It all began at Chromo’s Bar and Grill. While some considered it nothing more than a blighted district in need of redevelopment, others inhabited the neighborhood as a creative playground. Famous and not-so-famous artists rented cheap lofts and soon-to-be legendary bands rocked on at Chromo’s. A perfect setting for something interesting to happen. And it did.

Pasadena is a city of many traditions, the most well-known being New Year’s Tournament of Roses. Peter Apanel (who would become Czar of the Doo Dah Parade) along with other Chromo’s oficionados had a brainstorm: “What if we had our own parade?”

Apanel wrote “Whatever we did it would have to be just the opposite of what the Rose Parade does. They have a theme so we would have no theme. They have Judging and prizes, so we would have no judging and no prizes. Since none of us would be allowed in the Rose Parade, we would allow everyone in our parade.” They called it Doo Dah.

Thousands have since participated in or attended the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. People have come and gone and come back. It’s spawned numerous copycat parades across the nation.

 In 1995, Light Bringer Project, a Pasadena-based nonprofit, inherited the Parade and perpetuated its spirit and energy. In 2010 Doo Dah relocated beyond the “Other Parade’s” route into East Pasadena, but made a triumphant return to Old Pasadena in 2023, where it now lives on.

Doo Dah means many things to many people ~ perhaps, a little something different to everyone. Wacky and weird? Sublime absurdity? Rite of reversal? Twisted sister of the Rose Parade? Probably all of the above.