A DOO DAH DAY TO REMEMBER 40,000 WATCH AS PARADE BUILDS ON ITS WACKY TRADITION.

Byline: Molly R. Okeon Staff Writer

PASADENA - An estimated 40,000 people turned out Sunday afternoon in the hot sun to dodge flying hot dogs and observe other antics at the 29th Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade.

At the parade's starting point on North Raymond Avenue near Holly Street, the crowd reclined in lawn chairs to watch dancing Hare Krishnas, a flatbed truck carrying lounging ``Stogie Men,'' a giant smoking cigar, a pack of rescued basset hounds in search of new owners and more.

Tom Coston, president of the Light Bringer Project that has organized the parade since 1995, said this was the largest the parade has been been in 10 years.

He estimated that up to 40,000 people watched the fun with about 105 groups participating and about 140 volunteers helping move things along.

Coston and actor/comedian Fred Willard provided the commentary throughout the two-hour parade, which Coston said will air on the Travel and Discovery channels sometime over the next month.

Since next year will be the 30th anniversary of the parade, Coston said he is thinking of having the procession loop throughout Old Pasadena. The band Snotty Scotty and the Hankies, longtime veterans of the parade, kicked off the festivities with The Rivieras' ``Warm California Sun'' as the temperature rose and beads of sweat began forming on foreheads.

At one point, the 2005 Doo Dah Grand Marshals, also The Barbecue & Hibachi Marching Grill Team, threw hot dogs into the crowd, forcing many to duck for cover.

These parade participants donned Hawaiian shirts and straw hats with Kingsford charcoal bags on top, rolled grills down the street and cooked hot dogs for the crowd, which they ``bratapulted'' into the air.

For his 20th year in the Doo Dah Parade, Fred Wodnicki, 48, of North Hollywood seemed slightly overdressed for the heat in a full tuxedo, bandages covering his entire face, sunglasses and a hat. No matter - it was all part of his act, ``The Claude Rains Memorial 20-Man Invisible Marching Drill Team.''

He started it as a joke two decades ago when he couldn't get his magician friends to join him in the parade.

Molly Okeon [phone], Ext. 4496

molly.okeon(at)sgvn.com

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Photo:

(1 -- 2) Doo Dah Queen Cherie Flores, right, waves to admirers as the wonderfully weird parade moves through Old Pasadena. Below right, people ride a motorized sofa along Colorado Boulevard. The event, featuring an assortment of bizarre characters and perfectly ordinary people, is a regional tradition.

Sarah Reingewirtz/Staff Photographer