Newtown's long-standing end-of-summer celebration, the annual Labor Day Parade, will return on Monday, September 7.

The parade will step off at 10 am from Main Street at its intersection with Currituck Road. Staging will open at 7:30 that morning. Participants will travel south on Main Street, turn onto and follow Glover Avenue, and finally turn left onto Queen Street.

Leading the celebration this year will be Grand Marshal and longtime Newtown resident Bill Glass. Glass has served as a freelance photographer for The Newtown Bee for over three years, capturing everything from scenic landscapes and Town meetings to lemonade stands and duck races. He has also done photography for other local groups and organizations, including, but not limited to, Newtown Historical Society, Newtown Action Alliance, Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, Newtown Youth & Family services, and The Second Company Governor's Horse Guard.

Glass has provided supplemental photography of the Labor Day Parade for three years, making sure to get as many photographs as possible of children and adults alike smiling and enjoying the summer sun. Him being honored as this year's parade marshal is an opportunity for him to be on the other side of the lens for once.

Labor Day Parade Committee President Nicole Kullgren said it did not take long for the group to pick this year's theme: "Picture Perfect Parade."

"Once we decided on a grand marshal, the theme fell into place," Kullgren said.

This year's parade will have some new musical acts and a few more roaming performances, according to Kullgren.

"We love to keep the traditions of the parade, but also give patrons some new acts to view," she said this week. "The roaming circus acts last year were a huge hit, so we have added a few 'characters' to the list to do the same."

This year's parade has also seen changes with the way participants registered. Kullgren said participants now register by completing a Google Form. This, she noted, made things a lot easier for the committee. She believes a few tweaks will be needed next year to make it "even more successful."

Kullgren noted that this year, the grandstands will be moved to help with setting up the night before instead of the morning of. The Flagpole Grandstand will be directly in front of Newtown Meeting House and the Main Grandstand will be in front of Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street, where the horseshoe grass is.

Tents will go up for those locations on Sunday, September 6. Kullgren cautioned that if chairs are placed in those areas to hold seats for those planning to watch the parade the next morning, they will be moved to the side.

The Newtown Labor Day Parade Committee set a donation goal of $30,000 to stage the Labor Day Parade this year. As has been the case in years past, the Labor Day Parade has been made possible thanks to the generous donations of those in the Newtown community and beyond.

As of Wednesday, August 26, Kullgren said fundraising had been "going great," noting sponsors "have been so generous again this year."

She added, "The committee has been working hard since March to pull off another amazing parade. We hope everyone enjoys the morning and fingers crossed for amazing weather."

The Newtown Labor Day Parade is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is a fully volunteer effort. Financial donations are also accepted and used toward event execution, administrative oversight, and community giving, according to the parade's website.

For additional information, visit newtownlabordayparade.org or e-mail the parade committee at newtownldp@gmail.com.

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