Labor Day offers parades, beach-day respite for residents across the Tri-State

By Eyewitness News Monday, September 7, 2026 7:21PM Anthony Johnson has the latest. NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- From parades to beach days, residents across the Tri-State got outside and soaked in the summer sun for the Labor Day holiday. The oldest annual Labor Day Parade in New Jersey took place on Monday. People lined the streets of South Plainfield for the town's 67th annual Labor Day parade. Floats, bands, bagpipes and much more made their way down the streets. The parade brings out spectators from near and far for a celebration that is full of fun and festivities. The parade has been in motion for 67 years, but was the target of an unfortunate hoax back in 2019. An unfounded bomb threat led to its cancelation, but there was nothing like that this time around, with mother nature providing the perfect conditions. This year's parade also marks South Plainfield's 100th anniversary. So much of the parade celebrated its history and its growth. Mayor Matthew Anesh says a day like today brings out Plainfield's best. Meanwhile, Labor Day crowds across the Tri-State flocked to beaches to take advantage of the picture-perfect weather, and give businesses a big boost on the final holiday weekend of the season. Down at the Jersey Shore, it was a perfect beach day in Belmar, where umbrellas were seen up and down the shoreline. Coney Island was also an exceptional place to be on the unofficial last day of summer. "There are not a lot of people here today. People are on vacation elsewhere, so it's the perfect time to just enjoy the solitude of the beach," said a beachgoer named Dmitry. --------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * Download our connected TV app * More local news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts on the go Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.