Described as "an irreverent alternative to the traditional formality of the Rose Parade", this version of the Occasional Pasadena Doo Parade was held on Nov. 24, 2019. It's now 2023, and I recently realized the nearly-full hard drive on my desk has thousands of never-before-seen photos from events and places of interest. As it's said, "better late than never", so I hope you enjoy these unusual sights from this unusual event...
If you're still wondering how and why this is a thing, lemme talk about it a little more. As the official narrative goes, some buddies were drinking at a Pasadena bar in 1978 and had an idea to organize, essentially, an anti-Rose Parade. That latter event is impressive, but its traditions and organization can be seen as a little too polished... as uppity, rigid, and stuffy. The Doo Dah Parade aims to be weird and to just have fun. Years after this experience, some of the above photos conjure up memories that still make me laugh. I've smiled while watching the Rose Parade, but haven't ever laughed, and I think that's the point of the whole thing.
In the years since that fateful day at a bar in 1978, other Doo Dah Parades have sprung up, in Columbus, Ohio; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Ocean City, New Jersey.
Good news - in 2023, the 44th "Occasional Doo Dah Parade" is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 19.
More info can be found here: https://pasadenadoodahparade.info/
"Photo Gallery: 42nd Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade (2019)", published in 2023 by Justin J. Kilmer
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