NOTE: This story includes a minor update to the line of march that was received after the August 30, 2024 print edition was sent to press.

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Judges have received their instructions, approximately 75 groups have registered to be part of the line of march, and spectators can plan to drop off their place-holding chairs on Sunday afternoon along Main Street, Glover Avenue, and the northern section of Queen Street.

A longstanding tradition will return on Monday, September 2, when the 2024 Labor Day Parade steps off at 10 am from the corner of Main Street and Currituck Road.

Participants will travel south on Main Street, turn onto and follow the length of Glover Avenue, and then turn left onto Queen Street. The route concludes at the intersection of Queen Street and Church Hill Road.

Parade Marshals Sue and Jim Shortt will lead the celebration, along with their handpicked judges. That group will disembark from their ride in front of My Place Restaurant, where the reviewing stand will be set up between the popular eatery and neighboring Bank of America.

The theme this year is “Garden of Plenty.”

Labor Day Parade Line of March Co-Coordinator Melissa Kopcik described the couple as “well-known, friendly faces around town” when announcing their appointment as Grand Marshals earlier this year. The committee was looking for unsung heroes of the town, she said in June, “and these two hardworking farmers were an obvious choice.”

The Labor Day Parade Committee conducted its final pre-parade meeting Wednesday, August 28, welcoming this year’s judges and the grand marshal for a formal photo before a final planning session.

National Anthem, Road Closures

Crowds will have two locations to join the singing of the national anthem. Susan Lang, a Newtown Middle School English/Language Arts educator and member of the band My Dad’s Truck, will lead “The Star-Spangled Banner” from the emcee stand at the Main Street flagpole.

Newtown High School Class of 2024 graduate and St Rose School alumni Alex Kirkman will be near the judges’ stand on Queen Street when they perform the national anthem.

Both are returning performers, having handled the honors the past two years. They are scheduled to sing at 9:55.

Lang will remain at her location, where she will again join former Newtown Bee Editor John Voket as a returning parade emcee there.

Emcees at the Queen Street bandstand will be Mike Giarratano and Jay Edwards.

Attendees on Monday will be asked to pause prior to the start of the parade to remember Bill Brimmer. A longtime voice of Newtown’s Labor Day Parade, the longtime resident died in early August.

The parade route will be closed to non-parade traffic by 9:30 am Monday, and will remain closed until at least 12:30 pm or until the final unit — this year, Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company, participating in this parade for the second time — finishes the route.

Newtown Police Department has announced road closures could begin as early as 8 as participants and spectators begin to arrive and set up. Closures could run as late as 3, depending on the length of the parade and the clearing of all floats, vehicles and marchers.

Line Of March

Following is the 2023 Newtown Labor Day Parade line of march as provided by the Labor Day Parade Committee. Last-minute changes may occur before Monday morning.

NOTE: The Parade Committee is again asking fire companies to stage with their apparatus on Mt Pleasant Road. Volunteers will guide companies to their locations.

ESCORT DIVISION 1

(staging at 77 Main Street)

Newtown Police Department

Newtown Police Department Honor Guard

Newtown High School Marching Band & Color Guard

Grand Marshals Jim & Sue Shortt escorted by Chris Locke

Parade Judges — Chris Locke, Eileen Marchese, Lee Paulsen, Theresa Salvatore, and Janet Volmer — escorted by Jimmy Johnson.

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance

Newtown Savings Bank-Title Sponsor

Mary Hawley Public Service Award Winner Mr Gordon Williams

Ingersoll Auto

Maplewood Senior Living

Teamsters Local 1150

Savings Bank of Danbury

Newtown Rotary Club

Dental Associates

Newtown Hardware

Newtown Pools

Newtown Lions Club

.

ESCORT DIVISION 2

(Academy Lane)

Great American Fife & Drum

First Selectman Jeff Capeci

Selectman Dan Cruson Jr

Selectman Michelle Embree Ku

Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard

Newtown Democratic Committee, elected officials,

candidates, those affiliated

Newtown Republican Committee, elected officials,

candidates, and those affiliated

Newtown independent political parties, elected

officials, and those affiliated

State and local politicians

.

DIVISION 1

(Johnnie Cake Lane)

Gaelic Highland Pipe Band

Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company

CT Tiare Polynesian Dance Troupe escorted by

DH Schenzer Construction

Friends of Newtown Seniors

Miss Connecticut Teen Camryn Patton escorted by

REACH Car Club

Miss Connecticut Monica Fenwick escorted by Jerry Cullen

Taylor Adams International Woman of Service Mrs 2024 escorted by REACH

Pyramid Legion of Honor

2nd Company Volunteer Heavy Artillery Reenactment Group

American Legion Post 202 & Affiliates

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 308

Hope on Main Street

Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice

Jack Drake Western Connecticut Weatherman with Sir Warren Drake escorted by REACH Car Club

The Exceptional Sidekick Therapy Dogs

Families United in Newtown

Newtown United Methodist Church

Newtown Stage Company

EverWonder Children’s Museum

Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs

Lathrop School of Dance

St Rose of Lima School & Church

.

DIVISION 2

(Currituck Road)

Mattatuck Drum Band

Botsford Fire Rescue

New Heights Baptist Church

Baum Braces

Fiesta Del Norte escorted by North County Landscape Management

Pyramid Shriner Motor Patrol

Around Town Team

World Champion Taekwondo

Hearts of Hope-Newtown

Rolling Billboard Dave Rosato

Edmond Town Hall

Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue

Porco’s Karate Academy

Pixie Dust

“Elvis Presley” escorted by Robb Rozz Plumbing

Jim Paprowski with Mayor of South Main Street Danny Amaral (1931 Ford Classic)

Bob Miranti 1931 Classic Car

REACH Car Club Classic Cars

Newtown Forest Association

Herbs Love & Yoga School of Herbal Medicine

FAITH Food Pantry

Plato’s Closet

.

DIVISION 3

(Martin Street)

Sons of Portugal

Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company

Spotlight Dance Conservatory

Newtown High School Wrestling

Newtown Youth Wrestling

Immaculate Heart of Mary Folklore Group

Railroad Museum of New England

BSA of Newtown

Newtown Congregational Church

Cub Scout Pack 270

Cub Scout Pack 470

“Tina Turner” escorted by North County Landscape Management

Newtown Baseball 9U Hawks

Newtown Baseball 10U Hawks

.

DIVISION 4

(Currituck Road)

Connecticut Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps (stage at 77 Main Street)

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company

Newtown Cultural Arts Commission

Bright Path Newtown

“Neil Diamond” escorted by North County Landscape Management

Sporre Tree Service

Danbury Junior Hat Tricks Hockey

Tap & Pony Mobile

Newtown Tractors

Rolling Billboard

Mattatuck Drum Band (stage at Johnny Cake Lane)

Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Co.

The Tappan Zee Bridgemen

Stony Hill Fire Departments