The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City on September 5, 1882. It was organized by the Central Labor Union and featured more than 10,000 workers marching from City Hall through Union Square and up to 42nd Street, where they gathered for a picnic, concert, and speeches. The parade represented various trades and labor organizations from New York and New Jersey

. The event took place primarily around Union Square in Manhattan, which later became a significant site for labor activism and protests