ANN ERDMAN WILL LEAD 35TH DOO DAH PARADE AS ITS GRAND MARSHAL

Ann Erdman, soon-to-be retired Public Information Officer for the City of Pasadena, will serve as Grand Marshal of the 35th Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. Erdman marks her 18th year of service in the City’s Public Affairs Office after coming from Palm Springs where she served under then Mayor Sonny Bono.

Ann has been a part of the Doo Dah experience for years. In 1996, she spontaneously became the event’s “official” pace car when, stricken with a case of walking pneumonia, she led the Parade in a hastily decorated wheelchair. Since then she has led marchers as a flower child, a motorcycle mama, baby in a giant high chair, Dorothy of the Wizard of Oz, captain of industry, and Elvis. Ann would never know how she would be costumed until just minutes before the parade rolled.

Upon being notified of her selection, Ann was literally speechless then uttered, “Oh my God!” several times. Recently, Ann was given a surprise opportunity by friends to ride on the Kiwanis float of the ‘Other Parade’ and said she was every bit as floored when Doo Dah came calling. “This is a wonderful way to celebrate as I wind down my career!” she said. “Our city considers itself artistically rich, and Doo Dah proves that the arts don’t have to be stuffy to matter!”

Parade organizer Tom Coston says Erdman has all the qualities a Doo Grand Marshal should possess. “If there’s anyone who walks to the beat of her own drum and appreciates a good laugh-it’s Ann!” he explains.The new Grand Marshal will lead hundreds of Doo Dah marchers and revelers on Saturday, April 28th, stepping off at 11am in East Pasadena. The Doo Dah Parade actually makes a loop on Colorado Boulevard and is the first parade in the country to move in opposite directions at the same time!

Last year, dozens of inventive, if zany, art cars and floats accompanied a legion of frolickers past the mom-n-pop shops along East Pasadena’s shady tree-lined streets, including many first-time entries like the League of Steam, Machina Candeo, Conehead Rocket Sled, Hippie Cream, Easy Acres Chicken Sitters, Wisdom Arts Laboratory, combined bands of the 35th Dragoon Guards, Mile High Bed, Cheesus Chrust Pizza Company, 2011 Queen Red Rosie, Balkan Brass Band, and the Ladies Auxiliary for Cultural Enrichment, et.al.

WHAT: The 35TH OCCASIONAL PASADENA DOO DAH PARADE

WHERE: Colorado Boulevard (between Altadena and San Gabriel Boulevards) in East Pasadena.

WHEN: SATURDAY, APRIL 28TH, Stepping off at 11:00AM!

COST: Always FREE-of-charge!!

(626) 590-7596

Plenty of street parking is available ~ Parade route is also just west of the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station (at Colorado Blvd. and Sierra Madre Villa). City busses go directly to the area.

Come early! Bring a lawn chair! Visit the local eateries and shops, and attend the after parties all within walking distance. Local food-based businesses associated with Chefs Center, a nonprofit program located in East Pasadena, will be selling a wide range of savory foods and desserts on food stands at the parade. Food trucks will also be located during and post-parade in the Chefs Center lot on San Gabriel Blvd. just north of Colorado Blvd.

Official Doo Dah After-Party: American Legion, 179 N. Vinedo St. (2 blocks from Parade at Vinedo & Walnut), immediately following the event. Bands…cheap food and drinks!! $5 cover (supports a Legion charity). For more information go to: www.pasadenadoodahparade.info