WEST PEORIA, Ill. – Labor unions across central Illinois marched with pride down West Peoria’s Farmington Road Monday morning.
For the second straight year, the annual Peoria Labor Day Parade stepped off near Lower Bradley Park and made its way to Raber Packing Company.
The theme for this year’s parade was “Solidiarity is Our Strength,” which Parade organizer Nancy Gardner says is about more than just unions.
“With everything that’s been going on in this country, I think we need to focus more on what we can do together, and not what we’re going to do apart,” Gardner said.
Gardner says attendance at the parade was around 2,500, about the same number as last year’s first edition in West Peoria. She says the change of locations went better than expected. Changes for 2026 included having shuttles and buses to help move people easier, as well as parking at the former Peoria Speedway location.
This year’s parade had two grand marshalls; Todd Holzinger of IBEW Local #34 and Matt Bartolo of Laborers Local 165.
Bartolo says he’s fortunate to be honored a face of the labor movement locally.
“We’re really fortunate to have the type of trades and crafts in this area, we’re part of the fabric of this community, and it’s a day we’re celebrating,” Bartolo said.
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