Making a list and checking it twice is not just for Santa Claus. Newtown Labor Day Parade organizers were checking lists once, twice, and maybe multiple times more as coordinating the parade entries got underway, early Monday morning, September 7, at the top of Main Street. While organizers tweaked the order of march, thousands of paradegoers settled in along the parade route in anticipation of the annual end of summer event.

Eight-year-old Rachel Calorossi perched in a chair at the corner of West Street, with a yellow balloon bobbing overhead and a “loot bag” set for the candy that was sure to be tossed her way. What she was really looking forward to, she shyly offered, was seeing her brother on the Newtown Congregational Church float.

Down the street a bit, Natalie Kenny proclaimed that candy was the thing she most looked forward to, an opinion that was seconded by many youngsters clustered upon the curbs, including 5-year-old Henry Laughlin, who was hoping for Tootsie Rolls, in particular.

His sister, Leah, 6½, agreed that candy was good, but she was waiting to see all of the horses in the parade.

Ethan Kravec, 7, donned a glittery red, white, and blue top hat for the parade, and said that for him, the most exciting part of the parade would be seeing his brothers on the hockey team float.

It wasn't just Newtown residents who were looking forward to the parade. Visitors from all around the area spilled out of friends’ homes along the parade route, or secured a spot at the edge of the road. Friends Riley Burke, 5, and Arianne Lauf, 6, were with their families from Danbury, just to see Newtown’s Labor Day Parade.

Riley and Arianne were looking forward to candy being tossed, not surprisingly, but Riley said that she was excited to see the marching bands.

Enjoying a breakfast picnic on Main Street were former Newtowners Sara and Jim Mueller, back from Virginia to watch the parade with family members.

Tiny entrepreneurs Clare Csaszar, 5, her sister, Violet, 2, and friend Emma Boshell, 2, under the watchful eyes of their dads, offered lemonade for 25 cents a cup, in front of the Csaszar residence on Main Street.

They were not the only ones providing sustenance to hungry spectators. Free custard and scones were eagerly sampled in front of the new Dere Street Café and Bakery, near the flagpole.

Lisa and Bill Hintzen set out a spread of pastries, croissants, juice, water, and coffee for friends, neighbors, and any passersby.

“We put this together every year, for anybody,” said Mr Hintzen, as he poured a glass of water for a thirsty visitor.

On Glover Avenue, cousins Brianna and Mya Pellicone, both 9 years old, were giving away lemonade and candy to all who came by.

Keeping hydrated under an unusually brilliant September sun was the name of the game, and numerous teams from around town accommodated that need by hauling coolers of icy cold bottled water for sale, up and down Main Street, Glover Avenue, and Queen Street. Handing out bottles of water was a scene to soon be repeated, as most of the parade marchers would be accompanied by a cadre of supporters making sure that the heat of the day did not overcome any participants.

The clock ticked toward 10 am, and all heads turned toward the head of the street. Faintly at first, the sounds of the Newtown High School Marching Band could be heard. Then the Newtown High School cheerleaders stepped into view, passing out parade programs and making way for the Newtown Police Department Honor Guard.

From the back seat of an antique Ford, Grand Marshal Ruth Newquist waved heartily to the crowds on either side of the street. The 54th Annual Newtown Labor Day Parade, with the theme “Celebrate the Fine Art of Newtown: Honoring SCAN,” was underway.

Anybody who loves a parade found plenty to love about the 2015 Parade.

Parade participants that included representation from Veterans of Foreign Wars, Korean War Veterans, the American Legion, and Project Newtown Troops and Veterans, honored the military.

Spectators old and young who love vehicles were not disappointed. Each of Newtown’s five fire companies was well represented, with uniformed marchers and gleaming trucks. Antique cars puttered along, military vehicles motored down the road, and the Eastern Vintage Police Cars made themselves known with whirling lights and wailing sirens. The Buddy Holland sprint car, atop a float, caught the eye of one young paradegoer, who excitedly pointed it out to his friends.

