This is a guest post by Brandie Williams. Brandie believes that drinking your feelings should be a delicious endeavor! She’ll never say “no” to more hops or a free shot.
Creative Commons Photo Credit: skippy
Happy Doo Dah!
Everyone knows that July 4th weekend is a time for cookouts, outdoor drinking and parades. But for those of us who yawn at the idea of a standard “marching band and old men carrying banners” style parade, there is salvation in the Doo Dah Parade.
The 28th Annual Doo Dah Parade will step off at 1pm on Monday, July 4th. Participants “celebrate liberty and lunacy” in this parade of the absurd. The parade route runs from Buttles to Neil to Second to High to Russell to Park. There are only four rules for the parade: All politicians must wear a funny hat, no commercialized entries, no full nudity and no water balloons.
Photo credit: Brandie Williams
I always look forward to seeing the staples who turn up every year, such as the Marching Fidels and the folks from Studio 35’s Rocky Horror Picture Show troop who do the Time Warp for the entire length of the parade route. Other marchers come up with a new gag each year. Some folks take on recent events. (Past parades have ridiculed the smoking ban, Michael Jackson’s trial, and Arizona’s immigration reform.) Others just get downright weird, like the girl who painted herself orange from head to toe, sprayed her hair green, and marched as a carrot.
Last year, Doo Dah DisOrganizers added an “Afterglow” party. This new tradition is continuing this year. “At the Doo Dah Parade “AfterGlow” party marchers and watchers will either be getting reved up for the parade, or basking in the afterglow of what they just experienced,” says Mz Doo Dah Deb Roberts. The party starts at 10am, takes a break for the parade, and then continues on into the night. You can stop by for some live music, games, beer, food, and prizes.
Photo credit: Brandie Williams
The beer offerings will be Bud Light, Budweiser, Land Shark, and “Utterly Doo Dah” – a dark ale honoring the event. Food vendors will provide hot dogs, brats, pulled pork and chicken sandwiches, gyros, tacos, burritos, pizza, funnel cake, and frozen bananas. If live music is your thing, you can check out Corey Brunes, Miss Molly & Friends, The Apple-Bottom Gang, The Skilletlickers, Marbles for Eyes, McCallister, and Whoa Nellie!
Before you check out the party, don’t forget to stop by your favorite Short North establishment and support them. Typically, you’ll find a drink special or two to honor the event. “The Short North Tavern is Doo Dah Parade Headquarters and will be opening earlier than normal and have delicious Bloody Marys,” says Mz Doo Dah.
Photo credit: Brandie Williams
To me, the Doo Dah Parade ranks right up there with ComFest as one of the many reasons that Columbus is awesome. Come for the shenanigans, stay for the drinks, and Happy Doo Dah!
You can find more disinformation at http://www.doodahparade.com/. (Don’t forget to check out photos of some of the great past participants!) Then go follow them on Twitter.
