1976 Daffodil Festival Parade. The sight of the big Tacoma fire engines generally meant the conclusion of the Grand Floral Parade. Crowds are starting to disperse on Saturday, April 10, 1976, along Pacific Avenue. People had been lined up up to a dozen deep as crowds thought to be the biggest in several years watched the 33 floats, 47 marching bands, 13 mounted units and 20 "special" units go by. For the first time in the 43-year history of the festival, the Grand Floral Parade had no turns or hills as the parade began at Old City Hall, 7th & Pacific, and flowed southward on Pacific to 24th St. There were no sharp curves to negotiate. (TNT 3-12-76, A-3-article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1976 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fire engines--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1976 Daffodil Festival Parade. The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival float, red-and-pink in color, saluted "American Heritage" in the 43rd annual Daffodil Festival Parade, held during America's Bicentennial year. "Gift of the Gods" and "Wenatchee" are proclaimed on the sides of the curved-shaped float. (TNT 4-11-76, D-3)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1976 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1976 Daffodil Festival Parade. "East Meets West," the entry from the Orting-Fife-Milton communities, was decorated in 92,000 daffodils for the 43rd annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Parade in April of 1976. At 120-feet, the longest float to ever enter the parade depicted the May 10, 1869, meeting of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific locomotives at Promontory Summit, Utah, to complete the country's first transcontinental railroad. The three-part float and its costumed passengers (students from the communities) are photographed on Pacific Avenue near the Olympus Hotel. The float would be honored with the FTD Sweepstakes award for best overall float. (TNT 4-11-76, AA2-article; TNT 4-10-76, A-3-article; www.nps.gov/archive/gosp/history/GSNHS_hist.html-article on railroads)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1976 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1976 Daffodil Festival Parade. The Des Moines community's 53-foot Waterland Festival float was decorated in our country's national colors and boasted a 20-piece stage band. Also aboard were four members of the Queen's court. It was one of the 33 floats entered in the 43rd annual Daffodil Festival Grand Floral parade and was awarded third place in the "other festivals" category.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1976 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1976 Daffodil Festival Parade. The theme of the 43rd annual Grand Floral Parade was "America's 200 Years." Tacoma City Light traditionally built the non-competitive Queen's float for the Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade. Aboard the "Mayflower" on Saturday, April 10, 1976, was Daffodil Queen Renee Hopp of Rogers High School and her royal court escorted in the bright sunshine by yellow-clad Daffodilians. The 42-foot float was one-third the actual size of the original ship and was decorated with 10,000 yellow, short-stemmed daffodils. Since the ship's sails were folded, crowds lining the route could better see the parade's royalty. (TNT 4-10-1976, A-3-article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1976 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hopp, Renee; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. Commodores, pirates, clowns and royalty all sailed majestically down Pacific Avenue during the April 16, 1977, Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade. The blue and white float decorated with yellow daffodils was crowded with participants representing SeaFair. It would go on to win first place in the "Other Festivals" category. (TNT 4-16-77, A-3-article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. "Reflections of Downtown Tacoma" was the award-winning entry from the Downtown Tacoma Association. Six new buildings and a fountain full of daffodils made note of downtown's growth. An unidentified 4-piece band and Ms. Downtown Tacoma accompanied the float. It won the Commissioners' Trophy for best commercial float. (TNT 4-16-77, A-3 article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. Nearing the end of the two hour parade came the float sponsored by the Concerned Christian Laymen, Inc., "Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone." A golden cross of daffodils in a field of blue was in the foreground of the float. Nationally known singer, Henry Rodstrom, was aboard. (TNT 4-16-77, A-3-article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. Governor Dixy Lee Ray served as Grand Marshall of the 1977 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Parade. Governor Ray, in brown jacket, is seated up high in a 1930 dual windshield Packard. Riding with her were Mr. and Mrs. Tom Galbraith, Dr. Harlan P. McNutt -director of DSHS, and one of Governor Ray's poodles. Tacoma was Governor Ray's hometown; she graduated from Stadium High School and had fond memories of past Daffodil festivals. (TNT 4-17-77, D-1, D-5 articles)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Ray, Dixy Lee, 1914-1994; Governors; Packard automobile;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. The Little Wheels Quarter Midget Association's entry in the April 1977 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade was entitled "A First for Puget Sound." Tacoma would be the location of the 1977 Grand Nationals championship to be held August 8-20th. Three hopefuls for the competition are in their vehicles aboard the daffodil-covered float. The Little Wheels of Tacoma would be awarded the Princess Trophy for best float under 30'. (TNT 4-16-77, A-3 article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. Marching briskly down Pacific Avenue in chilly 46 degree weather was this band and drill unit believed to be representing the Nanaimo branch of the Naval Sea Cadets. American and Canadian flags are borne by two marchers in the foreground while an assorted number of flagbearers with Canadian provincial flags follow the brass-and-drum band.