1978 Daffodil Festival Parade. Performing before spectators lined several feet deep along Pacific Avenue were the 90-piece marching band members from Gov. John R. Rogers High School of Puyallup. Brilliant sunshine and low 50 degree weather greeted participants in the 45th Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade. The Rogers High School band was led by director Gary Jacobson (possibly the man walking in the foreground) and would perform two numbers.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1978 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Marching bands;

1979 Daffodil Parade. Downtown Tacoma Association's entry in the 1979 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Parade consisted of a gathering of "superheroes," in various costumes. According to Richards Studio notes, they were (not all shown in photograph): Cliff Cook as Superman, Ms. Downtown Tacoma Joan Cook as Lois Lane, Dale Holden as Superwoman, Bruce Meyer as The Flash, Patty Richardson as Wonderwoman, Rohn Burgess as Zorro, Jim Wilhelmi, Jr. as Clark Kent, Chris Salatino as Isis, Skip Warren as Aquaman, Denise Robb as Batwoman, Duane Lindoff as Batman, Connie Buchanan as Jana, Donna Burgess as Catwoman and Jeff Lovely as Robin. "Superfriends in Super City" won the Commissioners' Trophy for best commercial float. (TNT 4-8-79, AA-2-article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Parade (1979 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1972 Daffodil Parade. View of Sweepstakes winner as it passes by Dammeier Printing, the Olympus Hotel and Robblee's Safe & Lock Co. on Pacific Ave. This entry from the Olympia Brewing Co. won the coveted FTD Sweepstakes Award for best overall float in the 1972 Grand Floral parade. It used 45,000 daffodils and an array of greenery to promote the festival's theme, "Proudly We Hail." The Olympia Brewing Co. further extended the theme to include "Proudly We Hail the Great Northwest," with deer, rabbits, mice and a skunk sharing the landscape. Water from the float's own tank provided the liquid needed for the float's waterfall. Waving to the crowds were Jane Adams and Pat Strahl, who stood within lavender blossoms that opened and closed to the delight of spectators. (TNT 4-9-72, A-1, A-4, B-3)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1972 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1971 Daffodil Parade. Dressed in sharp blue blazers, white skirts, blue berets and white boots, the Renaissance Drill Team of Seattle marched in formation down Tacoma's downtown streets before thousands of waiting spectators. The girls were one of 19 drill teams participating in the 1971 Daffodil Parade.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1971 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Drill teams;

1971 Daffodil Parade. The view of the Old Public Safety Building (former Northern Pacific Railroad headquarters) retreats in the background as the cadets of Marymount Academy march down Pacific Ave during the 1971 Daffodil Parade. The young men perform rifle maneuvers as the crowd watches. The group from Marymount was one of 19 drill teams entered in the parade.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1971 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Drill teams; Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway);

1971 Daffodil Parade. This was the Tacoma Fire Department's entry to the 1971 Daffodil Festival Parade. Its appearance generally signified the end of the parade as evidenced by the movement of the crowd. According to information received from a reader, this was a 1970 American LaFrance which was housed at the now-closed old Fire Station #12, a station still located on the south side of East 11th between Thorne Rd. and the Port of Tacoma Rd. It was Tacoma Truck Co. #4, a ladder truck which did not carry water or hoses. (Additional information/identification from a reader)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1971 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma);

1971 Daffodil Parade. The Afifi Oriental band, a motley assembly of musicians representing the Afifi Temple, banged their tambourines and drums to the delight of thousands of spectators as the band paraded down Pacific Avenue during the 1971 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade. The Oriental Band was one of 30 bands participating in the annual parade.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1971 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Marching bands; Afifi Temple (Tacoma); Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

The 1935 Daffodil Parade proceeds down 9th in front of the Roxy, now the Pantages. The 25 foot "daffodil fountain," the royal viewing stand, can be seen at the intersection of 9th and Broadway. The Girls' Drum & Bugle Corps of the John R. Thompson Post of the USWV is caught in mid action prancing down the street followed by a floral laden automobile, sponsored by the National Farmers' Union of Puyallup. Up the hill on 9th can be seen the Music Box, Rialto and the First Baptist Church. Crowds, many layers thick, have turned out to view the parade. (TDL 3/24/1935, pg. 1)

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma);

A large group of people gather in front of Thomas Mooney's cigar store to watch the 1936 Daffodil Parade. Cigar signs for "Antonio y Cleopatra" and "Royal Bengals" are displayed on the storefront.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Mooney's Cigar Store (Tacoma); Tobacco shops (Tacoma);

A long shot of the 1936 Daffodil Parade winding down Broadway with the Chamber of Commerce float and its oversized daffodils in the lead. People are lined up several deep to catch a glimpse of the flower covered floats. They also perch in upper story windows and on awnings. (T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The prize winning float in the Daffodil Parade, entered by the Puyallup and Tacoma Active Clubs. The float is a flower bedecked replica of a US destroyer, complete with swinging lifeboats and a rosy cheeked crew of little girls in nautical attire. The float is accompanied by a man dressed in a sailor's uniform. The float ship bore the number 110, the number of the Tacoma Sea Scout ship. (T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Street level view of the 1936 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue. The Tacoma Distributors Association's float leads the parade. Hundreds of spectators line both sides of the street, and downtown buildings frame the view. (T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1937 Daffodil Parade. City of Sumner float on Ninth Street at the corner of Pacific Avenue. Capacity crowds fill the sidewalks. Buildings in background. (T. Times, 4/10/1937, p. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1937 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1937 Daffodil Parade. Flag bearers from the Wild West Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars lead the way for the parade down Ninth Street to Pacific Avenue. They are followed by a marching band and a horseback unit. The bands represented in the 1937 parade were the Musicians Union, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) band, Lincoln High School and Stadium High School. The Motoramp Garage can be seen on the right. (T. Times, 4/10/1937, p. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1937 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Marching bands--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1937 Daffodil Parade. Lincoln Citizen's Club float carrying Lincoln Business District's special Queen and her court. Six young women wearing daffodil crowns. The float, decorated with 30,000 daffodils, won Division II honors. (T. Times, 4/10/1937, p.1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1937 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades); Daffodils--Tacoma; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Lincoln Citizens Club (Tacoma);

