You can celebrate Labor Day weekend at Old Slater Mill in the great community of Pawtucket RI, with free music, tours, talks, and activities. Returning for its sixth year, the River Bend East Songwriters Festival (Friday, Aug. 30, Saturday, Aug. 31), at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark, will highlight some of New England’s top regional songwriting talent. J Michael Graham, creator of the songwriters festival and park partner joins Mark Mello, Park Ranger, Blackstone River Valley NHP to give us some details on this activity filled weekend. National Park Service rangers will provide free specialty tours of Slater Mill in honor of Rhode Island’s rich labor history while you get a history lesson on the progression between Labor Day and folk music, think national treasure, Pete Seeger. There will be a collaboration of songwriters to debut an original composition during the festival. Among the artists performing, Mark Cutler RI Music HOF musician. There will also be an emotional tribute to RI folk songstress, Mary Lee Partington a gifted American singer-songwriter and performer. Feel free to bring your best friend, either human or canine, the latter will have the opportunity to become a "Bark Ranger".