Music Box Dancer, Aviator Win Top Awards at Newtown Halloween Parade

NEWTOWN BOROUGH - This year’s Newtown's Halloween Parade brought out both the funny and the scary side of the season with several hundred parents and kids taking part.

Everyone was there, from superheroes to Mother Goose, Goldilocks and Alice in Wonderland. Even an aviator came in for a landing at the Stocking Works for the parade.

Also making an appearance straight out of the movie, "The Wizard of Oz," was the Slavtcheff family as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witches of the East and the West.

Standing out from the crowd was the Queen of England, with her all too familiar wave, and E.T. who traveled back to Earth to pick up some Reese’s Pieces. And sending some serious Halloween chills through this year's Halloween gathering was Andrew McNamara as Sam from the movie, "Trick 'r Treat."

Dressed in costume, the members of the Council Rock High School North Marching Band set the tone for the event, playing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as they led a parade of costumed children, adults, pets, and families on a walk through town, from the Stocking Works to Brian Gregg Park.

Along the way, State Street shop owners, customers, and residents watched as Halloween passed by, many marveling at the creativity that is always a part of this hometown parade.

Andrew McNamara as Sam from the movie, "Trick 'r Treat." (Photo by Jeff Werner)

The Laubscher children won first place in TVs and Movies for "E.T." (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Making an appearance straight out of the movie, "The Wizard of Oz," was the Slavtcheff family as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly "Sleepy" Lion, and the Wicked Witches of the East and the West. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Dancers from BC Discoveries Dance and Theater Arts Group perform a dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller." (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Also joining the march were several firefighters and police officers, Batman, characters from the movies "Frozen" and "Hotel Transylvania," and even a humpback whale.

At Brian Gregg Memorial Park the band performed selections from this year’s field show - 102.3 FM CRN The Rock - featuring the songs "Eleanor Rigby," "My Way" and "Thriller."

Following the performance, Newtown Borough Recreation Board members Tracy Osecki and Jenna Ball announced the winners and awarded prizes to this year's costume contest winners.

The costumes were judged by Newtown Borough Police Officer Rubia Ebert, Mayor John Burke, Newtown Borough Secretary Judy Musto, and Ball.

"The costumes were outstanding this year. They were really creative," said Mayor Burke. "A lot of them were homemade. They weren't store-bought. And you could see a lot of thought went into it. It was really fabulous" he said.

"And the Recreation Board once again did a great job in organizing this," added Burke. "It was very well run and the parade itself was great. It was awesome to see residents come out on State Street and watch it. That was nice. Overall it was an outstanding day."

Superheroes and others from the Council Rock North Marching Band. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Judging the costumes, from left, are Judy Musto, Mayor John Burke, Police Officer Rubia Ebert and Recreation Board co-chair Jenna Ball.

Taking first place in Storybook and Fantasy are David, Jenna, Eleanor, and Winston Ball as Alice in Wonderland.

Dancing away with this year's top prize - the Mayor’s Trophy - was 9-year-old Katherine Nappa of Newtown. She came dressed as a jewelry box dancer.

“This is really cool. This is really fun. I’m happy for her,” said Katherine’s dad in response to winning the award. “This is why we do this - to have a little special Halloween memory.”

In announcing the winner of the coveted handmade costume category, Ball, who emceed the awards, said, "This one really knocked our socks off."

Liam De Barra of Newtown landed first prize as “The Aviator” in a plane made out of cardboard and a motorized propeller.

In the coveted handmade costume category, Liam De Barra of Newtown landed first prize as “The Aviator." (Photo by Jeff Werner)

A deep-sea anglerfish that has developed a fishing pole-like rod that projects from its head. At the end of the rod is a sac of bioluminescent bacteria that glows brightly in the dark to attract its prey.

Quinn and Malloree Neuman won first place in "Best Float" for Mother Goose & Goldilocks riding on Goose.

Parker and Matt Neuman won first place in parent and child as Zelda: Link and Bokoblin.

The Newtown Borough Recreation Board organized the parade and provided the ribbons. Prizes were donated by borough and township businesses.

All in all, it was another memorable “small-town America” moment on the streets of historic Newtown Borough.

Special Awards

• Mayor's Award: Katherine Nappa - Jewelry Box Ballerina
• Youngest: Baby Jonah Roth
• Borough Resident: Joel Osecki - Optimus Prime Transformer

TV & Movies

• 1st: Megan, MC, Christian, and Josephine Laubscher - E.T.
• 2nd: Hunt - Sandlot
• 3rd: Adrianna Dumont - Dolores from Encanto

Storybook & Fantasy

• 1st: David, Jenna, Eleanor, and Winston Ball - Alice in Wonderland
• 2nd: Lottie, Tillie, Lauren, and Drew - The Little Prince
• 3rd: Olivia Dumont - Angel

Group Theme

• 1st: Craig Slavtcheff and Family - The Wizard of Oz
• 2nd: Rae, Steve, and Zoi Rutkowski - Hotel Transylvania
• 3rd: Jacquelyn, Dan, Margot, and Murphy Williams - Frozen

Halloween Horror

• 1st: Andrew McNamara - Sam
• 2nd: Connor Curtin - Grim Reaper
• 3rd: Caroline Sevick - Zombie Cheerleader

Halloween Humor

• 1st: Cora Curtin - Magician
• 2nd: Abby Kirchner - Donkey with a Tutu
• 3rd: Molly Osecki - Unicorn

Pampered Pets

• 1st: Bob Wharton - Hippie
• 2nd: The Roth Family - Pumpkins
• 3rd: Frankie the French Bulldog - Monsters Inc.

Parent & Child

• 1st: Parker and Matt Neuman - Zelda: Link and Bokoblin
• 2nd: Nora Grimes - Lion
• 3rd: Gabby Chopan - Bird and Cat

Cutest Couple

• 1st: Giada & Joseph Tricarico - Batgirl & Batman
• 2nd: Matty & Connor West - Chase & Marshall
• 3rd: Hannah Spiler & Mom - Witches

Best Float

• 1st: Quinn and Malloree Neuman - Mother Goose & Goldilocks on Goose
• 2nd: Jackie Honor - Room on the Broom
• 3rd: Jessica Dumont - Mario Kart

Best Homemade Costume

• 1st: Liam de Barra - Aviator
• 2nd: Julian Lynch - Number block 17
• 3rd: Miles Bishop - Humpback Whale

Cora Curtin won first place in Halloween Humor as a magician.

The Whartons won first place for Pampered Pets.

Her majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

Winning in the borough resident category is Joel Osecki as Optimus Prime Transformer.