Daffodil Yacht Club Regatta race. Several boats on Commencement Bay with hill east of Browns Point in background.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Regattas--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma);

The Second Annual Tacoma Yacht Club Daffodil Festival Regatta was held on Sunday April 3, 1938. Daffodil Queen Bliss Lundrigan, wearing a captain's hat and cape, is shown at the helm of I.J. Leonard's cruiser "Gadget" with her attendants Bernice Daniel (seated on the helm) and Agnes Kucemba. Eighteen sail boats and forty power boats took part in the procession before a day of races.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Regattas--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma); Lundrigan, Bliss; Daniel, Bernice; Kucemba, Agnes;

Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. "Spirit of Electricity" float. Three nymphs with lighting bolts for arms decorate front of float; young woman wearing crown and ermine coat and two men in uniform are at rear of float. (T. Times, 4/1/1939, p. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Pick-up truck pulls float for "Tacoma Parks" decorated with fir tree, flowering trees, daffodils and white doves. In the background: Tacoma Cut Rate Auto Supply, Cut Price Drugs, Strand Market (T. Times, 4/1/39, p. 1).

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);

Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade, April 1, 1939; prize winning "Sons of Italy" float. Couple seated under gondola canopy with a singing gondolier at front of float portraying the city of Venice, Italy. Italians were among Tacoma's many ethnic groups in the 1930s. The 1939 parade took 40 minutes to pass and was nearly 2 miles long. There were 18 bands and 24 floats using 750, 000 daffodils. (T. Times 4/1/1939, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades); Sons of Italy (Tacoma);

In March of 1934, (l to r) Frankie Cowan, Billye Fairchild, and Betty Brumbaugh wearing long Spring dresses and stylish hats posed in a field of bright yellow daffodils to help advertise the first ever Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival. Several days before the parade, Puyallup lawyer Herman Zander had still not selected a Festival Queen. Mrs. Elizabeth Lee Wooton of Puyallup was finally selected when he saw her stroll by his office window. Billye Fairchild was selected the Queen's attendant from Tacoma. In the early days of the Festival, pre-1950s, the Queen had to be from either Sumner or Puyallup. TPL-9812

Organizers of the first Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934 were not above using a little "cheesecake" to advertise their fledgling flower festival. Left to right, Frankie Cowan, Betty Brumbaugh and Billye Fairchild pose in thirties swimsuits in field of bright spring daffodils. The first festival was the brain child of Tacoman Lee Merrill and was loosely patterned on the Dutch flower festivals held around Easter. The 1934 event included the reign of the first Daffodil Queen, Elizabeth Lee Wooten, a parade (then called the "procession") and "Bulb Sunday," where visitors were invited to motor out to the fields and view the blossoms.

Three bathing beauties, left to right, Frankie Cowan, Betty Brumbaugh and Billye Fairchild, pose in the chilly spring air in their swimsuits and goosebumps amid the bright yellow daffodils. They are advertising the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934. The festivities, originated by Tacoman Lee Merrill, would include a Queen, a parade and a "Bulb Sunday." On Sunday, area residents were encouraged to motor out and view the daffodil fields. The first festival had a total budget of $600.

Frankie Cowan can hardly hold back a laugh. She is heartily enjoying posing in a field of bright Spring daffodils as a promotion for the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934. Miss Cowan is Frances Cowan, a saleswoman at the Peoples Store who resides at 621 So. Yakima Ave.

This daffodil decorated horse and driver were one of the entries in the first Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade in 1934. The two wheeled cart was advertising Will Rogers in the motion picture "David Harem" playing at the Roxy Theater. Most of the entries in the first parade were modest when compared to later years. The parade began at Union Station, travelled through downtown Tacoma then on to Puyallup, Sumner and Orting.

Margaret Thomas, crowned Queen Margaret I of the 1935 Greater Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival, smiles serenely over her bouquet of daffodils. The twenty three year old from Sumner was the first Queen chosen in an actual contest. Queen Margaret was selected from a field of ten candidates. The very first Festival Queen, Mrs. Elizabeth Lee Wooten, was selected by a committee without a contest. Until the mid-1950s, the Queen was always from Sumner or Puyallup, the birthplaces of the daffodil industry.

Queen Margaret I, Margaret Thomas of Sumner, and her four attendants pose on their Daffodil Parade float on March 23, 1935. The attendants are, left to right, Irma Jane Janig, Sumner; Billie Barto, Puyallup; Olive Chervenka, Sumner; and Evelyn Mellinger of Tacoma. The 1935 parade was the second annual.

Float sponsored by the City of Tacoma in the 1936 Daffodil Parade, symbolizing the city's dominance in public utilities. In the forefront are three rearing horses pulling a large wheel. A large dynamo is in the back, an emblem of the power of the hydroelectric plants. (TDL 4/19/1936, pg. 1)

Daffodil Parade float entry by KMO radio, a floral representation of a microphone with the call letters KMO. The float was probably an entry in the 1936 parade. Several patches of daffodils in the outer ring of the microphone are missing showing the chicken wire base.

1936 Daffodil Queen Helen Edgerton of Puyallup. In the early years, the queen alternated year to year between Puyallup and Sumner residents. The first queen from Tacoma was in 1956 and from Orting in 1962.