42nd Doo Dah Parade brings satire and humor to streets of Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Doo Dah Parade is a decades old July 4th tradition in the Short North. Organizers say it is a political satire parade, all about expressing yourself with humor.
This year, NBC4's Colleen Marshall was the parade's “Less Than Grand Marshal.”
Hundreds of people lined the streets to cheer on the marchers. Some even come out hours before the start of the parade to claim their spot.
The Doo Dah Parade is all about making a statement and having fun while you do it.
At the Short North Doo Dah parade, organizers say very few things are off limits.
“We are going to say what we want to say but we are going to say it through humor,” Deb Roberts, aka Mz. Doo Dah, said.
Mz. Doo Dah said ‘Doo Dah’ means something different to everyone.
“A lot of people in weird outfits. There's political satire outfits. There's people that are scantily clad in clothing and weird wigs. So it's what you want to make of it, doo dah, is what you see," Roberts said.
This year marks the 42nd annual Doo Dah parade. Roberts said some people marching have been to all 42.
Beth and Jim Kinney have been marching in the parade for several decades.
“Since 2000. That's where we first met during the doo dah parade. We had friends that said, come on over. I want you to participate," Beth Kinney said.
“Then in 2002, we got engaged in the middle of the parade on the corner of Buttles and High,” Jim Kinney said.
The happy couple said they’ve marched every year since. They said now they bring their two sons to march with them.
“There just isn't anything quite like the ability to actually be here and show your love and appropriate disrespect for things. It's one of those opportunities to really just let your feelings out about what's going on in the world and say it honestly and openly to their faces whether they like it or not," Jim Kinney said.
From costumes and roller skates, to music and political messages, the people at the doo dah parade say they’re feeling free on the day that celebrates our country's freedom.
“Everyone is just laughing and having a good time. It's all in good humor," Roberts said. "That's what we want."
Following the parade, there was also live music and a post parade party at Goodale Park.