Looking Forward to the Next Holiday Weekend: Labor Day

The summer is midway through practically, although it's only mid-July.

That's what we get for starting the season with Memorial Day instead of the official start of summer with the summer solstice.

Soon, Labor Day will be upon us here in West Michigan, which means a long, last weekend of summer and more time off for the rank and file.

To help be prepared for Labor Day falling early this year on Sept. 1, here's a list of federal, state, county, city and local closings:

• All federal, state, county, city, village and township offices: closed.
• State unemployment offices closed, but MARVIN will still be running.
• U.S. Postal Service offices and branches: closed.
• Public schools: closed; regular academic year for most schools starts Sept. 2.
• Michigan state parks: open.
• The Rapid: closed, no buses running.

• Municipal trash pickup: Pushed back one day with no service on Labor Day.
• Banks and credit unions: closed.
• Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids: closed
• Kent District Library branches: closed
• Grand Rapids Art Museum and Grand Rapids Public Museum: closed.
• Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Retail centers -- Centerpointe Mall in Kentwood; The Crossroads Mall in Kalamazoo; The Lakes Mall in Muskegon; Lakeview Square Mall in Battle Creek; RiverTown Crossings in Grandville; Westshore Mall in Holland; and Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids: open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids: open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (regular hours).
• Michigan's Adventure & WildWater Adventure, Muskegon: open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (regular hours)
• AJ's Family Fun Park, Comstock Park: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Big Dip Waterpark, Grand Rapids: regular hours for pool (slide closed).
• Gold Rush Waterpark, Rothbury: regular hours.
• Holland Community Aquatic Center, Holland: closed.
• YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids: closed.
• Grocery stores -- Aldi's, Ashcroft Grocery, Asian Delight, Brookside Grocery, D&W Fresh Market, DeMond's, Dollar General, Duthler's Family Foods, E&A Grocery, Family Dollar, Family Fare, Fennville Main Street Market, Forest Hills Foods, Gene's Family Market, Grand Rapids Downtown Market, The Grocery Outlet, Harding's Friendly Markets, Hamilton Food Center, Horrock's, J&R Grocery, Jorgi's, Kingma's, Leppink's, Meijer, Oliver's, Plumb's, Ralph's, Ravenna Foods, Save-A-Lot, Shop-N-Save, Target, Tom's, Village Market and Walmart: Regular hours.

Other holidays

And looking ahead for all you holiday lovers out there, here's where and when other holidays fall for the remainder of the year:

• Veteran's Day -- Nov. 11, a Tuesday; the official federal holiday is Nov. 10, a Monday.
• Thanksgiving -- Nov. 27, the fourth Thursday in November.
• Christmas -- Dec. 25, a Thursday.
• New Year's -- Jan. 1, 2015, a Thursday.