Saturday in the Park

For more than 40 years, Do Dah Day has celebrated every type of creature under the sun.

By Jeana Durst

On May 16, Birmingham will have royalty in town—pet royalty, that is. If you have a love for animals, and haven’t been to the Do Dah Day parade, then you are missing out. Each year pet owners go to great lengths to dress up their pet in festive costumes, and the “Pet King and Queen” make their annual debut.The parade encourages entrants of all kinds, including marching bands, drill teams, synchronized dancers, mimes, clowns, decorated cars and creative floats, and anyone who wants to walk in the parade with their dog (or ferret), with a dictate to be festive. And festive it is, rivaling any New Orleans street parade. That’s just one part of the festival weekend.

Do Dah Day, Inc., is volunteer-run nonprofit whose mission is to raise funds to benefit homeless animals in the Birmingham and Jefferson County areas. We wondered how one of our city’s most beloved springtime festivals came to be a little more than 40 years ago and what we can expect from this year’s event. Do Dah Day Board Member Donna Brown-Little gave us the scoop.

HOW DID DO DAH DAY GET STATED?

In 1979, a small group of friends got together and decided to have a party—or so the story goes—and Do Dah Day was born. The following years saw the party grow into an event raising money for local charities such as the Birmingham Zoo, Avondale Library, and the Alabama Theatre. With so many Do Dah Day volunteers being pet owners and animal lovers, it was a natural progression for the fundraising focus to turn to local animal charities.

HOW HAS THE FESTIVAL CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

A music festival that in its infancy was enjoyed by 200 fun-loving Birmingham citizens, now sees people from all over the United States converge on Birmingham’s Historic Highland Avenue neighborhood. Over the years we have expanded our offerings in the park from live music only to include a children’s area and increased food and drink offerings by bringing in food trucks

WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED AT THE 2020 EVENT ?

Do Dah Day occurs on May 16, 2020, and we are excited about a few changes. First, we will be holding Do Day Eve on Friday night, May 15, 2020 in Caldwell Park. Our food trucks will be open, our Do Dah Day merchandise will be for sale and we will be showing a family friendly movie on a big screen. Second, we are moving Saturday’s activities back to Caldwell Park this year and have plans to lay out the park differently so that attendees will have access to all of our sponsor, vendor, and craft booths. We are also creating a walkable food court. Do Dah is kid friendly! We offer activities such as face painting, hair weaving, and craft making with the McWane Science Center, basketball, bungee jumping and more.

WHO ARE THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF THE EVENT?

The recent beneficiaries of Do Dah Day have been the Great Birmingham Humane Society and Friends of Cats and Dogs. Since 1992, Do Dah Day has raised more than $1.8 million for Jefferson County animal shelters. For more information or to volunteer to work at the event, visit www.dodahday.org. Please be sure to confirm event details to check on potential COVID-19 related changes. Reach your market with us — (205) 617-9609 or matthew@jbmcmedia.com