I’ll admit it. I spent part of yesterday morning watching the 119th Rose Parade on my television while in my pajamas and sipping a mimosa. Still, I wonder what’s all the fuss. Sure it’s beautiful and, yes, it’s statistically stunning, but it’s almost the same every year. But the Doo Dah Parade takes the phrase “expect the unexpected” to heart. To further make my point, let’s have some fun and compare the two:
PARADE LENGTH
Rose: 5.5 miles
Doo Dah: 5+ blocks
FLOATS
Rose: 46
Doo Dah: Unknown until the last minute
PRIZE WINNING FLOATS
Rose: 24
Doo Dah: Prizes?! We don’t need no stinking prizes.
FLOATS TOWED
Rose: 4 (Sierra Madre, Portuguese-American Community, Cal Poly Universities and Glendale)
Doo Dah: Who needs a tow? Just push the entry down the home stretch!
BANDS
Rose: 23
Doo Dah: Snotty Scotty and the Hankies for sure, then whatever bands that have survived the party the night before and managed to wrangle a flatbed truck and set up their gear.
BAND MEMBERS TREATED AT PARADE END FOR NAUSEA, VOMITING AND BLISTERS
Rose: 25-30
Doo Dah: Before or after the bars open?
EQUESTRIAN UNITS
Rose: 18
Doo Dah: Do dachshunds, beagles and pugs count?
HORSES SPOOKED BY FLOAT FIREWORKS
Rose: 3, including the USC Trojan mount
Doo Dah: None. Musicians with hangovers don’t like loud fireworks
DANCERS TREATED AFTER BEING STEPPED ON BY A HORSE
Rose: 1
Doo Dah: None. Although my lap might get bruised from my dog Atticus jumping up and down on me as we ride down the route in our classic convertible
OVERNIGHT ARRESTS
Rose: 22
Doo Dah: How many bands showed up intact for the parade? Headcount please…
LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSIGNED
Rose: 1,200
Doo Dah: Just enough to keep things safe without ruining the party
WEATHER
Rose: sunny; overnight low 45, high 75
Doo Dah: guaranteed to be sparkly!
GRAND MARSHAL
Rose: More than 100 “Bam” signs waved when Grand Marshal Emeril Lagasse’s car swung on to Colorado Boulevard
Doo Dah: At least one Starbuck’s that must be avoided when Grand Marshal Rev. Billy swings on to Colorado Boulevard.
ATTIRE
Rose: 5 Beijing Olympics characters in costume
Doo Dah: Hundreds of characters in costume (even some that dress that way every day)
DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING
Rose: 1 against China’s Olympic float (for carrying a placard that blocked spectators’ view)
Doo Dah: None- they’re in the parade
WEIGHT OF THE QUEEN’S CROWN
Rose: 2 pounds
Doo Dah: just shy of 2 pounds, but even more sparkly!
Don’t miss the 31st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade Jan. 20. Visit www.pasadenadoodahparade.info for all the details!