If big trucks and cars were not quite enough, the Pyramid Shriners’ mini cars made their appearance, zooming in and out and all about each other as they zipped along the route.

Not a motor vehicle, but a vehicle that has drawn attention for the past several parades, the Wells Fargo coach and horses was a crowd pleaser once again.

Horse lovers had plenty to celebrate in this parade, from the appearance of the Governor’s Second Company Horse Guard to the prancing of the mounts in the Newtown Bridle Lands Association. The Happy Hoofers clopped along, and miniature ponies and a donkey sporting a flowered straw hat, from Timber Hill Farm in Newtown, stepped to the sidelines for petting opportunities.

Miniature goats tugged at their leads, and adoptable dogs from Danbury Animal Welfare Society showed off their best behaviors — although at least one pup decided early on that it was just too hot and far to keep moving, and parked himself in the middle of the road. A bit of gentle encouragement, and he was back in step with his pack.

Golden retrievers from Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs meandered from side to side of the line of march, encouraging hugs and pets from little people and big people alike.

Canine marchers were greeted with yips and woofs — of approval, one can presume — from dogs that had accompanied their masters and mistresses to the parade. Cooper Siebern, seated on his owner’s lap along Glover Avenue, wagged his tail enthusiastically, and an eye-catching wag, it was. Thanks to the talents of Divine Dogs Grooming Salon, his fluffy tail was temporarily dyed red, white, and blue.

Music is always a big part of Newtown’s Labor Day Parade, beginning with the hometown band. Sons of Portugal Band, this year’s recipient of the Pioneers and Legends Award, was the usual crowd-pleaser. Other longtime favorites keeping Newtown’s parade in step included the Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums, Fairfield Gaelic Pipes Band, The Connecticut Alumni Band, and the Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes and Drum Corps.

The Marching Cobras of New York returned this year, for a third time, to thrill the crowds with their exuberant drumming and dancing. This year’s parade also marked the second time that Newtown paradegoers have been entertained by the energetic Latin music of the Orquestra La Yunquena.

Parade organizers successfully added several new musical entries to the 2015 parade as well, keeping the beat going all along the way. From New York, the Westchester Brassmen Drum and Bugle Corps made an impressive first showing, dressed in bright blue waistcoats, with red plumes flowing from the brims of the Cavalier-type hats. A lively beat and lilting brass music elicited plenty of clapping from the crowd.

Soft and soothing, the vocals and flute of Grammy-winner Chief Joseph FireCrow captured the attention of the crowd as his float passed by.

Also new to the parade this year were The Clusters, a doo-wop group; the all-horn Red Hot Horns; the Big Band music of the Simply Swing Band; and the chill Core Four Jazz Band. A Touch of Ambiance added some soul to the parade this year, to the delight of many.

Blue Colony Diner entered a line of vehicles in the parade that brought cheers and giggles from the littlest paradegoers, for waving from these trucks were some of the most popular cartoon characters: Sponge Bob, Big Bird, Barney, Elmo, Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Dora the Explorer, Sylvester and Tweety Bird, and many more.

One by one, the floats floated by, the dancers stepped, twirled, and shimmied past, the politicians gripped hands, the schools and religious communities celebrated, and sports clubs broadcast their victories. Candy rained down in quantities that could not fail to bring glee to the children who scrambled for the sweets. Clowns clowned about, and jugglers juggled. Roller bladers and gymnasts astounded the crowd with feats performed on steamy hot asphalt.

Always last, but never the least, the antique tractors rolled along the parade route. That, Newtown residents know, is the signal that once again, the Annual Newtown Labor Day parade has successfully come to an end.

“A great parade,” was a comment heard more than once, while chairs were packed away and candy wrappers were gathered up.

“I loved the new music,” declared one woman. “It’s been a wonderful parade.”

Still to come: a slideshow with even more photos from Monday’s big event, and the announcement of the Labor Day Parade Judges’ choices.

Click here for a list of this year's winners, as determined by the Labor Day Parade Judges, and for The Newtown Bee slideshow of the event.