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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.