U Weekly. Serving The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio

Doo Dah Parade:

'A celebration of the Bill of Rights'

By Sean Lehosit

On an average day, a wide variety of people will visit the Short North Tavern, located in the heart of the Short North District. This cozy little bar has been the favored watering hole for lawyers, writers, travel agents, off duty detectives, and even city workers for years because of its friendly atmosphere and cheap prices on food and beverages. This is also the meeting headquarters for a very unique group in Columbus, Ohio: the Doo Dah DisOrganizers.

The DisOrganizers gathered at the Tavern this past Tuesday, sharing jokes and retelling favorite stories as they discussed a game plan for the 26th Annual Doo Dah Parade, which will show off Columbus' imagination during its July 4th celebration. "Other Fourth of July celebrations are very predictable, but when you see the Doo Dah Parade, you will see an incredible commentary on society," said Emperor of the Short North Doug Ritchey.

In the '80s, when the parade first began, the founder Gregory Carr had faith that it would be a success even though friends worried Columbus was too conservative for such an insane parade, which was modeled after a similar parade conducted in Pasadena, California. During the first few years, there was a very small turn out, with participants parading dogs and kittens through the parade route. According to UnOfficial Starter Joe Theibert, "then one year an elephant showed up."

The addition of an elephant in those early years signaled a turn in attendance for the parade. Since then, more and more participants and onlookers have ventured downtown for what Ritchey describes as, "a celebration of the Bill of Rights."

"The parade has been reviewed by people all over the nation and held in awe," said a DisOrganizer, who retold how back in 1988 Marshals from the King Mango Strut Parade in Florida came out and were amazed at what they saw, and how Peter Apnel, founder of the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade was equally impressed at the innovativeness and originality of the Short North's Doo Dah Parade.

A parade of this size and imagination isn't planned overnight. According to ChairChick and Queen, Mz Doo Dah Deb Roberts, it takes around eleven months to plan the parade. Roberts, who has headed the parade for the last fifteen years, states that the most important element in a successful parade is having great volunteers, "it's all volunteer based," said Roberts. There's setting out trashcans, canvassing, hanging posters, then of course cleaning up after the parade. "It's a lot of work."

The Doo Dah Parade, which is now a non-profit organization, will also have live music, dancing, and even some stand-up comedy. Visitors can expect to see performances by Hampster Pants, WiseGuys, Lemming, and in the evening the Drag Queen and King of Doo Dah Contest, followed by the Less Than Honorable Judges Awards. The entire party will last between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Buttles Avenue between High Street and Park Street, while the parade itself will be between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

There will be plenty of satire and comedy in this year's parade for onlookers to enjoy, and as the DisOrganizers proudly share, every year Doo Dah gets crazier, more original, and more amazing. "After all these years the imagination of Columbus, Ohio ceases to amaze me," said Theibert.

Visit their website at www.doodahparade.com or their MySpace at myspace.com/doodahparade.

Originally Published: July 1, 2009

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