Holiday Season Kicks Off in Newton with Parade

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Jennifer Jean Miller in Entertainment/Arts, News Sections, Spotlight // 0 Comments

Santa waves from atop the vintage Newton Fire Truck in the holiday parade. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

NEWTON, NJ – The holiday season became official in Downtown Newton today as the annual holiday parade kicked off.

The Newton Holiday Parade is hosted by the Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) each year, the Saturday following Thanksgiving, and fell this year on Nov. 29.

Members of one of the local Girl Scout Troops in the parade. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

The Sussex County 200 Club Trailer was a highlight. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Model A’s drive down Spring Street, as they did in days gone by. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Cub Scouts donning Santa hats were part of the parade. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Marching bands, local businesses, area organizations, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, local and county officials, beauty queens, vintage automobiles and more, comprised the parade.

The Franklin Band. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

The Newton High School Marching Band. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

The Kittatinny Regional High School Marching Band passes through Spring Street. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Kittatinny Regional High School Marching Band members march by. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

A bevy of beauty queens. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Miss Newton 2014 Emily Petry. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Four-legged friends also make their way down Spring Street, adding to the festive spirit. Dancers, such as those with their Zumba moves, and the dancers from D’Marge Dance Studio tapping on Spring Street with holiday spirit and Rockette style, are part of the parade tradition. One of the other favorite standbys is the candy tossed to the children from parade participants.

D’Marge Dance Studio Dancers tap to “In the Mood.” Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

D’Marge Dancers give Rockette-style kicks. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Dancers Zumba along the parade route. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Sharon Kouba from 4-H totes a bunny in the parade. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Two spectators stop to pet a baby goat. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Horses trot along Spring Street. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

One of the four-legged parade participants. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Floats made their way along Spring Street, including the winner, “Christmas through the Ages,” which offered a rotating display and a snow machine for the atmosphere.

Snow falls on the “Christmas Throughout the Ages” float. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

The 4-H Lego Club with a gigantic Lego centerpiece. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Members of the Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce (GNCC), including County Historian Wayne McCabe (center) dressed in a Civil War Soldier Uniform. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Children wave from the EM Signs float. Photo by Jennifer Jean Miller.

Lastly, Santa himself is always ushered in, and waved from the Newton Fire Department’s vintage Mack Truck, preceded by fire engines from throughout the county and the Franklin Band.