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Celebrating the true spirit of Labor Day, the festival aims to commemorate the "Bread and Roses Strike"; a 1912 event, where 20,000 Lawrence textile workers protested for higher wages. The strike was notable for its success with a diverse coalition of ethnic immigrants and many women protesters. Those themes are carried into today; featuring various live music and dance performances, ethnic food, and walking and trolley tours. You'll also encounter historical demonstrations, and speeches by modern organizations fighting for social justice today.
The Bread and Roses Heritage Festival is an annual, open-air festival in Lawrence, Massachusetts that celebrates labor history, cultural diversity, and social justice. It is a free, day-long event featuring live music and dance, children's activities, theater and spoken word performances, walking and trolley tours, ethnic food, Lawrence History Live! and information from local organizations involved in social justice issues. The Bread And Roses Heritage Committee produces the event. The festival has occurred every year on Labor Day since its inception in 1986. The festival's name refers to the Bread and Roses Strike of 1912, when over 20,000 immigrant workers in Lawrence, protested wage cuts for over two months, led by the Industrial Workers of the World. The strike was notable for its short-term success, despite ethnic divisions among the workers and the preponderance of women among the protesters.
The bridge is an historic through truss bridge carrying South Union Street over the Merrimack River in the middle of downtown Lawrence. The bridge, built by Boston Bridge Works in 1888, is one of the oldest surviving bridges on the Merrimack, despite being rehabilitated several times. The current structure has been closed to all traffic indefinitely due to safety concerns. However, the bridge could be re-opened after another rehab project, which has been delayed for about two years due to funding concerns.
Built for use by the old Lawrence mills and factories. While it is no longer used today and portions of it have become contaminated with waste, the canal itself still has historic value. In addition, the canal is home to several beautiful historic bridges that once carried access roads to the factories. The canal is immune to filling in due to its heritage.