Weekend Packed With Holiday Fun To Usher In The Season In Newtown

NEWTOWN, PA — Newtown will usher in the season with a weekend packed with events, all culminating in a grand holiday parade through town.

The events kickoff with the town’s annual tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 5, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Newtown Fire Association, 14 Liberty Street. Santa is scheduled to arrive in a fire truck to help light the tree. Entertainment will be provided by BC Discoveries Dance and Theater Arts and the Goodnoe Elementary School Choir.

The free event is presented by the Newtown Experience.

Leading up to the tree lighting, Opus Elite at 16 South State Street will be offering free professional photos with Santa from 5 to 7 p.m.

“This will give kids the opportunity to come inside our office and see Santa personally and get some pictures before he helps light the Christmas tree,” said Mark Gatta.

Holiday Open House Tour

The holiday fun continues on Saturday, Dec. 6, with the 62nd Newtown Holiday Open House Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The self-guided walking tour will feature five private homes and six public buildings, including the Newtown Fire Association’s Fire Museum, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Newtown Borough Hall, Newtown Library Co., the Newtown Historic Association's Research Center, and Paxson Hall.

Advance tickets can be purchased at the Newtown Book & Record Exchange, 102 S. State Street and online at the association’s website.

This year's Newtown Historic Association's Holiday House Tour.

The cost is $35 for non-members and $30 for members, which includes entry into the Half-Moon Inn, home to the Newtown Historic Association. Once inside the restored 18th-century building, tour-goers will enjoy period musical entertainment, hearthside colonial cooking demonstrations and more.

On the day of the tour, tickets can be purchased at the Half-Moon Inn, 105 Court Street, and at the Stocking Works, 301 South State Street, Newtown.

Picture taking and high-heeled shoes are not permitted inside the houses. For additional information, call the Newtown Historic Association at 215-968-4004 or visit the website.
All proceeds from the tour benefit the Newtown Historic Association and its programs dedicated to the preservation of Newtown’s historical heritage.

Chili Luncheon And Christmas Bazaar

Also on Saturday, Dec. 6, the Newtown Presbyterian Church will be serving its annual Chili Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. inside Ettenger Hall on Chancellor Street. Lunch includes chili (meat of vegetarian), salad, cornbread, beverage, and dessert. The public is invited to eat in or take out. The cost is $15 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets will be available at the door.

All proceeds benefit the maintenance and beautification of the Historic Presbyterian Church on Sycamore Street.

St. Luke’s Church on Washington Avenue in Newtown also presents a Christmas Charity Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bazaar offers hot lunches, baked goods, raffle baskets, silent auctions, knitted/crocheted goods from the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and much more. Proceeds will benefit local charities.

Grand Holiday Parade

The weekend reaches a holiday crescendo on Sunday, Dec. 7, when the annual Newtown Holiday Parade marches through town with a Classic Holiday Movie theme.

"This event is more than a parade — it’s a celebration of community spirit, festive cheer, and the shared joy of the holiday season," said parade organizers. "Whether you come dressed in costume with the whole family or simply join as a spectator with hot cocoa in hand, you’ll experience Newtown at its warmest and most welcoming."

There will be two parade kickoffs this year. The first begins at 12 p.m. at Sycamore Street and Washington Avenue. It will feature the National Anthem performed by Justin Guarini, the 2002 runner-up on the first season of American Idol, along with Belgian horses and carolers; color guard; community performers; and plenty of holiday cheer.

An additional parade kickoff takes place at 12:30 p.m. at the Stocking Works on South State Street in Newtown Borough. The parade will head north on State Street to Washington, Washington to Sycamore, and Sycamore to Durham Road, where the parade concludes.

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

Presented by the Newtown Business Association, the parade will feature the Council Rock North and South marching bands, string bands, floats, community groups, majestic Belgian horses, dance troupes, holiday characters, local heroes and first responders — and of course, the grand arrival of Santa.

In addition to the parade, the NBA has added Santa's Village to the lineup. Located at the corner of Silo and Sycamore streets, the village will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering a petting zoo, face painting, hair braiding, letters to Santa, hot chocolate and treats, and more surprises.