Rubber Duckie Waddles Home With Top Award At Newtown Halloween Parade | Newtown, PA Patch

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Newtown Halloween Parade brought out the season's funny and scary side with several hundred parents and kids participating.

Everyone was there on Saturday morning from Sherlock Holmes to Mary Poppins, the cast of Wicked and the Beatles. Even Elvis Presley was there rocking out to “Hound Dog” with Priscilla by his side.

Standing out from the crowd was a group of vintage Russ Troll Dolls who stepped out of the 1970s to join the parade. No word on who they were there to troll.

Phillip as "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater" is all smiles. That's a real pumpkin he's wearing. He won second prize for best float. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Nora Grimes is "The Queen and her Knights." They won the Best Borough Resident costume award. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Pio and Prousi families as the vintage Russ Troll Dolls. They won second place in the group category. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Bishop family won first place in the group category for Mary Poppins. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

From left: Cora Curtin (first place, Halloween Humor); The Ball Family as The Cast of Wicked (first place, TV and Movies); and Lilly Hayes as a robot (first place, homemade costume). (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The parade, which stepped off from the Stocking Works on South State Street and headed north through the downtown, brought Pikachu to the street powering a cyber truck. Also spotted in the lineup were Mary Queen of Hearts, Batman, a rubber duckie, a snow leopard, a Tic Tac Box, and Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater.

Dressed in costume, the members of the Council Rock High School North Marching Band set the tone for the event, playing the theme from “Ghostbusters” as they led the parade of costumed children, adults, pets, and families on the walk through town 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

At Brian Gregg Memorial Park the band performed more Halloween favorites, including the Phantom of the Opera, adding to the spooky atmosphere.

Following the performance, Newtown Borough Recreation Board member Tracy Osecki announced the winners of this year's costume contest.

From left: Josephine and Megan Laubscher as a snow leopard and her habitat (first place, parent and child); Dave Dumont as Batman (third place, TV & Movies); and Olivia Dumont as Mary Queen of Hearts (third place, storybook and fantasy).

From left: Elvis and Priscilla Presley took second place in parent and child. Cookie Monster and Ice Cream Sundae dog won second in Pampered Pets. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Keegan and Lillian Black as a watering can and a pot of flowers. The judges called this "Cutest Couple" first place winner "very adorable." (Jeff Werner/Patch)

From left: Molly, Joel and Jordan Osecki from The Princess Bride (first place, Storybook & Fantasy). Matthew and Connor West as Philadelphia Eagles. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The costumes were judged by Newtown Borough Police Officer Rubia Ebert, Newtown Borough Secretary Judy Musto, and Newtown Borough Council President Emily Heinz.

Capturing this year's top prize - the Mayor’s Trophy - was six-year-old Liam de Barra of Newtown. He came dressed as a rubber duckie. And winning in the coveted Best Borough Resident category was Nora Grimes for the Queen and her Knights.

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

“There’s a lot of work that goes into putting on this parade,” said Osecki. “I want to give a shout out to the Newtown Borough Recreation Board and to all the local businesses who donated prizes. This year our prizes came from Relic, Green Parrot, The Temperance House, the Clubhouse, Giovanni’s, John’s Barbershop, Zebra-Striped Whale, Active Care Physical Therapy, Second Sin Taproom and the Newtown Hardware House.

“I’d also like to give a big shout out to the Newtown Borough and Newtown Township police departments who closed the streets and escorted the parade through town.”

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

From left: Andrew as a scary clown won second place in Halloween Horror. The Yuan family won first place for Best Float for Pikachu and his cyber truck. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

From left: Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas (second place, TV & Movies). Sherlock Holmes (second place, Storybook & Fantasy). And Catherine Nappa as a Tic Tac Box (second place, homemade costume). (Jeff Werner/Patch)

From left: Take me out to the ballgame won second place in cutest couple. And Mallory and Parker Neuman won third for their Renaissance theme.