There are some annual happenings you can set your watch by. Oh, not only when they'll be, but the event's start time, and the celebration that follows. Everything is very tick-tock and snip-snap.
The Doo Dah Parade? Not so much. The funky favorite is not really into "time," as we know it, and it sure as heck isn't going to color inside the lines or eat all of its peas before its peanut butter cup ice cream. In other words, Pasadena's second most famous parade likes to set its own schedule, thankyouverymuch, and the fans love it for that very reason.
So when organizers get around to announcing a date, time, and place for the outlandish procession? It's almost a little disappointing. You know? You love the Doo Dah. You hear what we're saying. It's the guessing game and the mystery that keeps us on our toes.
All that said, we're thrilled that the 2012 date was just announced: Saturday, April 28. The location? East Pasadena, like last year. And the time? Wellll. Come on. You've been to the Doo Dah. You know that one of the best things about all of those colorful floats and Day-Glo princesses and aliens on roller skates and costumed Basset Hounds is that the getting-going has a lot of stops-and-starts.
But for all purposes, the hour is set at 11 a.m. Let's call it 11-ish. Emphasis on the ish.
We're happy to see you again, Doo Dah! You'll turn 35 soon, sort of -- you started in 1978, and have mostly taken place every year, right? And you cheer us each and every time you turn up. Sometimes you also throw candy and beads and the occasional hot dog in our direction, too, but that's cool. You do your thing, and we'll show up to watch you do your thing.
Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: Twitter: @NBCLA // Facebook: NBCLA