Labor Day became a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the Territories after labor unrest led to massive street protests. In order to repair ties with American workers, Congress made Labor Day a holiday in the region. The legislation was signed into law by Grover Cleveland on June 28, 1894. Almost a century after Labor Day was founded, no one has identified its true founder.

There has been much discussion about Peter J. McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, whereas others have suggested that Matthew Maguire, a central union official, was the first to propose the holiday. The Labor Day celebration in 2021 will be on September 6. Labor Day weekend is not just a celebration of summer ending, it is also a weekend of sports, parties, and street parades.