Labor Day is on Monday, September 5, in 2022, and honors the contributions and sacrifices of American workers. Celebrated on the first Monday in September, the holiday also marks the unofficial end of summer. Hence why the long Labor Day weekend is a popular time to host end-of-summer activities, especially outdoor events — got to treat the kids, parents, and teachers before that return to school.

From outdoor festivals to food truck rodeos, there’s a wide variety of family friendly event options for the holiday weekend. Below, we’re schooling on how to host a fun event for Labor Day weekend that brings your community together and allows everyone to enjoy one final summer celebration.

Consider these tips when planning Labor Day weekend family events to ensure they’re a success.

Create Labor Day family events that draw a crowd

The end of the summer offers friends and families a chance to gather and celebrate the season one final time. Family-friendly events can bring the community together, so they’re a great opportunity to showcase your brand, network with other local businesses, and connect with families.

When you’re planning a family event, consider these five questions that parents need to be answered before buying tickets. Then, check out our ideas for family friendly Labor Day events in your community.

Family bike ride

Seasonable September weather makes outdoor Labor Day weekend events a smart choice. A family bike ride is a fun and engaging option for active families who love to spend time outdoors. If your area has a trail system, map out a route that families can ride together. Consider adding some kid-friendly pit stops along the way.

Make the event even more fun by having local businesses set up booths and give away gear, hand out water, or even play music to keep the families motivated as they bike. If you plan to use local streets instead, work with your city to direct traffic and ensure the route is safe and kid-friendly. Invite local police to kick off the event with a discussion about bike safety and the importance of wearing helmets.

Outdoor movie

Host a family-friendly outdoor movie for the community to enjoy. The right venue will have plenty of open space to set up a movie screen and ample seating. Encourage guests to bring picnic blankets to get comfy during the screening. Consider selling snacks at the event to support a worthy cause, or include them in the cost of the ticket. Before your guests arrive, be sure to test all A/V equipment to ensure the movie goes off without a hitch. Make sure you have a tech-savvy team member on hand to troubleshoot, just in case a glitch occurs.

Get creative with your outdoor movie entertainment options. The Source Church, in Miramar, FL, hosted a family movie night and sing-along featuring the movie’s hit songs. There were even some special guests, including costumed characters from the film.

Old-fashioned ice cream social

Ice cream and summer go hand in hand. Enjoy a sweet treat on Labor Day weekend by hosting an old-fashioned ice cream social. VVS Events, located in Leesburg, VA, hosted a Mother’s Day Ice Cream Social that delivered plenty of family fun, including food, crafts, and more.

Consider hosting a homemade ice cream contest where guests bring their homemade ice cream to be judged. You can reduce your costs by inviting local businesses to sponsor topping stations, giving them a chance to network with families.

Once you’ve settled on your Labor Day event idea, check out these tips on how to market your family-friendly event.

Set the right price for family tickets

When you’re hosting a family event for Labor Day, you want to price your tickets right to attract a crowd. It’s simple to create tickets with just a click on Eventbrite. You add basic information — such as whether your tickets are paid, free, or donations — and choose your options. Consider offering both individual and group tickets for your Labor Day family event. Eventbrite makes your ticket options easy for attendees to view so they can select the appropriate ticket for their needs and family size.

Promotional ticket options are available as well on Eventbrite. If you offer a group discount, multiple families can purchase tickets together at a reduced price. Or, drum up interest by offering a BOGO ticket, which will encourage one family to invite another. You can add value by including a snack, meal, or parking in the ticket price so that attendees can have everything covered in one purchase.

Schedule family groups throughout the day

Overcrowded family events can detract from the experience for your attendees. Children especially might get overwhelmed by a loud and crowded event. So, instead of aiming to reach capacity all day long, consider hosting a longer event with a staggered schedule. You can extend the length of your event but offer shorter sessions. Keep in mind that many kids have a limited attention span, so keep sessions to a couple of hours, especially if you expect younger kids to attend.

With Eventbrite, you can easily sell tickets to specific time slots. Your event page will include just a single event with ticket options for different time slots. Potential attendees will have no trouble navigating your event page to find tickets at a time that suits their schedule.

Make ticket changes simple

With kids, plans can change unexpectedly. A family member might get sick, or perhaps a little one missed a nap and isn’t up for an outing. Eventbrite allows for ticket transfers with ease, which can save the day if a family purchases tickets to your Labor Day weekend event but has to cancel due to a conflict. A ticket transfer option allows attendees to choose a new time slot that suits their schedule. They’ll be able to see the option to transfer their ticket on your event page.

The change will require no work on your end. You won’t lose the ticket sales, and the family still gets to attend the event.

Plan for ongoing success

Your family event for Labor Day weekend might be your first event — but it certainly doesn’t have to be your last. A well-run event can leave attendees asking for more. You don’t necessarily have to start from scratch to plan your next family event. Instead, you can host a recurring event inspired by your successful Labor Day celebration. For instance, your outdoor family movie night can easily become a monthly event.

In Eventbrite, you can create a recurring event with just a few clicks. From “Manage my events” on the account menu, enter all the pertinent details about your event. Then, under date and time, choose “Recurring events” and enter every date and time your event will occur.

Host a Labor Day weekend event families will love

Labor Day weekend is an ideal opportunity to host a family-friendly event, and many event ideas are well suited for this occasion. Remember to offer family ticket options, provide flexible time slots to suit younger children, and simplify last-minute ticket changes when needed. Learn more about how Eventbrite Organizer can make your Labor Day weekend planning easy — and your event a success.