It is that time of year again — thousands of people lined the streets to celebrate Newtown's 64th Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 7.

The parade is a long-standing Newtown tradition that marks the end of summer and gives people of all ages a chance to come together and celebrate their community. It features many different participants, including veterans, first responders, musicians, sports teams, politicians, businesses, organizations, and celebrity impersonators.

This year, a total of 99 participants registered for the line of march, along with a handful of roaming participants such as circus performers and mobile photo booths.

Many people claimed their spots well before the parade stepped off, setting chairs and laying blankets for their friends and family. Some people stationed their cars in parking spaces along the parade route, ready to watch the parade from their front seats or from the back of their pickup truck.

The clear blue sky and gentle breeze made it the perfect day for the special occasion.

The parade was led by this year's grand marshal, Bill Glass, a longtime Newtown resident. He is a familiar face to many in town for his photography work; he has taken pictures for many local groups and organizations, including, but not limited to, Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, Newtown Historical Society, Newtown Youth & Family Services, and The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard. Glass has also been a freelance photographer for The Newtown Bee for the past three years.

The theme for this year's parade, "Picture Perfect Parade," hearkens to his passion for photography and sharing it with the community.

However, Glass was not alone in leading the Labor Day Parade. He was joined by his hand-picked parade judges, including his wife, Diane Glass, along with Jenny Hubbard, Gary Lindemann, Ross Mannuzza, and Diane Sarna.

All of them shared the grand marshal's excitement, saying they were happy to be there for him. Lindemann said they all had a great get-together at the Glass household after they were chosen as judges.

The parade kicked off with Susan Lang performing the national anthem at the Flagpole Grandstand, while Cristina and Michael Trnik performed at the Main Grandstand.

This was followed by Newtown Police Department (NPD), Newtown Police Motorcycle Unit, NPD Honor Guard, and Newtown High School Marching Band & Color Guard, who helped lead the parade.

NPD Chief David Kullgren said that the department reached out to neighboring towns and invited them to help escort the parade with motorcycles, something they have done in previous years. Members of Newtown, Bethel, Danbury, Brookfield, and Ridgefield police departments escorted the parade this year.

Being the Labor Day Parade grand marshal did not stop Glass from doing what he loves best: taking photos. He brought his trusty camera with him as he rode down the parade route, snapping pictures of the crowd on Main Street, Glover Avenue, and Queen Street. He and his wife were escorted in the parade by REACH Car Club.

People held up their phones to take their own pictures of the many floats that passed by. All the while, Lang and former Newtown Bee editor John Voket emceed the Flagpole Grandstand, and Mike Giarratano and Jay Edwards ran the Main Grandstand.

The people in the crowd were all smiles as they watched familiar faces march down the parade route. Some participants marching in the parade blew bubbles, while others tossed out candy, much to the delight of children. Roaming circus performers kept the energy going, juggling bowling pins, blowing bubbles, and twirling ribbons.

The Newtown Labor Day Parade Committee thanked everyone on social media, noting that it is the support of local families, organizations, and businesses that helps bring the annual Labor Day Parade to life.

On the afternoon of September 9, Labor Day Parade Committee President Nicole Kullgren told The Newtown Bee that the parade "went amazing.

"All in all, it was a great parade," Kullgren continued. "All the plotting and planning came into place, and everyone had a great day."

She noted that the committee will host a post-parade meeting next week, in which they will start planning for the 65th Labor Day Parade next September.

"When everything's fresh in our brain, it helps to talk about the good and the bad," Kullgren explained.

As for Glass, he called being named the grand marshal "the high point of this year."

He added, "My wife rode in the car with me and she said she was amazed at the scores of people who called out to me yelling 'congratulations' and 'well deserved' during the short ride. People know I love Newtown and the people in our town. So it was truly an honor to represent our community in this year's parade.”

After the last vehicle rode by, marking the end of the parade, the judges picked their winners for many different categories.

The winner for "Best Use of Theme — 'Picture Perfect Parade'" was Fraser Woods Montessori School, while the runner-up was Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice.

Taking the win for "Most Patriotic" was American Legion Post 202, with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 308 as the runner-up.

"Best Fire Department" went to Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Company, and the runner-up was Botsford Fire Rescue.

New Heights Baptist Church won "Best Overall Float," with St Rose of Lima School & Church as the runner-up.

The judges also honored two participants as Special Recognition Award winners: Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs earned "Top Dog," while 1959 John Deere earned "Best Tractor."

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