136th Labor Day Celebration in Warrick Co.

WARRICK CO., Ind. (WFIE) - The country’s second oldest continuous Labor Day celebration took place at the Warrick County Fairgrounds on Monday.

The event consisted of free carnival rides, food booths, crafts vendors and more.

The Labor Day Association was established in 1886, and the 136-year-old Celebration is the 2nd oldest continuous Labor Day Celebration in the Nation. Officials with The Labor Day Association say its core is organized labor, and its membership includes 64 Tri-State unions.

The Celebration honors all who labor in this country and not just union members.

Rebecca Rutledge, who attended the fair Monday, says she’s attended the celebration for as long as she can remember.

Rutledge’s father recently retired from a labor union.

She said during the Warrick County Labor Day celebration events she was able to become more familiar with her father’s coworkers.

“They just become a family to you, so it’s like every year you get to come back pretty much for a family reunion,” Rutledge said. “That’s what it is.”

Rutledge described the labor union as a brotherhood, and events like these give them a chance to commemorate their hard work.

“It’s so important for all the hard working labor unions to get together,” said Rutledge. “And just get to celebrate what they do every single day.”

Rutledge now attends the fair with her daughter, Lucy Rutledge.

Boonville Mayor Charlie Wyatt, says no one else does an event like this.

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