Perhaps the best-kept secret of the 2022 Labor Day Parade Committee was the last-minute recruitment of Mother Nature who kept Monday morning’s forecasted steady rain showers at bay until well after the many participating pieces of local rescue and fire apparatus returned to their stations; numerous floats, Shriner clowns, and tiny cars were back under cover; and all the musicians, marchers and thousands of spectators had headed for home or other engagements.

One of Newtown’s largest and most popular annual rites was back and everyone involved was loving it.

Led, as tradition dictated, by the Newtown Police Department motorcycle and Color Guard units, the parade wound its way down Main Street, up Glover Avenue, and onto Queen Street where it culminated in front of the judges grandstand where the 2022 Grand Marshals Robert and Margot Hall were also comfortably seated.

The committee of judges, Bob Geckle, Pat Llodra, Ed Miklaszewski, Anne Ragusa, and Don Studley, were also joined by the parade’s 2022 Legends & Pioneers Award honoree Pat Caruso, founder and president of Associated Refuse Haulers.

The judges agonized over their many worthy contenders, conveying the following trophies and recognitions:

Rooster Award — Newtown Tractors

Most Fitting Parade Theme — Love Mom XOXO Foundation

Runner Up — St Rose School

Best Float — Maplewood at Newtown

Runner Up — Love Mom XOXO Foundation

Best Senior Musical — Immaculate Heart of Mary Dance Troupe

Runner Up — Gaelic Highland Pipe Band

Best Junior Musical — Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance

Runner Up — Dance Etc

Best School — St Rose School

Runner Up — Newtown High School Wrestling

Best New Entry — Love Mom XOXO Foundation

Runner Up — Robert Lutz / Elvis

Most Patriotic — American Legion Post 202 & Affiliates

Runner Up — Cub Scout Pack 470 Head O’ Meadow

Best Fire Department — Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue

Runner Up — Botsford Fire Department

Best Non-Musical — Newtown Cultural Arts

Runner Up — Newtown Congregational Church

Most Colorful — CT TIARE Polynesian Dance Troupe

Runner Up — Lathrop School of Dance

Participants’ and visitors’ safety and protection was supported by Newtown Police Cadets, Danbury Police Cadets, and the Danbury, Brookfield, Bethel, and Ridgefield Police Departments.

Newtown Middle School English/Language Arts educator Susan Lang led “The Star-Spangled Banner” from the emcee stand at the Main Street flagpole, and Newtown High School junior Alex Kirkman lent her voice to the program performing the National Anthem at the judges’ stand on Queen Street.

Lang remained at her location, where she was again joined by this reporter as a returning parade emcee there. Emcees at the Queen Street bandstand were Bill Brimmer and Jason Edwards.

Last, but certainly not least, The Newtown Bee — a proud parade media sponsor — also acknowledges the countless hours devoted to this year’s event by this year’s Parade Committee, Nick Kopcik, Parade Committee President; Melissa Kopcik, Vice President; Krystina Pelton, Secretary; Carissa Costello, Participant Coordinator; Julie Friend, Marketing Coordinator; Tom D’Agostino, Logistics; Kristin Peterson and Alex Villamil, Parade Sponsorship; Jamie Pighinni, Guilherme “G” Frietas, and Newtown Police Liaisons Sgt William Chapman and Sgt Jeff Silver.

Anyone wishing to still make a contribution to help offset expenses for the 2022 parade may do so by visiting Newtownctlabordayparade.org/donate/