Thousands of people from Newtown and beyond lined the streets to celebrate Newtown’s 63rd Annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 1.

The parade is a long-standing local tradition that marks the end of summer. A wide range of participants march every year, ranging from bands, schools, and first responders to businesses, politicians, and celebrity impersonators.

This year, over 90 different groups registered to be in the line of march. Participants marched down Main Street and turned onto Glover Avenue before finally finishing at Queen Street. All the while, the crowd waved and cheered back at them.

People lined the entire parade route hours before the event even started, with families and friends setting out lawn chairs and blankets to find the perfect spot.

Leading the parade was this year’s Grand Marshal, Carolee Mason, who recently retired after serving 20 years as Newtown’s animal control officer. Nicole Kullgren, the new president of the Labor Day Parade Committee, said they chose Mason for her continuous compassion, advocacy, and community involvement.

The parade committee honored Mason by making this year’s theme “Pets on Parade.” To that end, several parade participants had fun with the theme by featuring animals in their march.

Some, such as Newtown Congregational Church, filled up the backseat of their car with dozens of plush animals. Others, such as Baum Braces, decorated a car to look like a dog, with a big nose, fluffy ears, and large googly eyes.

People could also stop by a little subsection on Main Street to visit The Exceptional Sidekick Therapy Dogs. They had their own area where people could pet therapy dogs, such as Thor the Therapy Dog.

In the months before Labor Day, Mason told The Newtown Bee that she was “honored” and “beyond words” to be named grand marshal. The day of the parade itself was no different.

Mason could not help but smile as she traveled down Main Street. She sat on the back of a light blue car with her two grandchildren, Parker and Connor, waving to the crowd with a bright smile on her face.

Mason was still beaming even after the parade ended.

“What a wonderful experience,” Mason said. “The marchers were great. The people on the committee were great. The emcees were great. Everyone was wonderful. I’m just so honored.”

Mason was not alone in leading the parade, as she was joined by her handpicked Parade Judges Melissa LaPak, Kim Macy, Anthony Mason, Matt Schaub, and Emily Whitaker.

Newtown Police Department, the Newtown PD Honor Guard, and Newtown High School Marching Band & Color Guard once again had lead positions and helped to head the parade.

Much like previous years, Newtown Police Traffic Unit Officer Leonard Penna said NPD went to neighboring towns and invited them to help escort the parade with motorcycles. The group this year consisted of Newtown, Danbury, Brookfield, and Fairfield police departments.

Susan Lang and former Newtown Bee editor John Voket returned to man the Main Street emcee stand, while Mike Giarratano and Jay Edwards ran the Queen Street emcee stand.

They kept spirits high as group after group marched down the parade route. Performers also kept the crowd entertained throughout the morning, whether it was Elvis Presley and Tina Turner impersonators or The One & Only Incredible Marching Alphorn Guy.

Other such as Newtown Stage Company, Lathrop School of Dance, and Connecticut Street Dance Community showed their dance moves, while the Pyramid Shriners Legion of Honor delighted everyone by driving in their tiny cars.

All the while, performers from a traveling circus entertained the crowd by juggling, blowing bubbles, and giving high fives on top of stilts or unicycles.

The parade ended with people cruising down Queen Street in antique tractors, continuing the tradition of antique tractors in Newtown Labor Day Parade.

Despite the stresses that come with organizing the parade, Kullgren said it was amazing to see everyone’s smiling faces. She was honored by her fellow committee members after the parade, with Edwards sharing words and presenting her with a bouquet on their behalf.

The end of the event has parade judges pick award winners for several different categories.

The winner for "Best Float" went to St Rose of Lima School & Church.

The "Best Musical Entry" in the Junior category was Newtown High School Marching Band & Color Guard, while the Senior category winner was Mattatuck Drum Band.

The Second Company Governor's Horse Guard was chosen as the "Most Patriotic."

"Best School" went to Porco's Karate Academy, while "Best Fire Company" went to Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company.

Newtown High School Class of 1975 not only got to celebrate their 50-year reunion, but they now get to celebrate winning "Best New Entry."

The winner for "Most Fitting Parade Theme" was Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs.

"Most Colorful Entry" was CT Tiare Polynesian Dance Troupe.

And last but not least, the winner for "Most Crowd-Pleasing," also known as the "Rooster Award," went to Antique Tractors.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.