Ever since 1894, Labor Day has been celebrated as a federal holiday in the U.S. to commemorate all of the hard work and sacrifice that Americans put into their 9-to-5s.

Thankfully, we've improved a lot of the conditions and laws that affected workers' happiness and longevity since the 19th Century, but we still work just as hard for the money. We need to take a break sometimes and remember all the great things going on around us.

It's the unofficial end to summer in the U.S. and, in some circles, the last weekend to be caught dead wearing white or seersucker until Memorial Day. So let's make the most of it.

Whether you plan on enjoying the long weekend at home with friends and family, we've got plenty of other relaxation options to put the perfect bow on your Summer 2012.

For some people, running is relaxation (?), and for those folks, Friday evening's Zilker Relays is the perfect way to unwind from the work week and join in a bit of good sweaty fun. This nighttime run is a four-person relay around Zilker Park, ending in an always enjoyable post-race party consisting of live music and great food from Tacodeli and beer from Hops & Grains. Did you assemble a team already, or are you just going for the after party?

Also on Friday night is the return of Austin Sunshine Fest at Mohawk, which will now become an annual fundraiser for Austin Sunshine Camps and HAAM. The lineup this year includes Tje Austin, Hundred Visions, La Guerrilla, Shivery Shakes and TV Torso in addition to sounds from Learning Secrets. Great music, great cause; this is a party you want to be a part of.

You may have already started noticing that downtown is full of especially bizarre acting individuals this week. That's likely because the 2012 Out of Bounds Comedy Festival is going on now at several comedy venues throughout town including The Scottish Rite Theatre, The New Movement and The Hideout Theatre. Sketch, stand up and improv comedians are here from literally all over the world with the sheer intention to make you laugh. So let them do it, won't you? This is your chance to see some of the country's best talent in your own city.

On almost the complete opposite end of the body shame spectrum, Austin's Splash Days 2012 kicks in to full effect this weekend. This annual parade of beautiful, toned bodies will be dancing harder than you, looking better than you in a swimsuit and probably having way more fun than you at their planned circuit of events at Austin Music Hall, Rain on 4th, Republic Live and (yep) Hippie Hollow. The only way to have more fun than them is to join them, eh?

For a completely different family experience, take the kids to the Austin Convention Center for the weekend-long LEGO KidsFest. This childhood dream-come-true is your — I mean, your child's — chance to see what a room filled with millions of LEGOs looks like. Demonstrations, master builder classes and a LEGO museum will all be included in the day of overwhelming engineering awesomeness. Just make sure you don't forget about your kids while you're having so much fun.

Saturday night, Trouble Puppet Theater Co. is holding its annual "troublemaking" party, Get Into Trouble, to have a spot of fun with supporters and preview the upcoming puppet show, Toil and Trouble. The night will include live music, ghost tours, raffles for prizes and short performances at Salvage Vanguard Theater. Everyone is encouraged to dress in their best witchy attire for the spooky event that is the perfect precursor to Halloween in Austin.

Don't know if you heard, but there's also a little thing called UT football, which is kicking into high gear this Saturday night. But you don't want to hear about that... you've undoubtedly already got your tailgating planned out and your season tickets lined up, right? The rest of us will just know to avoid the entire thirty blocks around the UT campus.

Is that enough to fill your weekend with joy? There's so much to celebrate and so many ways to do it. But remember to relax some time this weekend, take a break. You deserve it. We all do.