Newtown Borough Council gave approval this month for the Newtown Holiday Parade, but not before addressing concerns about the timing of the event and its impact on nearby religious services.
The annual parade is organized by the Newtown Business Association (NBA), and will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7. It will go through Newtown Borough and onto Sycamore Street in Newtown Township.
The discussion centered largely on balancing the celebration with respect for the Quaker Friends Meeting, a Quaker congregation located just a block from the parade’s staging area.
The Friends conduct a silent worship session from 11 a.m. to noon, according to Barbara Simmons, who is with the meetinghouse.
Borough officials expressed concern about whether noise from the parade staging and kickoff could disrupt the service.
Council President Emily Heinz pointed to the importance of striking this balance: “I think the big thing is the start time just because of the religious services going on in town. One block away from the start of the parade actually worships in silence for an hour, so that’s my main concern.”
The parade organizer, Dan Petty from the NBA, confirmed that staging would begin as early as 9 a.m. on private property, avoiding disruption to public spaces in the area.
Streets will close around 11:30 a.m., allowing security preparations while still preserving a buffer for the nearby service.
The council ultimately opted to push back the parade start time to 12:30 p.m., which is after the conclusion of the Friends’ silent worship, in an effort to avoid disturbing the service.
The parade itself promises to be larger than in the past, organizers have said.
This year’s theme is holiday classic movies, with floats inspired by films such as “The Grinch” and “Home Alone.”
Additional entertainment will include bagpipers, jugglers, the Mummers, WWII military vehicles, Girl Scouts, karate schools, and LED-lit robots.
To maintain a family-friendly and inclusive atmosphere, the NBA has implemented a screening process for parade applicants. Floats must align with the year’s theme, and political messaging is strictly prohibited.
“There’s going to be no politics involved in this parade, one side or the other,” Petty explained.
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Public safety and logistics were also discussed.
Borough Police Chief James Sabath confirmed that street closures would occur about an hour prior to kickoff.
Residents raised concerns about parking and traffic flow, which will be coordinated with law enforcement.
The parade permit was approved by the council after the adjustments were made.
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