Monday morning, Main Street and the Borough will reverberate with the rum-pa-pa-rum of drums, clip-clop of horse hooves, blasts of fire sirens, and so much more will signal Newtown’s end of summer extravaganza is once again underway.

The 54th Annual Newtown Labor Day Parade begins at 10 am, Monday, September 7, marching from the top of Main Street to Glover, and on to its final destination, the grand stand of judges set up in front of the Big Y parking lot on Queen Street.

Seasoned paradegoers will have set up chairs all along the parade route, long before the sun sets on Sunday evening. There is an unspoken pact ensuring that chairs tipped in one spot will remain in that spot until the owner returns on Monday to settle in. It is a day that unites all of Newtown, lining the streets, and spilling out from backyard barbeques and front porch brunches, as residents bid farewell to summer and welcome the busy days of autumn.

The Labor Day Parade Committee, made up of Beth Caldwell, president, Robin Buchanan, vice president, Brian Amey, treasurer/organizer, Andy Cluff, treasurer/street director, Dan Cruson, secretary, Manuel Fernandes, Andy Gallagher, Stacey Olszewski, Kym Stendahl, Tom D’Agostino, and Ellie Whalen, is excited to welcome back many parade favorites, along with new entries that they feel will add to the festive occasion. Businesses, clubs, and organizations have been busy constructing floats, and committee members are hopeful that the floats will be creative interpretations of this year’s parade theme, “Celebrate the Fine Art of Newtown: Honoring SCAN.”

Ruth Newquist, one of the earliest members of the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN), is the honored grand marshal this year. Ms Newquist is a Newtown artist recognized for her land- and cityscapes in watercolor, acrylics, and oils. She has found Newtown and surrounding area cities to be of inspiration, she told The Newtown Bee, earlier this summer.

SCAN is an organization that welcomes artists and art lovers into its membership, and hosts three major art shows each year. The monthly meetings feature well-known artists sharing their skills in demonstrations, at the Newtown Meeting House, and are a means of enriching people’s lives through art appreciation, Ms Newquist said.

The Newtown Police Department will lead the escort division this year, and as always, spectators can expect to find the Newtown High School Marching Band leading off the musical entries.

This year, the parade committee has named the Sons of Portugal Band as recipient of the Pioneers and Legends Award. Participants in more than a decade of Newtown parades, Sons of Portugal Band “has always been there for us,” said Ms Caldwell. This award is given to one entry each year that the committee feels has contributed ongoing support to the Labor Day Parade, and epitomizes the spirit of the day.

As parade entries strut their stuff in front of the crowds and judges, many of them are hoping to capture one of several other titles bestowed upon parade participants. Judges Richard Case, Liz Cooper, Bob Kensek, Bob Llodra, Renia Marini, and Melanie Allen-Mattegat will select winners for Best Musical Entry, Best Float, Best Non-Musical Entry, Best School, Best New Entry, Best Patriotic Entry, Best Entry Fitting The Parade Theme, and Most Colorful. The Rooster Award, for most crowd-pleasing overall, is the coveted honor, of course.

New to the parade is Chief Joseph FireCrow, of the North Cheyenne tribe of Native Americans. An acclaimed Native American flutist, Chief FireCrow brings his indigenous music to town for this year’s parade. Currently an 18-year resident of Winsted, Conn., he is a native of Montana, where he learned to make and play the Native American flute. He won a Grammy in 2010, as guest artist on New Age musician David Darling’s Prayer for Compassion, along with many other music awards.

“We’ve been very busy,” said Ms Buchanan, and that business has resulted in several more additions to this year’s parade lineup.

“We’re going back in time with a doo-wop group, The Clusters, from New Jersey, New York, and Long Island,” Ms Buchanan announced. The Red Hot Horns from New York City are an all-horn group, “similar to Chicago,” she said, “and brassy and loud.”

Made up of former military personnel and music teachers from throughout Connecticut, The Simply Swing Band will entertain with music of the Big Band era. Rock and roll with New Haven’s The Cleo Blue Band, or chill out with music by Connecticut-grown Core Four Jazz Band. A Touch of Ambiance will bring the soulful sounds of Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston to the Newtown Labor Day Parade, Ms Buchanan said.

The committee is pleased to add another marching band to the lineup. The Westchester Brassmen from Harrison, N.Y., will join in the fun this year.

“We have lots of new businesses entering floats, too,” she said, including the Berkshire Veterinary Clinic, Save Your Scissors Salon, Amplitude Marketing, the Meeting House Pub, and Pink Soda Blow Dry Bar.

“I’m looking forward to Gray’s Irish School of Dance,” confessed Ms Buchanan.

There is much more to anticipate. The Vintage Police Car Association and the Buddy Holland Racing sprint car are new to the 2015 parade. “And,” said Ms Buchanan, “we even have a roller derby team.”

Relative newcomers, The Marching Cobras of New York, return for a third time this year with the thrilling drum corps routines that have made them popular with viewers. Added to all of the longtime entries, such as the fife and drum corps and the Pyramid Shriners, it will be a great parade, she promised.

Keeping tabs on all of the entries marching down the streets are emcees John Voket and Susan Lang, situated near the flagpole; MaryAnn Murtha and Mike Giantano, at the main reviewing stand on Queen Street; and radio personalities from stations 105.5 and 95.5 on Glover Avenue.

The 2015 Newtown Labor Day Parade is presented by main sponsor, Newtown Savings Bank. Ingersoll Auto, Teamsters Local 1150, and Maplewood at Newtown are platinum sponsors, Newtown Rotary Club, and Sikorsky Aircraft are gold sponsors, with many other local businesses providing support as entry sponsors and through generous donations. The committee is also appreciative of residents who donate to help offset the nearly $30,000 it costs to put on this event.

Parade goers are encouraged to arrive by 9 am on Monday morning (free parking is available at Hawley School on Church Hill Road, the Big Y parking lot, and in Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market on Queen Street), not only to find the perfect place from which to watch the parade go by, but to allow time to visit the Newtown Labor Day Parade Fair. Held on the grounds of the Newtown Middle School on Queen Street, the fair features crafters, food vendors, and information and products from area businesses and nonprofits. The fair runs from 9 am to 2 pm.

“Sit back and enjoy,” urged Ms Buchanan. “We’ve got a lot of diversity this year.”

Expect road closures beginning at approximately 9:30 am. (See related story on parade road closures for details.)

Visit newtownctlabordayparade.org for information or to donate to offset costs of the parade.