NOTE: This story contains a small update to the march that was received after the August 30, 2024, print edition went to press.
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The judges have received their instructions, about 75 groups have registered to march and spectators can set up their chairs along Main Street, Glover Avenue and the northern section of Queen Street on Sunday afternoon.
A long-standing tradition returns on Monday, September 2, when the 2024 Labor Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Main Street and Currituck Road.
Participants will travel south on Main Street, turn onto Glover Avenue, follow it and then turn left onto Queen Street. The route ends at the intersection of Queen Street and Church Hill Road.
Parade marshals Sue and Jim Shortt will lead the ceremony along with their hand-picked judges. This group will disembark in front of the My Place restaurant, where the award winners’ stand will be set up between the popular eatery and the neighboring Bank of America.
This year’s theme is “Garden of Abundance”.
Melissa Kopcik, co-coordinator of the Labor Day Parade Line of March, described the couple as “familiar, friendly faces in town” when she announced their appointments as grand marshals earlier this year. The committee was looking for unsung heroes of the town, she said in June, “and these two hard-working farmers were an obvious choice.”
The Labor Day Parade Committee held its final pre-parade meeting on Wednesday, August 28, welcoming this year’s judges and Grand Marshal for an official photo before a final planning session.
National anthem, road closures
Spectators can sing the national anthem from two locations. Susan Lang, an English/Language Arts teacher at Newtown Middle School and a member of the band My Dad’s Truck, will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” from the announcer’s desk at the flagpole on Main Street.
Alex Kirkman, a 2024 graduate of Newtown High School and alumni of St. Rose School, will stand near the judges’ gallery on Queen Street when the national anthem is performed.
Both are returning artists who have had the honor over the past two years. Their performance is scheduled for 9:55 a.m.
Lang will remain at her location and will again assume the previous Newtown Bee Editor John Voket as a recurring parade host there.
Mike Giarratano and Jay Edwards will be the moderators at the Queen Street bandstand.
Participants are asked to pause before the parade begins on Monday to remember Bill Brimmer, a longtime Newtown resident and Labor Day Parade announcer who died in early August.
The parade route will be closed to non-parade traffic beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Monday and will remain closed until at least 12:30 p.m. or until the last unit – this year the Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company, participating in this parade for the second time – has completed the route.
Newtown Police have announced that streets may be closed as early as 8 a.m. as participants and spectators begin arriving and setting up. Depending on the length of the parade and the removal of all floats, vehicles and marchers, closures could last as late as 3 a.m.
Line of the march
Below is the marching schedule for the 2023 Newtown Labor Day Parade as determined by the Labor Day Parade Committee. Last minute changes may occur until Monday morning.
NOTE: The Parade Committee again requests that fire departments set up their apparatus on Mt Pleasant Road. Volunteers will guide the fire departments to their locations.
ESCORT DEPARTMENT 1
(Venue: 77 Main Street)
Newtown Police Station
Newtown Police Department Honor Guard
Newtown High School Marching Band and Flag Guard
Grand Marshals Jim and Sue Shortt, escorted by Chris Locke
The parade judges – Chris Locke, Eileen Marchese, Lee Paulsen, Theresa Salvatore and Janet Volmer – accompanied by Jimmy Johnson.
Newtown Volunteer Ambulance
Newtown Savings Bank – Title Sponsor
Winner of the Mary Hawley Public Service Award, Mr. Gordon Williams
Ingersoll Car
Senior living in Maplewood
Teamsters Local 1150
Savings Bank of Danbury
Rotary Club Neustadt
Dental practice
Newtown Hardware
Swimming pools in Newtown
Lions Club Neustadt
.
ESCORT DEPARTMENT 2
(Academy track)
Great American pipe and drum
First Selectman Jeff Capeci
City Councilman Dan Cruson Jr.
City Councilor Michelle Embree Ku
Second Company of the Governor’s Horse Guard
Newtown Democratic Committee, elected officials,
Candidates who are affiliated
Newtown Republican Committee, elected officials,
Candidates and relatives
Independent political parties in Newtown, elected
Officials and relatives
State and local politicians
.
DIVISION 1
(Johnnie Cake Lane)
Gaelic Highland Pipe Band
Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Department
CT Tiare Polynesian Dance Troupe accompanied by
DH Schenzer Construction
Friends of the Seniors of Newtown
Miss Connecticut Teen Camryn Patton accompanied by
REACH Car Club
Miss Connecticut Monica Fenwick accompanied by Jerry Cullen
Taylor Adams International Woman of Service Mrs 2024 accompanied by REACH
Pyramid of the Legion of Honour
Volunteer reenactment group of the 2nd Heavy Artillery Company
American Legion Post 202 and Partners
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 308
Hope on Main Street
Newtown Centre for classical ballet and singing
Jack Drake, weatherman from Western Connecticut, with Sir Warren Drake accompanied by the REACH Car Club
The extraordinary Sidekick therapy dogs
Families united in Newtown
Newtown United Methodist Church
Newtown Theatre Company
EverWonder Children’s Museum
Newtown – Strong Therapy Dogs
Lathrop School of Dance
St. Rose of Lima School & Church
.
DIVISION 2
(Currituck Street)
Mattatuck Drum Band
Botsford Fire Department
New Heights Baptist Church
Tree braces
Fiesta Del Norte accompanied by North County Landscape Management
Pyramid Shriner Motor Patrol
About the city team
Taekwondo World Champion
Hearts of Hope-Newtown
Rolling Billboard Dave Rosato
Edmond City Hall
Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue
Porco’s Karate Academy
Fairy dust
“Elvis Presley” accompanied by Robb Rozz Plumbing
Jim Paprowski with South Main Street Mayor Danny Amaral (1931 Ford Classic)
Bob Miranti 1931 vintage car
REACH Car Club Classic Cars
Neustadt Forestry Association
Herb Love & Yoga School for Herbal Medicine
FAITH food distribution
Plato’s Closet
.
DIVISION 3
(Martinstrasse)
Sons of Portugal
Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Department
Spotlight Dance Conservatory
Wrestling at Newtown High School
Newtown Youth Wrestling
Folklore group Immaculate Heart of Mary
New England Railroad Museum
BSA of Newtown
Newtown Congregational Church
Scout Package 270
Scout Package 470
“Tina Turner” accompanied by North County Landscape Management
Newtown Baseball 9U Hawks
Newtown Baseball 10U Hawks
.
DIVISION 4
(Currituck Street)
Connecticut Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps (stage at 77 Main Street)
Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department
Newtown Cultural Arts Commission
Bright Path Newtown
“Neil Diamond” accompanied by North County Landscape Management
Sporre Tree Care
Danbury Junior Hat Tricks Hockey
Tap & Pony Mobile
Newtown Tractors
Rolling billboard
Mattatuck Drum Band (Johnny Cake Lane stage)
Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Department
The Tappan Zee Bridgemen
Stony Hill Fire Department
Grand Marshals Sue and Jim Shortt at the 2024 Labor Day Parade. After nearly 30 years of organic farming, the Shortts have become a mainstay in the town, feeding thousands through their farm store, their community-supported agriculture program and through their partnership with Real Food CT. —Bee photos, glass
The Labor Day Parade committee members, grand marshals and judges held the final pre-parade meeting at the Newtown Police Station on August 28. The annual event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 2 at the intersection of Main Street and Currituck Road.