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Marching bands; Flags--United States; Flags--Canada;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. Mayor and Mrs. Gordon Johnston, in a white and yellow '57 Ford Sunliner convertible, acknowledge the parade watchers on April 16, 1977. Following them is County Commissioner Clay Huntington and guests in a red and white '55 Chevy Bel Air. Although the weather was a brisk 46 degrees, rain held off and sunshine broke through during the two hour parade. 36 floats, 26 bands, 7 drill teams and 21 special units participated in the 44th annual festival.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980; Johnston, Gordon N.; Huntington, Clay; Ford automobile; Chevrolet automobile;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. Waving to the crowd are three young ladies in white; they are aboard the Portland Rose Festival float entitled "Roses & Daffodils & Friendship." The white & yellow & red float extends an old-fashioned greeting card invitation to the Rose Festival on June 2-13th. It would win second place in the Communities over 5000 category. (TNT 4-16-77, A-3 article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. "A Salute to King Alfred" was the Reno Rodeo Festival float, sponsored by Del Webb's Primadonna Casino, entered in the 1977 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Parade. The white-framed Victorian garden was decorated with golden King Alfred daffodils. Five white clad women in soft summer hats, all former Daffodil queens, waved to the spectators lined up along Pacific Avenue. They were listed as: Renee Hopp (1976), Wendy Van Noy (1975), Lori Weber Durr (1974), Sherri Murrey (1973), and Jean Fink Jones (1971). (TNT 4-17-77, A-1 article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. "Puget Sound USA" was the L.H. Bates Vocational Technical Institute's entry in the 1977 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade. Sea gulls and a whale swimming in a blue ocean of flowers along with a lighthouse made of golden daffodils are symbols of this part of Washington. 25,000 daffodils were used on Bates' float which was awarded the President's Trophy for animation.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. County Commissioner and Mrs. Joe Stortini greet parade watchers on April 16, 1977. They are riding in a blue-and-white 1955 Ford Fairlane convertible. Mr. Stortini had been a state legislator and longtime football coach at Mount Tahoma. In November of 1976, Mr. Stortini defeated Republican Robert Odman in the race for Pierce County Commissioner; Mr. Stortini had previously beaten incumbent George Sheridan in the primary.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Stortini, Joe; Ford automobile;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. "The 'Cord' That Ties Puget Sound To The World." McChord AFB's entry in the 1977 Grand Floral parade was bedecked with golden daffodils and mementos of familiar Washington sights including the Space Needle, St. Joseph Hospital and the Capitol Bldg. Two airmen stood at the rear of the 42-foot long float just in front of a flowered globe and American flag. Two model airplanes "flew" nearby. 60,000 daffodils were used in the creation of this award-winning float which captured the Judges' Trophy for originality. (TNT 4-16-77, A-3-article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. One of the smaller floats participating in the 44th annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival was the entry from KTAC radio - a golf cart. Covered with golden daffodils, the cart held several men, probably employees of the radio station. It pulled a flower-bedecked unit containing a miniature van. KTAC was number 85 on the dial.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. Purple was much in evidence in the entry from the Spokane Lilac Association. Association members wearing deep purple jackets accompanied the float which was decorated with yellow daffodils, trees and lilac-tinted blossoms. Three members of the royal court happily greet parade spectators.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. The vessel "Eckankar" sailed down Pacific Avenue during the 1977 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade on April 16, 1977. Sponsored by the Tacoma Satsang Society, the float won second place in the Clubs & Organizations category.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. "Wenatchee Salutes Puget Sound USA" was the entry from the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival. Queen Debbie Crump and two princesses, wearing red apple prints, acknowledge the parade spectators. They are accompanied by several marching Apple Blossom Festival officials. (TNT 4-16-77, A-3 article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Crump, Debbie;

