Columbians use Moo-Dah Parade as an excuse to get silly

Proceeds for the event benefited United Way.

By Kristin Torres

Published Sept. 29, 2008

Call it the Seinfeld of vaguely cow-themed parades.

"It's about nothing, absolutely nothing," says Janice Coyle, who came to watch the spectacle from the sidewalk along with her three nephews. "If it's about anything at all, it's just a designated time and place to be silly. Forget about your job, the dirty dishes. You know, forget about the election for a few hours and just come and be silly and dance."

But for Coyle's youngest nephew, 6-year-old Caleb Larson, it's about something much more.

"I like all the candy," he says, fumbling to unwrap a chocolate coin.

Getting its start at Flat Branch Park at 2:01 p.m., the Third Occasional Annual Moo-Dah Parade marched to the beat of clanging cowbells and the sound of tossed candy hitting the pavement - and occasionally people. With amused, cheering onlookers lining the sidewalks and confused motorists just trying to get across the road, the parade clogged the streets of downtown Columbia with a generous helping of twangy mandolins, elaborate masks and a whole lot of spirited mooing.

With entrants including local businesses, entire families on bicycles and a guy donning a really tight Superman outfit, a chicken mask and a Peter Pan hat ("Pan-fried Superchicken," he called himself), the parade provided Columbia residents ample opportunity to take a walk on the silly side.

Although parade marchers were supposed to register in advance, that didn't hinder Columbia resident Karen Martin and her family from joining in the number.

"Next to all the groups in costume, no one's gonna notice we're joining in," she said. "We're all just here to have fun. You can watch from the sidelines or you can get the entire feel of it by getting in on it. That's the only way to do it."

Martin's 13-month-old daughter slept on her shoulders the entire time.

"One day I'll tell her, 'You were there, Ashley. You were a part of

Columbia history,'" she says with a laugh.

Although the Moo-Dah Parade might not make it into the history books, it might have been the only time Columbia residents could catch a glimpse of bankers being decidedly weird in the most entertaining of ways.

Decked out in matching green and black striped tube socks, employees of First National Bank & Trust Company performed a "Singing in the Rain"-like number as they strolled and lip-synched through downtown, spinning umbrellas in tote and leg kicks abounding. Topping off the bank's appearance was a gold convertible Chrysler Sebring motoring down the street with the top down, blasting the First National Bank theme song and, at least once, "The Sign" by 1990s Swedish chart-toppers Ace of Base.

Entrants had chances to win prizes for especially offbeat costumes or performances. The synchronized steps of First National Bank took home a title and the COMO Derby Dames celebrated a "What the Heck Was That?" win for skating throughout the parade handing out beaded necklaces and clad in capes, fishnet stockings and retro wheels.

"If bank tellers get in on the act and wear cowbells and be sing-songy, it's proof that it's just for anybody," says Joy Gabriels, a 72-year-old grandmother of two. "It's one of those Columbia things that makes Columbia kind of magic and offbeat. You bring the kids and you remind them that life doesn't always have to be as serious as they tell you. It's good for the heart."

Gabriels' 5-year-old granddaughter has taken the message to heart, she says. "She's just having fun," Gabriels says. "She's picking up the candy off the street and offering it to other people. It brings the best out in people when we aren't too serious and just play."

For all the whimsical merriment, the parade and some of its entrants used the opportunity to raise awareness for various causes.

GetAbout Columbia promoted bicycle commuting, the Missouri Stream Team encouraged recycling and conservation and Columbia Montessori School advertised enrollment with signs attached to little red wagons pulling young children dressed as fairies. All proceeds of the Moo-Dah Parade benefited Heart of Missouri United Way.

But Saturday's parade was a bit smaller than the previous two occasional annual events. According to moodahparade.com, the parade has formerly played host to entrants as varied as "people who have definitely seen Elvis" and a Forrest Gump impersonator, who apparently walked backwards through the duration of the event.

Some onlookers said the parade was news to them, having no idea it was going to take place until they got an eyeful of cow-people.

Imagine Columbia resident David Asahina's reaction as he sat at a table just outside of Shakespeare's Pizza to see a train of kids dressed as fairies and two very enthusiastic cow-people leading the pack.

"The jumping cowsuit guys are a nice touch, right?" he says. "Any time you get some jumping cows and some free candy it's like, why not? Hats off to them, man. Nothing wrong with having fun."