The 10th annual 1946 Daffodil parade in Puyallup drew one of the largest crowds in parade history. The estimated crowd of 30,000 was three times Puyallup's population. Many Pierce County businesses, organizations and schools signed up to appear in the parade. View of Order of Rainbow Club float covered in daffodils. Ladies sitting on the float from left to right: Sue McKinney, unknown, Norma Wilder. Standing: Shirley Asbjornsen, Margaret McDonnell, Marie Hazen and Helen Stevenson. The girls were from Puyallup High School, they were juniors at the time, members of rainbow girls, and all friends. Additional information provided by Shirley Asbjornsen Haugen. (TNT 03/31/1946, pg. 1)

Daffodils--Puyallup; Parades & processions--Puyallup; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1946 : Puyallup); Floats (Parades)--Puyallup;

Mayor Harry Cain gently places a crown of golden daffodils on the head of Gloria Dinwiddie of Sumner, pronouncing her Queen of the 1946 Daffodil Festival. Attendants Patricia McPherson of Tacoma, right, and Maxine Barth of Puyallup look on. The little crown bearer is Caryn Chervenka, age 4. The coronation took place at Guill Hall in Sumner at the Sumner VFW sponsored ball. The three day event began with the coronation and would end with the annual sailboat races.

Daffodils--Sumner; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1946 : Sumner); Dinwiddie, Gloria; Crowns; McPherson, Patricia; Barth, Maxine; Chervenka, Caryn; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The top is up on this convertible representing Art's Peach Orchard, of University Place, in the 1950 Daffodil Parade to protect riders from morning rain as cars and floats line up for the big event. The automobile is covered with foil and decorated with daffodils and flowering spring branches for a festive look. The parade was seen by more than 100,000 people in Tacoma and 30,000 in Puyallup and Sumner.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Art's Peach Orchard (University Place); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Children of Centennial Flouring Mills employees ride in a daffodil bedecked carriage holding streamers attached to a giant ornamental bag of flour during the 1950 Daffodil Parade. Centennial Mills, located on the water at 705 Dock St., manufactured flour, cereal, poultry and dairy feeds, dried peas and beans, and Frolic dog food. The 1950 parade lined up at South 17th and Jefferson for the 10:00a.m. kick off and moved up Broadway to So. 9th and then back down Pacific Ave. to 17th. Participants were then loaded on buses and trucks for later parades in Puyallup and Sumner. The floats were driven to the later parades under police escort.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma);

The 1950 Daffodil Parade winds its way along the 1300 block of Pacific Ave. with the Associated General Contractors' Sweepstakes winner windmill float in the foreground. The parade consisted of floats, drill teams, color guards, bands and even a dog team of huskies. The parade was seen by over 100,000 people in Tacoma, with sidewalks on Pacific and Broadway ten people deep in places. Every area police officer, county deputy sheriff and state patrolman was needed to handle traffic into and out of the city.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma);

Thousands thronged the streets to view the 1950 Daffodil Parade which featured 70 floats including this one from the Carstens Packing Company. Two chefs are seen "cooking" giant bacon. The parade was over two hours long and not even a short burst of morning rain dampened the parade watchers' enthusiasm.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma);

The College of Puget Sound's entrant in the 1950 Daffodil Parade was a floral shoe surrounded by students, a reference to the "little old lady who lived in a shoe" nursery rhyme. The float emphasized "build with CPS" as the student body outgrew their campus and the College entered into a period of capital expansion. One student played a bass from the window of the shoe providing music as well. Prime viewing space for the parade belonged to owners and employees of the closed stores along Pacific Ave. who watched the parade from inside the storefront windows, avoiding the often inclement Northwest weather. Other prime viewing areas were the tops of buildings and fire escapes.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

The Tigerannas drill team, from Stadium High School in Tacoma, marches sharply down Pacific Avenue during the 1950 Daffodil Parade, despite the umbrellas held up by spectators to ward off spring showers. The 1950 parade was the largest ever, with 125 units- 70 floats, 18 bands, 26 marching organizations and several comic units, mounted groups and decorated automobiles. The parade in Tacoma was well attended by over 100,000, braving cold winds and scattered showers to cheer the parade on.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Drill Teams;

Children drive this daffodil "carriage" down Pacific Ave. in the 1950 Daffodil Parade, holding onto streamers attached to an giant ornamental bag of flour labelled with the float's sponsor Centennial Flouring Mills Company. Early invitations went out to area businesses and organizations from the Board of Directors of the Daffodil Festival asking them to sponsor floats in the parade. The parade itself had a very small budget and relied on donations, contributions and volunteer workers.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma);

This daffodil bedecked automobile was sponsored by the Honolulu Conservatory of Music, at 617 No. 2nd. This popular studio owned by F. J. Piper taught the music of the islands to willing students and performed throughout the area. The Conservatory's specialty was musical instruction on accordion and guitar. Young students in native costume and leis perform from the decorated trailer as it proceeds down Pacific Ave. pulled by the automobile.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Honolulu Conservatory of Music (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Outboard Association displayed some humor with this action loaded float in the 1950 Daffodil Parade. The motorboat named Wha' Hoppin' pulled three water skiers on a daffodil formed sea. Spectators stand 4-5 deep on the sidewalk and in all store front windows to watch the parade. More than 100,000 viewed the parade in Tacoma. TPL-5485

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Outboard Association (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Spectators--Tacoma;

