Fourth of July Parade Moved to Sycamore Street

Despite a temporary obstacle, Old Glory will be waving aplenty this Independence Day in Newtown.

The First Fourth parade is on, but this year it will be held in Newtown Township, not Newtown Borough. It will be held July 2 and the parade route will be down Sycamore Street. It will end at Goodnoe’s Corner, where a block party will commence.

The First Fourth planning committee usually organizes an annual parade in Newtown Borough, however, last year they couldn't get it off the ground, parade committee member Paul Salvatore said. Organizers wanted to bring the parade back this year but were not able to get permission to use the usual route.

Last week, the Newtown Borough Council denied a special event application for the parade due to police costs and staffing. The next day, members of the planning committee approached the Newtown Township Supervisors, who approved the application for the parade.

Salvatore said plans are still tentative, but he believes the parade will start at 3 p.m. near the Olde Church of Saint Andrew and head down Sycamore Street. The block party will be held at Goodnoe’s Corner, and that portion of the street (Silo Drive to Durham Road) will be closed from about 3 to 7 p.m. or so.

Salvatore said he’s hoping the block party will feature inflatables, a hot dog eating contest, and other entertainment for families and kids.

After the block party, the crowd can head over to , where awards will be given out for the bike parade and the Declaration of Independence will be read.

At dusk (likely 8:30 p.m. or so) the fireworks will begin.

Organizers originally intended for the parade to come down Centre Avenue and end at the Court Inn, where the reading of the Declaration of Indepence customarily took place.  

Salvatore expressed frustration that the borough denied the application for the parade and said the required deadline (90 days in advance of the event) is not clearly stated on the form.

At the recommendation of Police Chief Anthony Wojciechowski, Borough Council denied the application because it wasn’t submitted by deadline. Wojciechowski said due to the lack of notice, he wouldn’t be able to schedule the appropriate number of officers needed. The vote was 3-2, with Gerard O'Malley and Bob Walker supporting the parade.