President Barack Obama will be in Milwaukee on Labor Day - his third visit to the area in a little over two months - to talk directly to working families.

Obama will appear at Laborfest on the Maier Festival Grounds. The event, to be held from noon to 7 p.m., is open to the public, but a ticket will be required to see the president. The ticketing procedure is still being worked out.

In addition to Obama, Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis and Richard Trumka, president of the national AFL-CIO, will be at the event.

In 2008, Obama appeared at Laborfest as a candidate for president. Instead of his planned speech, then Sen. Obama asked the crowd to remember the victims of Hurricane Gustav.

The festival, held annually, is organized by the Milwaukee Area Labor Council. Sheila Cochran, secretary-treasurer and chief operating officer of the council, said 8,000 people attended the event last year. More people are expected this year.

Cochran said 150 different labor unions will be represented at Laborfest. “I have been told the president wants to talk to working families,” Cochran said.