FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Parade Basics
What is the parade date and time?
Northampton Neighbors’ DoozyDo Parade will take place on Saturday, September 23, 2023, rain or shine. The parade will begin at 11:00 am and last 1 – 2 hours.
What is the parade route?
The parade kicks off from the Northampton Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley Street and ends in Pulaski Park. See the Parade Route Map.
Where’s the best spot for viewing the parade?
Pretty much anywhere on Main Street.
Where can I get a selfie with the Gargoyle mascot?
Right in front of the Academy of Music Theatre at the end of the parade.
Parading in the Parade
How do the parade organizers decide who can join the parade?
Anyone who is willing to abide by the DoozyDo Rules and to contribute or raise funds for Northampton Neighbors can enter as a team or an individual–and you don’t need to live or work in Northampton. If you’re interested in supporting Northampton Neighbors through the DoozyDo Parade, we want to hear from you. You’re welcome to add to the general silliness or just to “come as you are.” All participants in the parade need to be kid-friendly (this isn’t Mardi Gras!) and apolitical. We want everyone to feel welcome and enjoy themselves.
As a parade participant, what time should I arrive?
Team Captains should arrive no later than 9:45 am; vehicles and floats should arrive by 9; Team members, individual participants, vehicles and floats should arrive by 10:15am.
Where do the floats and other parade vehicles go at the end of the parade?
Floats and vehicles in the parade can park for free for several hours in designated areas of the Roundhouse parking lot near the bus station.
What happens to my contribution if the parade is canceled?
If the parade is canceled for extreme weather or for safety concerns due to Covid-19, every contributor, whether a team, an individual, or a business, can choose either to let their contribution to Northampton Neighbors stand or ask for and receive a full refund.
Getting Involved
How can I get involved?
- You can start your own DoozyDo Team. (We’ll help.)
- Join an existing team. Call us and we’ll hook you up with one.
- Join as an individual.
- Volunteer to help before, on or after the parade date.
- Make a contribution to Northampton Neighbors. (Let us know it’s for the DoozyDo.)
How can I get my business involved?
- Enter a Team or a float of your own.
- Sponsor some part of the parade or sponsor the parade itself. See Become a Sponsor.
How can nonprofits get involved?
You can start your own DoozyDo Team. We understand that you have the same struggles we do to raise funds so we do not expect you to contribute or raise funds for Northampton Neighbors unless you want to.
Other Common Questions
Can I be a vendor at the parade?
In order to keep things simple, we are not authorizing vendors this year. But check with us next year to see if this changes. And we encourage parade participants to stroll around town after the parade, get a coffee or lunch and visit Northampton’s many cool shops.
How can I contact parade organizers?
DoozyDo Parade phone: (413) 341-0160
DoozyDo Parade email: nndoozydo@gmail.com
