In terms of local 4th of July frivolity, nothing is more colorful than the Doo Dah Parade.
Sure, Red, White & Boom offers pretty fireworks a night earlier, but why settle for explosions as an Independence Day high point when you could be seeing mock protests, James Brown, the Batmobile, the Ambiguously Gay Duo, a small army of amiable Fidel Castros and a car covered in baby doll heads? Plus, onlookers can score free candy.
The 26th incarnation of the Columbus free-for-all will take place this Saturday at 1 p.m., flowing from Buttles to Neil to Second to High to Russell to Park. Prime real estate to view Doo Dah can be found on the sidewalks of the Short North. Pack an umbrella in case of potential downpours and be sure to get there early.
Metromix spoke to Deb Roberts, ChairChick & Queen Mz Doo Dah, about the celebration that’s she participated in for 19 years.
Tell us about the origins of the Doo Dah Parade.
There were a bunch of guys and gals sitting at the Short North Tavern [who] said, “There’s nothing going on on the 4th of July. Let’s have a parade! It’ll bring business down, it’ll bring people down.” They started it with pots and pans, banging them on the street, just being silly.
How long have the longest participants been involved?
Twenty-five years. The Marching Fidels have been in it for 25 years. They always change their message. One year it was pollution—the smoking ban—so they had a giant smoking cigar made of papier-mâché. It was eight feet long and had a smoke machine in it. Their message is always a current issue.
Did the Parade always start out with the current issues in mind?
Usually, the president does get attacked. [Laughs] Even on good things. Somebody might not like the good things that he does and will say it in a satirical way.
Are there any politicians involved in the parade?
They are but they must wear a funny hat and have something funny to say. I don’t want politicians out there politicking for their office. That’s not what Doo Dah is for. It’s about utilizing your First Amendment rights for humor. They have to have a funny hat and everyone in their entourage has to have a funny hat on. Dan Stewart is a perfect example of a politician. He’s been in it for years. He’s got a great funny hat: he’s got a giant Styrofoam hat made out to look like the capital. He always has a funny sign; one year, he had “Got Vote?” Some politicians don’t get it. This is not a “Vote for me” kind of parade.
Have there ever been any legal issues?
The water balloons were an issue 14 years ago. We don’t allow water balloons, no water fights. There’s nothing humorous about people throwing water balloons at you when you’re in a parade. At the 10-year-anniversary of Doo Dah, there was a guy who had a water balloon hit his video camera, and it knocked him in the jaw and broke his jaw. Water balloons are weapons.
How do people get involved?
It’s total chaos. You just show up. We don’t pre-register. Why do we need to know who you are for you to say what you want to say? You just got come in off of Goodale and head north on Park Street and you’ll run right into the parade lineup. God forbid if you weren’t trying to get that [because] you’re in a parade. You will be going through a parade route. We’ve been accused of being a Democratic parade. We’re not. We’re an everything parade.
It just depends on who shows up.
Right. Who has the most nerve to get out there and say what they want to say?
What’s the funding of Doo Dah like?
It does not come from the city. It’s by donations. If you got one of the T-shirts or the posters, there’s a list of contributors. All of those people paid so this Parade continues on. It’s important to this neighborhood and the city. [For] our first time, we applied for a grant from GCAC [Greater Columbus Arts Council] and we got one. They got listed the same as everyone else. That’s Doo Dah’s Law. We thank everybody equally for making it happen.
What’s the biggest change you’ve seen since you joined the parade 19 years ago?
It’s just getting bigger. Instead of two people deep, we have three people deep.
What would you like to see change?
Four people deep along the parade route!
