Do-Dah Parade a kickoff for downtown summer fun

Contact: Deanne Puca
Photo from Kalamazoo Do-Dah parade.

Kalamazoo Do-Dah parade is Saturday, June 7.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Downtown's annual Do-Dah Parade Saturday, June 7, is an event-filled kickoff to summer known as June Jubilee and one of many events packed into a lively weekend.

Local people will dress the part of parodies, spoofs and characters and parade along the streets of downtown Kalamazoo beginning at 11 a.m. The parade follows the traditional route, starting at the corner of Jasper and Lovell streets, proceeding west on Lovell, north on Park Street, east on West Michigan Avenue and south on Portage Street.

A lineup of businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals will goof-it-up using everything from animals, colorful costumes and makeup, to decorated vehicles, music and more. Known for its parodies and spoofs, the parade is expected to last more than an hour and attract tens of thousands of spectators.

The annual parade dates back to 1984 in Kalamazoo and was modeled after the original Do-Dah Parade in Pasadena, California, begun in 1978. This year's sponsors include WKFR 103.3 FM and Downtown Kalamazoo Inc.

For more information, visit downtownkalamazoo.org.