Doo Dah Parade at 40: Organizers talk history, importance of parade

The Doo Dah Parade is truly a staple of the Short North, taking over High Street and more recently Buttles Avenue every July 4 for the last 40 years.

Doo Dah refers to itself as a celebration of ”liberty and lunacy,” and a "place to be free and weird.” The parade takes place every Independence Day as an expression of the First Amendment, featuring participants in unique costumes, many times political in nature, in addition to floats, cars, performances and demonstrations.

Deb Roberts, 62, of the South Side, joined the parade as an organizer in the ’80s after overhearing planning of the parade at Short North Tavern. In 1989 she became chair, taking on the title of “ChairChick" as well as “Mz. Doo Dah," one among several fun nicknames organizers take on. She said she has talked everyone she knows into it.

“It’s a blast, we have a great time,” said Roberts.

There have been proposals, an appearance from Batman, participants dressed like celebrities such as Britney Spears or Betty White, and a costume poking fun at AEP after last summer’s power outages.

Roberts said one of the more ”controversial” costumes occurred around five years ago and featured a group of people from Evolved Body Art tattoo and piercing shop, who pulled a limousine via skin piercings on their bodies.

The demonstration got blood on onlookers. Roberts said Evolved is not necessarily banned from the parade, they just “can’t bleed on the people.”

But that year is far from the only time things got a little wild.

Permits and paddy wagons: Doo Dah Parade gets weird

Doo Dah Parade’s first organizers, Greg Carr, Bill Kiener and Joe Theibert, were sitting around in 1983 wondering what to do on July 4.

At the time the Short North was a ”hell hole,” said Roberts, and they were trying to get people to come and support neighborhood businesses.

Early on in the parade's history, organizers were looking to get a permit from the city and then-mayor Buck Rinehart’s office obliged, hoping to just get rid of them, said Roberts. It came as a surprise when they started coming back year after year.

For a few years in the 1990s, Doo Dah Parade organizers didn’t bother getting a permit, telling people the parade was "canceled,” but continuing to have it anyway. This happened so often that organizers eventually got a stern warning from police: "You need a permit or you're going in the paddy wagon," Roberts said they were told.

Roberts’ first year, she found out days before the parade that she would need to get a permit with the city. Her only saving grace was that organizers for Red, White and Boom that year, which typically takes place the day before, also showed up the same day for a permit, she said.

Before Doo Dah, many businesses in the Short North would close on July 4 because of the lack of business. Now, many businesses remain open, and Roberts credits the parade as part of the reason.

“It’s a great neighborhood thing,” said Sandy Allen, 89, of Upper Arlington, whose family owns Harrison West bar Zeno’s, and has been involved with the festival for over 20 years.

“It’s a freewheeling, freestyling parade,” said Marty Stutz, 59, of Clintonville, a volunteer for the parade and a member of the Wilber Hills Country Club group that walks in the parade.

Every year, the festival names a "Less-Than-Grand Marshal" honoree to ride in the parade. This year, the honor has been given to CD 92.9’s Brian Phillips. In the past, honorees have included news anchors like Angela An, local figures like Buster Douglas, and mayors, including former Mayor Michael B. Coleman, who in 2016 jokingly announced his entrance in the presidential race, but not before trying his hand as dictator of Cuba.

For the Doo Dah Parade’s 25th anniversary in 2008, the same year the block party/music festival started, Roberts was trying to find someone to make the Less-Than-Grand Marshal honoree for that year. Then she had an idea, and went and got a phone book.

To her surprise, she found Dana ”Buck” Rinehart, who didn’t appear to be much of a fan of the festival since its inception. But she called him on the spot anyway.

“He’s like, ’That stupid parade is still going on?’” said Roberts.

But he agreed to do it. That year it rained on the parade, but Rinehart still had a great time, Roberts said.

Doo Dah Parade more important than ever

Participants are encouraged to use humor to express their views. Roberts said that the goal is to "keep it fun" and "keep people laughing."

"We want people laughing on the Fourth of July,” said Roberts. "If you can't laugh one day of the year about all the bad crap that's going on, we might just actually lose our minds."

Roberts said that the Doo Dah Parade is more important now than ever, as there are increasing threats to freedom of speech. She said that the parade is a way to "keep this alive" and to show that people will not be silenced.

"So many people have died for our freedom of speech,” said Roberts. "Don't let it die."

Photos: See what satirical Columbus Doo Dah Parade is like

What to know about Doo Dah Parade 2023

The Doo Dah Parade and Music Fest takes place July 4. Participants are asked to line up at noon, with the parade kicking off at 1 p.m. The parade’s rain date is July 3, organizers jokingly say.

The parade route moves from Park Street to west on Buttles Avenue, south on Dennison Avenue, west on Collins Avenue, north on Neil Avenue, east on 2nd Avenue, south on High Street and finally ending at Russell Street.

In addition to the Less-Than-Grand Marshal, the parade will feature appearances from the Doo Dah Parade band, Orange Barrel Brigade and other groups with creative and clever costumes.

Several bands are donating their time to perform at the music festival from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Goodale Park, including McCallister, Roots Society and Dan Dougan & His Little Brothers.

It’s free to be in the parade and anything can be satire, Roberts said. People in the crowd are also encouraged to dress up or jump in.

“Every year I worry if people will participate, and every year Columbus proves its creativity,” said Roberts.

tmoorman@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Doo Dah Parade celebrates 40 years on July 4