How to celebrate Labor Day weekend in the DC area

WASHINGTON — Celebrate the informal end of summer, Labor Day, with any one of these festivals, ballgames and more going on around D.C.

Don’t forget to take a moment to remember the contributions of American workers who made Monday a holiday.

The first Labor Day celebrations happened on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Click through the gallery below to find a number of events happening around the D.C. area:

Catch a Washington Nationals game at Nats Park over the weekend with special promo items and theme nights. On Friday, Aug. 31, when the Nats take on the Milwaukee Brewers, the first 20,000 fans age 21 and over get a chance to get a trucker cap. Revisit the 2000s on Saturday, Sept. 1, and grab a kids pajama set for those 12 and under on Sunday, Sept. 1. Then, on Monday, Sept. 3, when the Nats face the St. Louis Cardinals, the first 20,000 fans get a chance to snag a Nats zip-up hoodie. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Visitors file in to the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol building to see Pope Francis on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. (WTOP/Dennis Foley) — Watch the free Labor Day Capitol Concert with the National Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. Head on over to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to enjoy a night of classics and pop tunes. Find more information on the Kennedy Center’s website. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)

The 2018 National Book Festival will be held in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Sept. 1. Authors coming include Celeste Ng (“Little Fires Everywhere”), Dave Eggers (McSweeney’s, “The Monk of Mokha”) and Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor, who will be signing her recently released children’s books. (Facebook/Library of Congress)

Girls submerge in the ocean at "The Beach", an interactive architectural installation inside the National Building Museum in Washington, Wednesday, July 29, 2015. The Beach, which spans the length of the museum's Great Hall, was created in partnership with Snarkitecture, and covers 10,000 square feet and includes an ocean of nearly one million recyclable translucent plastic balls. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) — Catch the last few days of the “Fun House” installation at the National Building Museum. The exhibit, part of the museum’s annual Summer Block Party series, includes a ball pit, similar to “The Beach” installation in 2015. The last day is Monday, Sept. 3. Tickets are $16 for adults and $13 for kids 3 to 17, students with ID, seniors and AARP members. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) celebrates his goal with forward Wayne Rooney (9) and Yamil Asad (22) during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Orlando City, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, in Washington. D.C. United won 3-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) — Check out D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) and forward Wayne Rooney (9) at brand-new Audi Field as the black-and-red take on Atlanta United in a nationally-televised game at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

The end of summer doesn’t have to be all sad, because fall brings in some quintessential sounds and flavors. Celebrate the coming of the new season at the Apple Gala and Fresh Cider Festival at Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Virginia. If you can’t come in on Sept. 1 or Sept. 2, don’t worry — the festival runs every Saturday and Sunday in September. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

AP Photo/Steven Senne, File