Pockets of exuberance and moments of awe dotted the day, Sunday, October 9, but the party mood one would expect from a parade celebrating its 50th anniversary was deflated to a large extent at the rescheduled Newtown Labor Day Parade by a greatly diminished crowd.

Perhaps it was the unseasonable heat; maybe it was the time of day — 2 pm, naptime; — or it could have been the day of the week, Sunday, traditionally a day of rest, that led to an overall lackluster mood to the hour-plus string of marchers, floats, emergency and Army vehicles, tractors, and politicians — as well as the occasional musical entry — that set out, 10 minutes behind schedule, to fulfill the expectation of a yearly parade.

The 50th anniversary Newtown Labor Day Parade was one of contradictions, depending on where one sat or with whom one spoke. Some celebrated the efforts of the Labor Day Parade Committee in rescheduling the thwarted September event, others groused a bit about changes and missing musicians, as well as an audience much smaller than the previous 49 parades.

For those who gathered for the parade near its intersection with the flagpole or near the Queen Street grandstand, the unfurling of the three historic American flags that preceded the 2 pm parade was a thrilling event. One 45- by 90-foot flag was unrolled at 1:45 pm at the flagpole, and all three flags from different eras in American history were unrolled at the Queen Street grandstand shortly after 2 pm. Paradegoers were encouraged to take part in handling the gigantic flags, and for those who took part, said parade committee president Beth Caldwell, "It was just an amazing thing. At first people aren't sure, but then when people jump up to be a part of it, they are so thrilled," she said.

For those paradegoers further down Main Street or on Glover Avenue, though, the unfurling of the flags was a nonevent. Most people lining the roadways not near the grandstands seemed unaware as to what was delaying the parade start time. (The huge flags were rerolled at each site, rather than being carried along the parade route as had happened in 2001.)

The change of date for the annual Labor Day Parade was "a plus and a minus for our family," said Allison Story, as she settled onto a blanket at the corner of Main Street and Church Hill Road with 2-year-old son Trenton before the start of the parade. "It allowed all of our family from out of town to join us today, but our family in town can't make it," said Ms Story.

A bit farther down Main Street, Dave Barrett joined his 10-year-old daughter Abi, eagerly anticipating the start of the parade. It would be his son's first time marching with the Newtown High School Marching Band, he said. The parade date change had not been an issue for their family, Mr Barrett said.

"The time is fine for us," said viewer Alison Badolato, "but I'm noticing a lot less people."

Just half an hour before the 2 pm scheduled start of the 50th anniversary Newtown Labor Day Parade, postponed one month due to repercussions from Tropical Storm Irene, empty chairs still awaited their owners, and gaps along the parade route still welcomed people to fill them up. It was a very different scene from previous parades, in which paradegoers normally spill onto the sidewalks along Main Street from early morning parade parties and vie three-deep for a position along the way to get a good view.

Tracy McManus hosts a Labor Day breakfast buffet in front of her 7 Main Street home each year for friends and family. This year was a change, she said. "With the parade later in the day, we have a different menu — all finger foods — and the colors of autumn," she said. She was hopeful that the parade would have a good turnout, though, she said.

A bit farther up the street, Karen Blawie, who said her family has hosted a Labor Day breakfast party for many years in front of 11 Main Street, had invited friends and family to an afternoon barbeque instead this year. The home for which she has served as executor has recently been sold, but Ms Blawie was pleased to report that the new owner had granted her "an easement" to continue hosting Labor Day events in the future. "This is my 27th parade," gushed Ms Blawie. "It's one of a kind," she said.

Members of the Police Explorers Post urged passersby to buy their cookies from the stand in front of the Newtown Police Department. Just down the road a bit, members of this year's parade Legends and Pioneers Award Newtown Rotary Club were cooking up a storm, with Skip Roberts and Neide Ross staffing the grills. Although a plateful of cooked hot dogs sat ready to be devoured, takers were sparse early on. The purchase of hot dogs, soda, or coffee from the Rotary went "one hundred percent to charities supported by the club," said Christopher Hoeffel. Rotary member Joe Tarshis noted that the Rotary Club has set up a food stand at the corner of Main Street and Route 302 "since we helped start the parade. This is our fiftieth time at the parade."

Seated on a bench in front of the library, sisters Bethany, Brooke, and Ellie Newton munched pre-parade lunches and said they were excited. "I like the throwing out of the candy in the parade," confessed 8-year-old Ellie, a sentiment echoed by 3-year-old Anya Audet, who sat farther down the street with her mother.

A Different Kind Of Parade

For others who attended the rescheduled annual Labor Day Parade, the lower than normal attendance and dampened energy along the parade route, as well as a skewed order of march from what had been announced earlier in the week, showed the extent to which Tropical Storm Irene had managed to take the wind out of the sails for what is usually a festive end-of-summer event in Newtown.

