Labor Day 2018: What's Open And Closed In Lake Forest, Lake Bluff

LAKE FOREST, IL — Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer for most Americans. It offers one last chance for a vacation on the last long weekend before the weather begins to turn. A federal holiday since 1894, the first Monday in September was originally set aside for parades to honor the American worker and appease the labor movement.

The law designating it as a holiday was quickly pushed through Congress and signed by President Grover Cleveland (in an election year) following a violent end to the Pullman railway strike. But almost 125 years later, the three-day weekend has become known more for barbecues and road trips.

Not everyone has the day off, though. Some businesses will also be offering Labor Day sales or keeping special hours, so call ahead to be sure.

Here's a roundup of what's closed and what'll be open in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, plus a look at some fun events happening in Chicagoland.

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Schools: All schools will be closed for the day, a week after most students had their first day of school.
Local Government: City Hall and city, county, state and federal government offices will be closed.
Banks: Most financial institutions will be closed.
Libraries: The Lake Forest and Lake Bluff public libraries will be closed Sunday and Monday.
Parks and Recreation Facilities: The Lake Forest Recreation Center will be open Monday. The Fitness center is getting new flooring and will be closed Sept. 4 to 14, during which time members can use their IDs for free access at Lake Bluff Park District Fitness Center.
Community Center: The children's drop-in learning center at the Gorton Community Center will be closed Monday.
Shopping: Most big-box retailers will be open — and many are offering Labor Day deals — but smaller businesses are be closed, so it's a good idea to call ahead.
Parking: There are no designated parking holidays in Lake Bluff or Lake Forest.
Trash pickup: In Lake Forest, Monday collection will be on Tuesday, and Tuesday collection will be on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday collections will remain the same. All collections after the holiday will be delayed by one day in Lake Bluff.

EVENTS: Fun Things To Do In Illinois On Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day on Metra:

• A $10 weekend pass will include Monday for Labor Day weekend; kids younger than 11 can ride for free.
• On Friday, Aug. 31, Metra operate on an Early Getaway schedule on most lines. (Full schedules are here.) On Monday, Sept. 3, Metra will operate all services on a Sunday/holiday schedule. Metra's SouthWest Service, Heritage Corridor and North Central Service lines will not operate on Labor Day.
• No alcohol will be allowed onboard Metra trains after 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30 and Friday, Aug. 31, and all day Saturday, Sept. 1 and Sunday, Sept. 2.

TRAVEL: Labor Day Weekend 2018: Worst Times To Travel, Routes To Avoid

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