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The Doo Dah Parade gives Old Town Pasadena its yearly dose of camp and zaniness
These Doo Dah participants, dressed as Audra Lindley's character Mrs. Roper from the show "Three's Company," are purportedly part of an "International Order of Mrs. Roper." Not pictured: dozens of other Mrs. Ropers.
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This year's Doo Dah Parade brought together lovers of gaudiness, camp, mirthfulness, and all types of self-expression into the streets of Old Town Pasadena.
The parade, which describes itself as the "twisted sister of the conventional Rose Parade," was founded in 1978. According to Doo Dah's website, the organizers set out to throw something that would be the antithesis of existing events.
The zanier, the better at the DooDah Parade.
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"[The Rose Parade has] a theme so we would have no theme," Doo Dah's website reads. "Since none of us would be allowed in the Rose Parade, we would allow everyone in our parade."
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In that spirit, the costumes this year ran the full gamut, from furries on longboards to a "long horse" made up of over a dozen people. As per the parade's traditions, parade-goers threw tortillas (not roses) at the floats, though this is no longer encouraged by the organizers due to littering concerns.
In many ways, it felt like Colorado Boulevard turned into New Orleans's Bourbon Street for the day — and at least one Mardi Gras-themed float made that connection explicit.
It's hard to make out in this photo, but that sign says "long horse." If you couldn't tell from the costume.
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It wasn't just about the looks, though: Performers trotted along the parade route too. A bagpipe band kicked off the parade playing traditional bagpipe tunes mashed up with "Camptown Races" — the latter song gave the parade its name, of course.
Elsewhere on the parade route, bands on truck beds and trailers played a range of rock hits over the decades, from the Runaways to Bikini Kill to Olivia Rodrigo.
Musical performances went mobile for Doo Dah, with bands like this one turning truck beds and trailers into stages.
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The parade was also a showcase for some of Southern California's most unique vehicles, from a crew who showed up in Mad Max-themed trucks to a car with massive wheels tricked out with hydraulics.
Not pictured: The hydraulics on this vehicle allowing it to go up and down.
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And there was certainly no requirement for parade attendees to perform — many just strutted along the parade route in Old Town Pasadena in their outfits of choice, expressing themselves however they wanted, as loud as they wanted.
Some parade entrants had dozens of people, and others were lone wolves, like this "ultimate peace hippie from the 60s."
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This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
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