Pasadena Doo Dah king and queen, King Earl Clayton Louckes, and Queen Classy but Sassy Jennipha (Jennipha Lauren Nielsen) for the 41st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. (Photo courtesy of Pasadena Doo Dah.)
With the new Pasadena Doo Dah King and Queen chosen—his lordship and unofficial Mayor of Old Town, King Earl Clayton Louckes, and Queen Classy but Sassy Jennipha, Jennipha Lauren Nielsen—, along with Grand Marshal Jamie Woolner, Owner of Pizza of Venice, will usher in the 41st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade this Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 11 a.m.
This year’s parade has over 90 entries of floats, art cars, eccentrics, political pundits, artists, steampunks, and general disruptors who will make their way down East Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard from Altadena Drive to San Gabriel Boulevard.
Grand Marshal, Jamie Woolner, co-owner of Pizza of Venice, for the 41st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. (Photo courtesy of Pasadena Doo Dah.)
The line-up is to include entries and participants such as LuluBob Space Shuttle, Wisdom Arts Lab, Howdy Krishna, Professor Pigeon’s Flying Library, Trashion Show, Titanic, Mister Clops, Gay Chefs, Dr. Steele’s Army of Toy Soldiers, Unicorns with Palaces, Nintendo Kids, Free Thought Society, Sneaky Haircuts, Devilicious, Honeybee and the Paddlewheel, Recumbent Revolution, Clown Doctors from Outer Space, Bearded Ladies, and the Saucer from Bakersfield, along with the Grand Marshal and King and Queen.
Returning are favorites such as the Partying Parrotheads, Radioactive Chickenheads, Murrugun the Mystic Sword Swallower, The World’s Tallest Girl Scout, Flying Baby Field Goal, L.A. Derby Dolls, and more.
Touted as “the twisted sister of the conventional Rose Parade,” the Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade began in 1978 as a satirical answer to the other “never on a Sunday” parade, and has since produced other like-parades that mirror the ideals of the not-quite-ready-yet-for-in-line-formation anarchy of the original Pasadena Doo Dah.
The parade begins at Vinedo and Colorado, then heads west on Colorado into a counter-clockwise in repeated loops of two or three rotations so that revelers can get a gander of entries the may have missed the first time for that selfie!
Food trucks will be located on S. Vinedo St. next to the Poo Bah Record Shop, featuring the Tropical Islands Papas & Dogs Food Truck that lists bacon-wrapped hot dogs, sausages, carne asada, cheese fries, funnel cakes, smoothies, fruit juices, sodas, waters and chips on their menu for the day.
With the parade, there is also the bonus “before, during, and after” parties.
American Legion Hall & Bar
This otherwise members-only bar is the Official Doo Dah Parade Party. For just a $3 (or so) cover, it offers “cheap-er” drinks and public entry just for Doo Dah Parade revelers for the day. A steady flow of participants will head there immediately after the parade for drinks, entertainment, and their famous chili dogs.
American Legion Hall & Bar, 179 N. Vinedo Street, East Pasadena (between Colorado Blvd. & Walnut Street)
Performances by New Astroturf, Calvin Banks and the Tellers, and a special appearance by The Sneaky Haircuts, along with assorted Doo Dah Glitterati. Prizes, full bar, cheap drinks, nachos, chili dogs, smoking patio, big-screen TV, pool table and more!
Other parties:
The Colorado Bar
Featuring W/Hills Classic Rock, the best jukebox in the world, pool tables, darts, cheap drinks, and fun people!
The Colorado Bar (no cover), 2640 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 449-3485
Poo Bah Records
Live deejays spinning real records, this venue is directly on the parade route and immediately next to the food trucks.
Poo Bah Records, free, 2636 E. Colorado Blvd. (right next door to The Colorado Bar), (626) 449-3359
The Old Towne Pub
The Sooper-Dooper Unofficial Doo Dah After Party, with no cover, starts at 1:00 p.m. with craft beers, and performances by Jeremiah Mountain, Spyders from Memphis, and Soul Fuzz.
The Old Towne Pub, 22 E Holly Street, Old Town Pasadena, 626-577-6583
Here are past event stories and galleries on The L.A. Beat:
The 2018 Doo Dah Queen is Chosen! Long Live Queen Sassy but Classy!
The 2016 Occasional Doo Dah Parade: What Did That Look Like?!
