Labor Day Parades Festivals Phobias and More This Fall

Labor Day is usually the start of our Funtober events.  Labor day is full of great family fun including parades, festivals, and fireworks.  Also included in this post is information on the upcoming Blood Moon, Halloween phobias, and Cultivate Minneapolis.  Hope you enjoy our countdown to Halloween Day 208.

Labor Day Parades Around The United States

Since 1887, the United States has celebrated the Labor Day national holiday on the first Monday in September.  It is a day dedicated to the workers and promoted by the labor unions.  It is also one of our most fun holidays with lots of parades, fireworks, and festivals.
Video of a typical local Labor Day parade.

Do not miss the annual Labor Day parades in Detroit, Philadelphia, New York City, Newtown, Louisville, St. Louis, Gathersburg, Roanoke, Chicago, Barberton, Pittsburg, Tuscaloosa, and Monterey Bay.  This is only a partial list of parades.  Many major cities have more than one sponsored parade on that Monday.  Frequently the parades feature high school bands, labor unions, firetrucks, and lots of local politicians.

Visit a State Fair on Labor Day
What do you plan to do on Labor Day?  There are a number of state fairs running on September 1st, 2014. 

• The Colorado State Fair in Pueblo runs August 22 through September 1st.  The Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot runs from August 30 through September 6th.  The Maryland State Fair in Timonium runs from August 22 through September 1st.  The Minnesota State Fair in Minneapolis runs from August 21 through September 1st.  The Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island runs from August 22 through September 1st.  The New Hampshire State Fair runs from August 29th through September 1st.  In Syracuse, the New York State Fair runs from August 21 through September 1st.  The Oregon State Fair in Salem runs from August 22 through September 1st. 

For a complete list of state fairs running in September or October click here.

How will you celebrate the Blood Moon?
We have two blood moons in 2014.  First comes a rare astronomical event happening on April 15th (tax day).  A blood moon glimmers bright red because of the radiation from the sun.  The more traditional Blood Moon happens on October 8th which is the second full moon closest to the autumnal equinox.  It is also sometimes called the Hunters Moon.  It has religious significance in Judaism and to a lesser extent represents the second coming of Christ in several other cultures.

New Movies That Could Effect Costume Sales
Hollywood movies are one of the main drivers of costume sales during Halloween.  Expect many new costumes for 2014.  These are just a few of the movies likely to do well at the theaters and spur costume sales this year.

Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return (May 9, 2014)
Transformers 4: Age of Extinction (June 27, 2014)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (August 8, 2014)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (April 4, 2014)
Maleficent (May 30, 2014)
X-Men: Days of Future Past (May 23, 2014)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (May 2, 2014)
The Lego Movie
Rio 2 (April 11, 2014)

Some Common Phobias Associated With Halloween
We all might be afraid of something.  What bothers you?  Here are some of the most popular phobias that occur most around Halloween.

Achluophobia – fear of darkness
Ailurophobia – fear of cats (also felinophobia, galeophobia)
Chiroptophobia – fear of bats
Coulrophobia – fear of clowns
Necrophobia – fear of death
Nyctophobia – fear of the dark, night
Phasmophobia – fear of ghosts
Samhainophobia – fear of Halloween
Wiccaphobia – fear of witches

Chipolte’s Cultivate Minneapolis Names Music Lineup
Cultivate Minneapolis is a mixture of great music and great food set for Saturday, August 23rd.  Featured bands include Portugal, The Man, Grouplove, Mowgli’s, Vintage Trouble, and Hunter Hunted.  Celebrity chefs on stage include Andrew Zimmerman, Jamie Malone, Jack Riebel, Erik Anderson, and Paul Berglund.