Newtown's Holiday Parade To Feature New Route, Expanded Santa's Village

NEWTOWN, PA — The Newtown Holiday Parade is scheduled to step off this year on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 12:30 p.m., with a new parade route and additions designed to make the celebration bigger, more welcoming, and more memorable.

Presented by the Newtown Business Association (NBA) and its presenting sponsor, the Newtown Athletic Club (NAC), the storybook-themed parade is expected to feature about 1,800 participants and thousands of spectators, with marching bands, festive floats, holiday characters, and expanded entertainment throughout downtown Newtown.

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Santa's Village, located in the Fred Beans parking lot on Sycamore Street, will welcome families from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live reindeer, hot cocoa stations, and family-friendly activities.

"Our goal hasn't changed," said NAC owner Jim Worthington, who has championed making Newtown's celebration the best small-town parade in America. "We want this to be the kind of holiday experience families look forward to year after year."

This year's parade will follow a new route, stepping off on Washington Avenue on the east side of Newtown Borough near the cemetery, marching west on Washington to Sycamore, and then heading north on Sycamore to Durham Road.

The new route will offer new viewing opportunities and encourage visitors to explore Newtown's shops and restaurants, parade organizers said.

One of this year's most meaningful additions will be the parade's first-ever Sensory-Inclusive Quiet Zone, presented by founding sponsor Holy Family University.

Located near the beginning of the new route on Washington Avenue, the area was conceived by NBA Event Coordinator Shighla Jackson to provide a more comfortable viewing experience for individuals with sensory sensitivities.

"We want everyone to feel welcome," said Jackson. "The Quiet Zone is an important step toward making this wonderful community tradition more inclusive."

Leading this year's parade preparations are co-chairs Dave Marcolla, NBA president, and Christa Kusler, NBA board member, alongside NBA event coordinator Shighla Jackson, with support from local businesses, sponsors, and volunteers.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, enjoy breakfast or shopping downtown, and stay afterward for dinner and holiday festivities.

For parade updates, visit NewtownBA.org or follow the Newtown Business Association on social media.