As the three day weekend draws near, the city of Black Diamond prepares for its annual Labor Day festival.

This year marks the 101st year the city has held the festival.

According to Black Diamond Labor Day Chairman Melissa Oglesbee the earliest record showing when the festival was first held was 1914.

This year patrons can expect three days full of endless activities.

Oglesbee said there will be putt-putt golf, live music, food trucks and an art show among other activities.

“You don’t need to leave town on Labor Day weekend to have a really great time,” she said.

Returning to the Labor Day festival this year is the Green River Queen Float.

The float is more than 50 years old and “has been a showpiece that had been presented in parades around the state,” Oglesbee said.

When the float returned to the Black Diamond Labor Day festival  it was used as a stage.

But four years ago, the Green River Queen couldn’t make the trip and hasn’t been seen since.

The float has been sitting in the salvage yard of Palmer Coking Coal, Oglesbee said.

She said a fund was set up to revamp the Queen but it wasn’t until this year that the float was able to be restored.

Restoring the float was the work of former Black Diamond Mayor Gomer Evans.

“(He) really went to town to renew her from top to bottom,” she said.

With the help of local businesses and individuals, Evans was able to replace the engine, brakes, electrical system, railings, stairs, steering wheel and give the float a new paint job.

“I think people are going to flip when they see her,” Oglesbee said.

Prior to Evans taking over the restoration in May, Oglesbee said, Tom Mulvihill, Steve Israel and others had been working on the float over the last few years.

A longtime Labor Days tradition is the selling of buttons.

Buying a button qualifies you for the chance to win a number of prizes given out on Monday.

This year the button was designed by Black Diamond Elementary student Nick Metchan.

Oglesbee also added this year there is a new chairperson organizing the pie baking contest, doggie day and the parade.

“There will be lots of new energy around these events,” she said.

The Labor Day parade showcases the winners of the Annual Citizenship Awards.

This year’s citizen of the year is Israel.

He volunteers at the Black Diamond Historical Society and Museum and is a founding member of the Black Diamond Arts Alliance.

The community service group award this year goes to the Black Diamond Eagles Aerie No. 1490.

The Eagles have been serving the city of Black Diamond since 1906.

The individual community service award goes to Cathy Dussert.

She is an advocate for the King County Rainier View Park.

McGann Electric was awarded business owners of the year.

Tina and Jack McGann sponsor a Thanksgiving meal at Black Diamond Elementary and supporting many other events throughout the city.

And the last award handed out was to Cheryl Hanson for civil servant of the year.

Hanson is the director of the Black Diamond Community Center.

The parade starts 10 a.m. Monday at 3rd Ave. and Baker.

Starting at 9 a.m. until the end of the parade, the parade route will be closed to traffic.

The three day weekend festival begins 10 a.m. Saturday and runs through 4 p.m. Monday.

For a full list of events, visit the Labor Days website at http://blackdiamondlabordays.org/.