Basset Hounds Invade OC for Doo Dah Parade

For nearly three decades the Doo Dah Parade has brought basset hounds, costumed performers, bands and spectators to the streets of Ocean City.

The tradition continued on Saturday afternoon, following events all day on Friday for what is now "Doo Dah Weekend," an expanded version of the parade that has been running for the past few years and features events like the Doo Dah Olympics and the Doo Dah Comedy Show.

For many seasonal home owners, Doo Dah is one of the events that brings them back before the official beginning of summer. Others fill local hotels and motels for the event.

Josh and Dana Angstadt come from Pennsylvania with their basset hounds. Josh said their hotel was filled with dogs and owners running around all day and night on Friday.

"Bassets take over the town," he said.

Bob Leesport came down from Pennsylvania with the Angstadts, bringing his hunting basset hounds, which took second place in a recent world hunting competition in Indiana.

"People don't realize how gentle they are," he said, calling them "couch potatoes" when they are at home, but referring to them as "terrors" when hunting.

Looking around 6th Street and Asbury before the parade, the couch potato trait was obvious—hundreds of basset hounds were relaxing with owners in and around the  parking lot.

Although the hounds are the main attraction, the parade also includes costumed performers, the Pitman Hobo Band (which has participated every year of the parade) and many other organizations that decorate cars and floats for the event.

Ron Cassella and Linda Glod make sure they are in town every year for the parade.

"We have to be here this weekend," Glod said.

Cassella said he enjoys seeing the city "come alive again."

"I give the city a lot of credit," he said. "They have a lot of events thoughout the year that are fun."

Judy and Bill Hunsberger made their way down from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, for the second year in a row.

"It's clean, it's family, there's no booze," said Judy, who added that her family has vacationed in Ocean City for decades.

The parade started at 6th and Asbury at noon, and headed down Asbury to 12th, turning up to the boardwalk, then marching down the boardwalk to the Music Pier. Following the parade was a "Pieasco," where participants slammed one another with pies.

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