Thousands Jam The Streets For Record-Breaking Holiday Parade In Newtown

NEWTOWN, PA — A record-breaking holiday parade marched through Newtown Sunday afternoon, spreading cheer from South State Street to North Sycamore.

The spirit of the season was infectious as the Newtown Business Association and its prime sponsor, the Newtown Athletic Club, pulled out all the stops for this year's march, thanks to a lengthy list of community sponsors.

The parade brimmed with holiday magic from start to finish, with guest celebrities including singer Justin Guarini and former NFL football players Justin Pugh and Huge Douglass kicking off the festivities, and Santa Claus putting the exclamation point at the end.

The parade stepped off in two parts, the first division marching from Council Rock North to Sycamore Street and then north to Durham Road led by the Washington Crossing National Cemetery Honor Guard.

They were followed by Hutch Hamilton and his team of majestic Belgian horses pulling a wagon of carolers promoting Grace Point Church’s “One Winter’s Night.”

The parade continued with a float carrying parade celebrities Justin Guarini, Eagles cheerleader James Legette, and former NFL players Hugh Douglass, a former Philadelphia Eagle, and Justin Pugh, a Council Rock South graduate and former New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals player.

Parade Grand Marshal Mickey Mouse and his friends. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Council Rock North Marching Band. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Singer Justin Guarini with former Philadelphia Eagle Hugh Douglass, and Justin Pugh, a Council Rock South graduate and former New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals player.

Riding a sleigh down Sycamore Street are representatives from the NAC. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Newtown Athletic Club Train. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Head Over Hooves Animal Sanctuary brought a camel to town. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

BC Discoveries dancing to "Christmas Vacation." (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Honor Guard from the Washington Crossing National Cemetery led the parade.

The Ginch riding a tractor. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

A Winter Wonderland of song. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Newtown Borough Mayor John Burke. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Council Rock South Marching Band. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Uptown String Band. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

They were followed by the Montessori School, the Head Over Hooves Animal Sanctuary, which brought a live camel to the parade, and Simply Cabinetry, with its unique cabinet float.

The Council Rock High School North Band added to the joyful spirit of the parade with the sounds of the holiday season.

The second half of the parade stepped off at the Stocking Works on South State Street and marched through the center of town before making the grand march down Sycamore Street from Washington Avenue to Durham Road.

Thousands lined the parade route from State Street to Durham as the parade marched and rolled by with a Monster truck, tractors from the Middletown Grange Fair, antique cars, the Victor Six Heath Organization, the Newtown Athletic Club, the Village Farm, the Mayor of Newtown and the Durning String Band.

Chugging its way along the parade route was the Polar Express from the First National Bank of Newtown. The march also featured Scouting organizations, Shady Brook Farm, a juggler, the Bucks County United Way, the Daisy Jug Band, and so much more.

GWH Financial and the Tavern at Penns Park escorted the Grinch through town. The Ferko String Band performed holiday favorites. And Long and Foster brought Charlie Brown and Snoopy to life.

The First Crossing Volunteers fired musket salutes along the route, Holland Floor Covering presented the Uptown String Band, and the Jersey String Band strummed their way through town.

Also joining the parade were the Pennsylvania School for the Performing Arts, the Polish American String Band, BC Discoveries dancing to Christmas Vacation, the Newtown Rotary Club, Council Rock Newtown Athletic Association, the Council Rock Coalition for Healthy Youth, and the Council Rock South Marching Band.

Also joining the march were Weedman; Service First; 1st Crossing Volunteers; and the Newtown Fire Association, which escorted Santa through town.

GWH Financial and the Tavern at Penns Park escort the Grinch through town.

Justin Guarini performs. He was a finalist during the first season of American Idol.

The Newtown Rotary Club float. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Polar Express from the First National Bank of Newtown. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Council Rock Newtown baseball teams. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Pennsylvania School for the Performing Arts. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Jersey String Band.

A Monster Truck rolls down Sycamore Street. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Fun is always in season at Shady Brook Farm. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Santa is greeted by the crowd. (Jeff Werner/Patch)