PASADENA : Doo Dah’s Founder Surrenders Parade Reins

After 17 years, Doo Dah founder and organizer Peter Apanel has decided to step down and hand over the alternative parade to The Light-Bringer Project, a Pasadena nonprofit arts group.

Apanel announced his decision on Monday at the International Festivals Assn. meeting in Anaheim.

Apanel, who has run the parade as a full-time job, could not be reached for comment. But in the past, Apanel has said he is tired of the annual wrangling over the parade, the complications of putting it together, and the low financial rewards. He had anticipated losing about $5,000 on this year’s parade, which was held Sunday.

This year, Apanel worked with a co-sponsor, The Light-Bringer Project, for the first time. The group helped recruit more community entries, such as one from the King’s Village housing project.

But Light-Bringer plans to retain Doo Dah’s irreverent spirit, “making sure it stays as fun and silly as it always was,” said Patricia Hurley, associate director.

Light-Bringer will also consider other locations, she said. This year’s parade was back as a free event in Old Pasadena, after an unsuccessful attempt in 1993 to charge admission in front of Pasadena City Hall.