and August begin to dissipate.
In 2025, Labor Day falls on Monday, September 1. Americans tend to mark the extended three-day weekend with time off spent alongside family and friends at barbecues and beaches, partaking in various end-of-summer festivities.
Related: The best pellet smoker brands according to Consumer Reports data
What’s open on Labor Day?
Labor Day is a major public holiday, and while many workers have the day off, most major businesses remain open.
Major retail chains
Labor Day typically marks the period when students return to school, and some retail stores are likely to be open with back-to-school offers on clothes, bags, and laptops. Most major retailers, including Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe's , are also open. Some might be offering discounts during the Labor Day weekend.
Major grocery chains
Most large grocery chains, including Walmart, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s, are open on Labor Day and operating at normal hours.
Fast-food and convenience store chains
Fast-food stores, including McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Starbucks, Subway, and Popeye’s, will be open. Convenience stores like 7-Eleven will also be open. CVS stores will be open, and pharmacy services might be available at some locations.
Major movie theater chains
For those wanting to catch up on summer films, movie theater operators such as AMC, Regal, Cinemark, and the Alamo Drafthouse will also open their outlets for viewing.
Related: Movie theater subscriptions compared: Prices & perks at a glance
National parks
For celebrants with outdoor recreation in mind, National parks will be open.
Small and local businesses
Small and locally owned businesses may or may not be open on Labor Day, and many do not update their hours on Google Maps. Therefore, it's always best to check in person or by phone with your local grocer, retailer, and small businesses for their hours of operation.
What’s closed on Labor Day?
The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq stock market, which together compose the bulk of the U.S. equity market, will be closed. Financial markets, including those for bonds and commodities, will also be closed.
Foreign-exchange trading, however, will be open. Cryptocurrencies will also remain tradable.
Banks, most government offices, schools, and many businesses are closed for the Labor Day holiday. Postal offices will be closed, and there will be no mail delivery. Public libraries will be closed, and many will also be closed on Saturday for the long weekend.
Delivery services companies such as UPS (UPS) and FedEx (FDX) will not ship (though certain locations will be open for service), but Amazon (AMZN) will deliver for certain products only.
Among large retailers, Costco will be closed.
Related: Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Memberships, prices, & perks compared
A short history of Labor Day
While many countries commemorate their Day of Labor on May 1, the U.S. celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday in September. The holiday traces its origins to the late 19th century, as America and the rest of the world emerged from the throes of the Industrial Revolution, and work shifted away from agriculture and toward manufacturing for much of the working class.
The labor movement at this time pushed for better working conditions, higher wages, and reasonable working hours.
Curious about cars?
- 5 cheaper new cars recommended by Consumer Reports
- 10 cars to avoid according to their current owners (via Consumer Reports)
- 6 American-built cars that minimize tariffs according to Consumer Reports
Labor activists wanted to commemorate workers and the labor movement. The first Labor Day parade took place in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882 (a Tuesday), and it was organized by the Central Labor Union, one of the earliest trade unions formed in 1867.
Two years later, in 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday to commemorate Labor Day. Labor Day still serves as a reminder of the contributions of workers and their fight for fair labor standards, such as the 8-hour workday and the end of child labor.
While New York City still hosts a Labor Day parade, the parade itself usually takes place on the Saturday following Labor Day. The 2025 New York City Labor Day Parade & March will take place on Sept. 6.
Labor Day & travel: Info from AAA
The American Automobile Association (better known as AAA) says that people traveling within the U.S. should find flights, hotels, and car rentals to be cheaper this Labor Day weekend compared to last year.
Driving is expected to be heavy on the afternoons and evening hours of Thursday and Friday before Labor Day, and travelers returning to their homes on the afternoons of Sunday and Labor Day could see heavy traffic.
The top five Labor Day destinations in the U.S. are Seattle, Orlando, New York, Boston, and Anchorage, while the top five international spots are Vancouver, Rome, Dublin, London, and Paris.
AAA says that travelers taking road trips should expect to see summer gas prices remaining low. The national price for regular gasoline averaged $3.21 a gallon in late August 2025, compared to $3.36 a year ago.
Related: The safest new cars of 2025, according to the IIHS