To steal a line from poet T.S. Eliot, the parade for many began "not with a bang, but a whimper" as a golf cart from Kellogg Motorworks silently whizzed down the center of the street, followed shortly thereafter by the appropriately silent and honorable representatives of the Korean War veterans. Then followed Grand Marshal Lee Glover, resplendent in his original Newtown Hook & Ladder uniform, riding in an antique fire truck. Former Grand Marshals glided by atop antique convertibles, with appreciative applause from the sidelines acting as the only music.

It was a bit longer before the clopping of hoofs lent more "music," rendered by the popular Second Governors Horse Guard of Newtown.

"Where is the Newtown High School band?" murmured one bystander. "I thought they led the parade?"

It was the case that the local band was scheduled to lead off the line of march, explained Ms Caldwell, but at the last minute, parade order was shuffled. In past years, the parade has boasted more than a dozen musical entries. This year, due to competition with area Columbus Day parades, only three bands recommitted to the October 9 parade in Newtown. "We had to balance the music in the line of march," Ms Caldwell said, "and a lack of music is big. With music," she admitted, "comes energy."

That energy finally came about when the Germantown Ancients of Danbury paraded down Main Street, rewarded by the clapping of paradegoers. Much appreciation was also shown for the Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums, and the Newtown High School Marching Band, placed strategically in the line of march, and looking sharp in bright blue uniforms, brass instruments flashing in the bright sunshine.

While not first in line, the Newtown High School Marching Band was first when it came to pleasing the crowd. The band was awarded the coveted Rooster Award by parade judges.

Although on a float, the rhythmic songs of the Sons of Portugal Band also brightened the mood, along with the clicking of castanets as they Sons of Portugal Folk Dancers whirled down the street.

The Sons of Portugal also danced off with first place musical entry in the senior division, at the end of the day.

Odd gaps in the line of march also had some paradegoers fidgeting, waiting for the next float to appear.

Plenty To See

Not everyone focused on what was lacking in the parade, though. Adults and children alike eagerly craned their necks to see vintage airplanes flying low overhead. The ground and aerial acrobatics of gymnasts from local gyms provided breathtaking entertainment, with plenty of cheers and claps to urge them on. Politicians garnered hoots and cheers, and emergency service vehicles and marchers elicited enthusiastic applause.

Ava Dinho and Morgan Harrison were among dozens of small children at the parade with their families, whose rapt attention to every parade entry that passed by expressed a joy that needed no words. Groups of children swarmed the edges of the streets for candy tossed out from various floats, and youngsters jumped and screamed with glee when fire trucks obediently blasted their sirens in response to arms pumped up and down.

Candy or no, the float that won the hearts of the judges this year was created by Christ the King Lutheran Church, which like the annual parade, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Trinity Episcopal Church took runner-up in the float division.

One of this year's new participants was the Wells Fargo Coach and Driver. The bright red coach pulled by four glistening bay draft horses was popular not only with the crowd, but the judges, who awarded the coach first place for best nonmusical entry. Runner-up in this division was the St Rose of Lima Catholic Church contingency.

Best school award went to St Rose School, as well.

What Ms Caldwell called "the testament of all that is good about the parade" was evident in the last-minute round up of drummers to provide a beat for the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company marchers. With a dearth of bands, the committee was unable to assign a musical entry this year to precede the fire company, as they normally do with each fire department. When parade committee members approached members of the 11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, three drummers graciously hustled back to where the Sandy Hook department was lined up, and helped the firefighters stay in step. Marching smartly to those drums, the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company came away from the parade with first place for best fire company.

Meeting The Challenge

There are always those who are unhappy with some aspect of the parade, said Ms Caldwell, and this year's postponement made for challenges that were met as best could be. "I did hear from many that it was a great parade, and an amazing day," she said. "People were excited about our new entries, the Wells Fargo Coach, and the flags, as well as the flyovers [of vintage planes]. Yes, I was a little disappointed by the turnout, but I was not surprised. On Saturday afternoon, there were people already setting up chairs on the street. When I pull up and see those chairs," Ms Caldwell continued, "it doesn't matter if it's two chairs of 2,000 chairs. I know we're going to make those people smile."

The parade committee president also had high praise for the first Newtown Labor Day Parade Fair, held on the grounds of the Newtown Middle School, before and after the parade. "It was our first year, so it's a work in progress. I heard great responses to the food. It's another layer to what is already a really great time. We will definitely do the fair again next year," she said.

The best thing about the Newtown Labor Day Parade, especially this very difficult year, Ms Caldwell said, is that it brings out the good in Newtown. "And there is so much good there," she said. "Say what you will," she added, "What a day to be in Newtown and to celebrate 50 years of smiling faces."