The National Weather Service forecast calls for sun and a high temperature of 58 degrees on Saturday (April 12) for Ocean City’s 29th annual Doo Dah Parade.
With the ocean temperature still in the mid-40s, air temperatures in shore towns will be cooler than on the mainland, but there’s no chance of precipitation for the parade.
The Doo Dah Parade, Ocean City’s tribute to humor and legendary comedians, starts at noon Saturday and travels from downtown Asbury Avenue to the Ocean City Boardwalk.
The parade is the highlight of a weekend that includes other comedy events, the Basset Hound Olympics and a massive Easter Egg Hunt on the beach.
The Doo Dah Parade begins at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue. It proceeds to 12th Street and from there turns to the Boardwalk and ends in front of the Ocean City Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace. That’s where there is an awards ceremony and the PieAsco is held.
The PieAsco is a tribute to the late, great pie-in-the-face comedian Soupy Sales, who attended the Doo Dah Parade for many years. Folks (this can be you) sit in grand stands and smoosh each other with Shaving Cream Pies, the kind Soupy used on his syndicated TV show. If you participate, you receive a certificate praising your smooshing abilities.
Grand Marshal this year will be Peter Funt, longtime host of TV’s legendary “Candid Camera” program. Peter will host a retrospective program, “Six Decades of Smiles,” on Friday, April 11th at the Music Pier starting 7 p.m. This will be a review of great Candid Camera episodes. Admission will be a donation of canned or dry food for the Ocean City Food Cupboard.
Also on Friday April 11th at noon, the Tri State Basset Hound Rescue League will hold its hilarious Olympics at the Tabernacle Grounds, Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue. The floppy-eared doggies will leap over hurdles (sort of) plod through tunnels and then settle down for a well earned nap. The Rescue League raises money for bassets in need of a home.
Over 600 Bassets, some in fancy and humorous garb, will be featured in the Parade on Saturday along with costumed characters, unusual brigades, bands, clowns and other funny entries plus an outstanding display of balloon sculpting by Robert Archer called “Aliens with a Flying Saucer.”
Another Doo Dah event is scheduled for Friday. “The Positive Power of Humor, Hope and Healing,” will be presented by Dr. Joel Goodman, founder and director of the Humor Project, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Dr. Goodman has talked to audiences on all seven continents of the world. Learn how humor can increase the quality of your life. The program is free and will be presented at the Ocean City Library, 17th and Simpson Ave. at 2 p.m. on Friday. This will be Goodman’s tenth visit to Ocean City, all well received. Admission is free.
Following the Parade on Saturday, there will be a Tribute to the Abbott and Costello Fan Club at the Library starting 3:30 p.m. in Lecture Hall N110.The free program will feature the world’s leading impersonators of Abbott and Costello, Bud Palmer and Lou Sciara, performing “Who’s on First,” and a showing of the classic movie “Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy.” There will be a special appearance by legendary vocalist, TV and movie actress, Pretty, Perky, Peggy King who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of fame and a cameo appearance in the movie. For information call (609) 525-9300 or (609) 364-4010.
The first of two big Easter Egg Hunts will be held after the Doo Dah Parade on April 12 and the second after the Woofin’ Paws Pet Fashion Show on April 19. Both start at 2:30 p.m. and extend from 11th to 13th streets on the beach.
There will be five age groups: Up to 2 years and 3 year olds at 11th St., 4 year olds at 12th St., 5 year olds at 12th St. and 6 and 7 year olds at 13th St. Over 180,000 Eggs with candy and toys will be given away. Rain dates are Sun., April 13 and Sun., April 20. The event is sponsored by the Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Association.
— News release from Ocean City Public Relations Director Mark Soifer
