Back by popular demand, the 44th Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade, presented by its long-time producers Light Bringer Project and the Doo Dah Preservation Society, returns on Sunday, November 19. The parade will kick off at 11:00 am. Doo Dah is not only back, it's back in Old Pasadena where it began. The parade route begins at N. Raymond Avenue and Holly Street and continues south to Colorado Boulevard where it turns to the west and ends at Pasadena Avenue. Bring your chair and enjoy the parade! Admission is free and all are welcome!
Known as the twisted sister of the conventional Rose Parade, the Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade began as a grassroots event in 1978 and over the past decades has gained national attention for its eccentric and, often, irreverent satire. The parade has spawned numerous off-beat replicants across the country and was even highlighted in the Wall Street Journal in 2015. It has been named “America’s Best Parade” by Reader’s Digest and was featured in the book 50 Places You Must Visit Before You Die.
This year’s Doo Dah will showcase upwards of 100 parade entries of every description, including art cars, mutant vehicles, rockers, punk bands, performance artists, showstoppers, zany dancing troupes, political pundits, satirists, mad-inventor floats and disruptors of all kinds. In fact, it’s the largest number of new entries in Doo Dah history, including Vick & the Lassoed Hicks, the Million Mrs. Roper March, A Hoot in a Little Pink Suit, The Black Forest Gump and Everybody's Favorite Church Mother, Flying Baby Home Run Border Crossing Field Goal, Dressed to KILL KISS Tribute Band, Taco Tuesdays Bicycle Club, Ah, The Roller Coaster of Life!, Urf McGurf, The Eye, Bald Bird Big Rock Band, Heart of Bok Choy Intergalactic Tossed Salad, The Church of the SubGenius End Times Procession, To the Moon Stinky Feet, Disco Hitched, The People’s Banana, Estillo Scissor Hands, Kittylicious, Musicvideodrome Dancers, L.A. Breakfast Club’s Democracy of Ham & Eggs, Highland Park Thursday Evening’s Society Circuit Bending Marching Band and Ladies’ Auxiliary… and not a rose will be harmed in the making of this parade!
PARKING: Plenty of street parking is available on side streets. Multiple public parking lots and garages are available within Old Pasadena.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: The Metro A Line Memorial Park Station brings you right to the parade formation area. Pasadena Transit bus lines come directly to the area. Consider bicycling or Ubering! Just leave your humdrum existence and get there!
AFTERPARTIES & DOO DAH SPECIALS!
Fat Boys Food Truck is open to the public, selling various breakfast items, coffee, water, and soft drinks. Open 8am to 12pm. Located in Memorial Park near the bandshell at 85 E. Holly Street.
Dog Haus Biergarten is offering Doo Dah specials from 9:00am-6:00pm and an After-Party for All Ages at 99 E. Green Street.
Gold Bug will serve mimosas and give out kazoos! From 10am to 11am at 38 E. Holly Street.
Kabuki Japanese Restaurant is offering a Doo Dah Special of K-pop chicken in a to-go cup for $5.00. Find them at 88 W. Colorado Blvd.
Old Towne Pub hosts the Official After-Party with live music beginning at 1:00pm with Blondonna, followed by Lightning Dan & the Crawdads, and Soul Fuzz Family Band. Ages 21+. Cover charge $5.00. Enter at 34 E. Holly Street.