1977 Daffodil Festival Parade. Riding on the back of a killer whale float and accompanied by princesses Mary Riggleman and Karon DiLoreto is Carol Glenn, 1977 Daffodil Queen from Bethel High School. Miss Glenn was the first queen chosen from her school and the first African-American to receive the honor. Her "Whale of a Float" was designed by Tacoma City Light and was decorated with 13,000 daffodils. (TNT 4-16-77, A-3 article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Glenn, Carol; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1970-1980; African American women--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1970 Daffodil Parade. "The Greatest Showman on Earth" was the Sumner Community's entry in the 1970 Daffodil Festival Parade. The happy faced giant clown, accompanied by balloons trailing in the breeze and peanuts spilling from a red-and-white striped bag, was awarded the top Sweepstakes Award. The 40-foot long float utilized 80,000 daffodils. It was designed by Sumner postman James Woolery. (TNT 4-11-70, p.1)

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

1970 Daffodil Festival Parade. The Fife-Milton entry in the April, 1970, Daffodil Parade won first place in the incorporated communities over 2500 population category. "Nature's Greatest Show - Aurora Borealis" carried the "Queen of Light," Karen Heckert and her two attendants, Kathy Burgi and Margaret Kinoshita. The startling blue-tinted blossoms provided an attractive setting for the three members of royalty standing among the revolving "Northern lights" in their shiny costumes as well as the tranquil "sea" from which a penguin and a polar bear of daffodils eyeballed each other. (TNT 4-11-70 - article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1970 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Heckert, Karen; Burgi, Kathy; Kinoshita, Margaret;

1970 Daffodil Festival Parade. Waving to the crowd are the 1970 Daffodil Queen, Shelley Grobey of Mount Tahoma High school, and four royal princesses: Sue Briehl of Bethel, Diane Schlumpf of Orting, Correen Orton of Sumner and Kay Riippi of Lincoln High School. They are seated on the Tacoma City Light entry, "Circus Centennial," in keeping with the festival's theme of "Greatest Show on Earth." Queen Shelley is seated just before the mouth of a giantic daffodil tiger. The 42-foot float adorned with 45,000 white and yellow daffodils, was created by Graydon Bailey, a City Light lineman. This float ran very quietly as it was an all-electric, battery-powered float. The 75-piece Mount Tahoma marching band and 55-member drill team, following the Queen's float, had the honor of the first high school entry in the parade. (TNT 4-12-70, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1970 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Grobey, Shelley; Briehl, Sue; Schlumpf, Diane; Orton, Correen; Riippi, Kay; Marching bands; Drill teams;

1970 Daffodil Parade. Closer view of the float entered by the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival as it proceeds down Pacific Avenue during the April 11, 1970, Daffodil Festival Parade. The lovely float is decorated with sprays of pink and gold blooms. Pink Grecian columns in front have flowers cascading; other pillars curve gently around the seated princesses. Acknowledging the throngs gathered along Pacific Avenue were Queen Kim Horan and princesses Jane Drake and Gail Burgener. This entry was one of 31 floats participating in the parade. (TNT 4-12-70, B-2, B-6)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1970 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Horan, Kim; Drake, Jane; Burgener, Gail;

1970 Daffodil Festival Parade. The theme for the 37th annual Daffodil Festival Parade was "The Greatest Show on Earth." With its troupe of accompanying clowns, the Bethel Boosters prize-winning 34-foot long float, "Trapeze," certainly was emblematic of the day. 30,000 yellow and purple daffodils provided a fitting background for Bethel High School senior Sue Swenson and her attendants, Helen Adams, Debbi Daffer, Janet Ingle and Linda Seanard, who merrily swung on trapezes. The float, one of 31 entered in the parade, was awarded the Queen's Award for best portrayal of the festival's theme. (TNT 4-11-70- article; TNT 4-12-70, B-3)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1970 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Swenson, Sue; Adams, Helen; Daffer, Debbi; Ingle, Janet; Seanard, Linda; Clowns;

1970 Daffodil Festival Paradel. For the second straight year, brilliant blue skies greeted the spectators of the annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade. Coming a fair distance from the city of Wenatchee was the entry from the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival. Pink Grecian pillars topped with sprays of yellow daffodils and pink blossoms provided an attractive setting for the festival princesses. The Wenatchee entry would win the "Other Festival Award." The float was followed by the 45-piece Eatonville High School band accompanied by the 22-member drill team and 10 majorettes. In the background is the old Public Safety Building.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1970 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Public Safety Building (Tacoma); Marching bands;

1970 Daffodil Festival Parade. Winner of the Grand Award for the second consecutive year, the St. Regis Paper Co.'s 1970 entry, "Nature's 3-Ring Circus," measured 65-feet in length and supported three large rings on three different levels. More than 130,000 daffodils were used to create the wonders of nature. Portraying vacationers and nature lovers were six St. Regis employees: Janet McAlister, Debra Weinhart, Kay Koth, LaRue Rasmussen, Marina Nason and Kathy Turbyfill. (TNT 4-11-70, p. 1 - article)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1970 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1970-1980;

1970 Daffodil Parade. Led by drum major Chuck Whitman, the black-and-gold clad 100-member marching band from Puyallup High School takes a bow before the rows of spectators lining the streets of downtown Tacoma for the 37th annual Daffodil Festival Parade. Each side of Pacific Avenue gets its own section of musicians bowing. Following the band are the Vikettes drill team in purple and gold. The April 11, 1970, parade attracted crowds of over 100,000 during its three city tour; the Puyallup High School band was one of 23 bands participating and the Vikettes, one of 18 drill teams. Beautiful sunny weather for the second year in a row helped to make the parade one of the most heavily attended in parade history. (TNT 4-11-79 - article)

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