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

Leading the celebration this year will be Grand Marshal and longtime Newtown resident Bill Glass. The theme of the 2026 Newtown Labor Day Parade is “Picture Perfect Parade,” tying in to Glass’s passion for photography and sharing his talent with everyone from this newspaper, Newtown Historical Society, and Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary to Newtown Youth & Family Services, The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard, and many others.

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 and follow Queen Street to its intersection with Church Hill Road.

Those planning to attend the parade should note a few changes for this year.

First, the Main Grandstand will be moving from the area of 6 Queen Street to 11 Queen Street, in front of Newtown Middle School. (The Flagpole Grandstand will remain in front of Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street.)

Additionally, tents will be set up at each grandstand location on Sunday, September 6. Parade organizers have 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.

Susan Lang will perform the national anthem at the Flagpole Grandstand, and Cristina and Michael Trnik will perform at the Main Grandstand Monday morning.

Following is the line of march for this year’s parade, as announced by the Newtown Labor Day Parade Committee on August 31. Digital versions can be found at newtownlabordayparade.org.

ESCORT DIVISION 1 (line up at 77 Main Street)

Newtown Police Department

Newtown Police Motorcycle Unit

Newtown Police Department Honor Guard

Newtown High School Marching Band & Color Guard

Grand Marshal Bill Glass, escorted by REACH Car Club

Parade Judges Diane Glass, Jenny Hubbard, Diane Sarna, Gary Lindemann, and Ross Mannuzza

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance

Newtown Savings Bank

FAITH Food Pantry

Ingersoll Auto of Danbury

Maplewood Senior Living at Newtown

Mattatuck Drum Band

Teamsters Local 1150

Teamsters Local 1150 Women's Committee

Teamsters Horsemen 10West

Rob Rozz Plumbing

“Michael Jackson,” escorted by Rob Rozz Plumbing

Rotary Club of Newtown

Ives Bank

Newtown MediSpa

ESCORT DIVISION 2 (Academy Lane)

The Great American Fife & Drum

2026 Mary Hawley Public Service Award Winner Ray Corbo, escorted by REACH Car Club

Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Co #1

Dental Associates

Newtown Lions Club

Sons of Portugal Marching Band

First Selectman Bruce Walczak

Selectman Paul Lundquist

Selectman Jeff Capeci

Second Company Governor's Horse Guard

State and Local Politicians

Newtown Democratic Town Committee

Newtown Republican Town Committee

Newtown Independent Political Parties

The Alphorn Guy

Friends of Newtown Seniors

Nunnawauk Meadows

DIVISION 1 (Johnny Cake Lane)

St Peter’s Drum Corps

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company

2nd CT Volunteers Heavy Artillery Reenactment Group

Newtown Youth Lacrosse

American Legion Post 202 & Affiliates

Pyramid Shriners Legion of Honor

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 308

Hope on Main Street

The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs & Therapy Dogs

Families United in Newtown

Newtown United Methodist Church

Luke5Adventures-Bethel Chapter

Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice

EverWonder Children's Museum

Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs

Lathrop School of Dance

St Rose of Lima School & Church

DIVISION 2 (Currituck Road)

Connecticut Alumni Senior Drum and Bugle Corps

Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company

New Heights Baptist Church

Baum Braces

Fiesta Del Norte, escorted by North Country Landscape

Pyramid Shriners Motor Patrol

Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue

Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown

Paproski Family/Castle Hill Farm with 1929 Ford pickup

Greenlight Quartet, escorted by North Country Landscape

REACH Car Club Classic Cars

NHS Class of 1976

Bob Miranti 1931 Classic Car

Robert Frederick — 2019 Dodge Charger

Newtown Family Therapy

DIVISION 3 (Martin Street)

The Tappan Zee Bridgemen

Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company

Newtown High School Wrestling

Newtown Youth Wrestling

Newtown Stage Company

Newtown Baseball 9U

Newtown Baseball 10U

Newtown Baseball 12U

Carpenters Local 326

Newtown Scouting America

Housatonic Bounce Rentals

Foxfire Homeschool Cooperative

Bethel Democratic Town Committee

Porco's Karate Academy

Newtown Cultural Arts Commission

DIVISION 4 (Currituck Road)

Gaelic Highland Pipe Band

Botsford Fire Rescue

Hiram Lodge No 18 AF&AM

Sporre Tree Service

Newtown Soccer Club

Danbury Junior Hat Tricks Hockey

Newtown Softball 10/12U

Newtown Forest Association

Fraser Woods Montessori School

World Champion Taekwondo

Hearts of Hope-Newtown Chapter

Heavy Armored Vehicles of CT

CT Tiare Polynesian Dance Troupe, escorted by DH Schenzer Construction

Christ the King Lutheran Church

Newtown Tractors

ROAMING PARTICIPANTS

Circus Performer Tim Walsh

Circus Performer Cynthia Rauschert

Circus Performers Heidi Kirchofer and Joel Melendez

Cinderella, Elsa, Spider-Man, Woody & Jessie

Pyramid Shriner Klowns

Mobile Photobooths