Do-Dah Parade

In 1981, WKMI started the Do-Dah Parade. It was started by Lori Moore in reaction to the need for more fun, innovative, and silly family programming. WKMI had a little bit of a reputation for a little edgy programming and this downtown parade provided a kick off to summer as well as fun family programming. The parade was a “spin off” from the Pasadena Parade called Doo-Dah.

As the parade evolved, it also filled a need to provide a “silly parade” for all those businesses that couldn't meet the guidelines of the Kalamazoo Holiday Parade.

In the mid-1990’s WKFR took over the parade operation and in 2004 they approached DKI to partner with them to host the parade and eventually take over the operation and ownership of the parade. In 2015 DKI asked the Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center to take ownership of the parade and keep it right here in Downtown Kalamazoo.

The Do-Dah Parade is a nonprofit, community organizing, grab-friends, and be in a parade event. It is the opposite of the Kalamazoo Holiday Parade and it opens the doors to groups that want to do something silly, dumb, and poke fun of a person, place, or thing | which we call a parody.