PHOTOS: 2011 Greenbelt Labor Day Festival Parade

The final morning of the 57th Annual Greenbelt Labor Day Festival featured the Labor Day parade. Police shut down most of Crescent Road for the parade and hundreds of Greenbelt residents lined the streets to watch. A long-time Greenbelt tradition, the parade showcases many of the things that Greenbelt has to offer.

Among the participants in this year’s parade were local politicians, the winners and participants from yesterday’s Miss Greenbelt pageant, law enforcement and fire services, youth groups, marching bands and community based religious organizations.

This year’s parade saw people marching to represent both Protect Marriage Maryland, a group opposing same sex marriage, and GreenBeLT Pride, a group sensitive to the needs of gays, bisexuals, lesbians and transgender people.

Protect Marriage Maryland came first in the line and received polite applause. When one its members spoke on a megaphone about the need to protect the sanctity of marriage, he drew scattered boos.

GreenBeLT Pride drew big cheers as one of the last groups to come through.

As group after group marched through the streets, from pageant participants and bands to jump ropers, stilt walkers and public servants, the enthusiasm of the crowd was evident.