Daffodil Queen and Princesses, Times, Sandy. Marcia Keefe, 16-year-old junior from Lincoln High School, was chosen to be one of the two princesses of the Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival for 1949. She is pictured above, carrying a large bouquet of daffodils, with the other 22 Lincoln contestants whose names are listed in a News Tribune article dated February 13, 1949. Marcia, the daughter of the R.E. Keefes of 1676 So. 40th St., saw nursing in her future after completing her education. Mary Jean Gropper of Puyallup was selected as queen of the festival. (TNT, 2/13/1949, p.1 & A-8; T.Times 2-13-1949, p. 1-alt. photograph; TNT 2-13-1949, A-8-alt. photograph)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1949 : Tacoma); Keefe, Marcia; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Daffodil Festival had three days of activities planned for this year's celebration. Governor Langie would be crowning the 1949 Daffodil Queen, Mary Jane Gropper from Puyallup. View of the Pierce County Sheriff's Posse, a horse cart is being pulled by a daffodil decorated automobile (T.N.T., 4/10/49, p. 1, 12 & B-6).

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Horses--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1949 : Tacoma);

The 16th annual daffodil parade had thirteen bands scheduled to perform from various schools throughout Western Washington. The spectators would also enjoy various daffodil covered floats. View of Carstens Packing Company's parade float entry; it appears to be some type of daffodil covered "Northwest Favorites" meat product (T.N.T., 4/10/49, p. 1, 12 & B-6).

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1949 : Tacoma);

View of float with unidentified float princess waving to the parade spectators; this float is advertising the daffodil and flower show at College of Puget Sound's new gymnasium, Memorial Fieldhouse; a replica of the newly built gymnasium is constructed out of daffodils and flowers (T.N.T., 4/10/49, p. 1, 12 & B-6).

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1949 : Tacoma);

This year's Daffodil Festival was being called "the most successful of all daffodil celebrations". View of the United States Indian Hospital float, they received 2nd place for their float; the daffodil creation features hospital staff, an indian chief and a teepee. This float was made possible by employee contributions (T.N.T., 4/10/49, p. 1, 12 & B-6).

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1949 : Tacoma);

The 16th Annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival was one of the best ever; the weather was about 71 degrees, making it one of the warmest daffodil weekends ever. View of the Puyallup Elks Club float; they were awarded top honors among the lodges category. The float queen's extra long train is being carried by the little daffodil princesses (T.N.T., 4/10/49, p. 1, 12 & B-6).

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1949 : Tacoma);

View of the Tacoma City Light daffodil float; this float carried the Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival royalty through the downtown streets of Tacoma on April 9, 1949. Daffodil Queen Mary Jean Gropper is seated in center, her two attendants/princesses are seated below her, Frances Denzler and Marcia Keefe (T.N.T., 4/10/49, p. 1, 12 & B-6).

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1949 : Tacoma); Gropper, Mary Jean;

The 16th Annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade would begin on South 17th Street and Broadway and end on South 7th Street and Pacific Avenue. View of the Lions Club float featuring "Little Tyke", a live African lioness and three children; the Lions were awarded first place in the organizations and lodges category (T.N.T., 4/10/49, p. 1, 12 & B-6).

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1949 : Tacoma); Little Tyke (Lion);

Daffodil Queen Doreen Moody (second from right) and two of her princesses look on as Charles F. Wolf, chairman of the Hawaii committee of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce hands United Airlines hostess Katherine A. McDonald four boxes of Puyallup valley daffodils. In April of 1948, the Chamber of Commerce sent their sister organization in Honolulu a beautiful shipment of locally grown flowers to help advertise the up-coming Daffodil Festival. The United Airlines office was located in the Hotel Winthrop. The three members of the Daffodil court pictured are: (l to r) Princess Jerene Fly, Queen Doreen Moody and Princess Joy Lundgren. (T.Times, 4/2/1948, p.1)

Daffodils--Tacoma; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1948 : Tacoma); Fly, Jerene; Moody, Doreen; Lundgren, Joy; Wolf, Charles; McDonald, Katherine; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping;

Daffodil Parade, Times. Tacoma Vocational-Technical School won a special commendation in 1948 for their float which included a model of the new vocational school crowning their entry. (TNT, 4/3/1948, p.1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1948 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Daffodils--Tacoma; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); Architectural models;

Daffodil Parade, Times. The 3rd District of the Veterans of Foreigh Wars won 1st place for organizations and lodges other than service clubs for their float in 1948. They announced their state convention in Tacoma June 23 -26. (TNT, 4/3/1948, p.1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1948 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Daffodils--Tacoma; Veterans of Foreign Wars (Tacoma); Emblems; Veterans organizations--Tacoma;

Daffodil Parade, Times. A daffodil horse and buggy from the gay '90's tell us that, "All Roads Lead to Rhodes". Rhodes Department Store won 3rd place in the commercial division with this entry. (TNT, 4/3/1948, p.1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1948 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma; Horses--Tacoma; Carriages & coaches--Tacoma;

The Steve Pease family in daffodil-bedecked carriage. Owner of Steve's Cafe (more commonly known as Steve's Gay '90s), Steve Pease was a well-known figure in South Tacoma. His restaurant at 5238-40 South Tacoma Way was recognized for its homestyle cooking and rollicking family-oriented entertainment. With Mr. Pease in his horse-drawn buggy is wife Mary and daughter Dorothy Jean. They rolled along in front of a number of riders on horseback during the 1952 Daffodil Festival parade.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Stephen O.--Family; Pease, Stephen O.; Pease, Mary; Pease, Dorothy Jean;

Horseback riders proceed down 9th St. to Pacific in the 1952 Daffodil Parade. This is one of three mounted groups represented in the parade. Spectators perch on every available surface- fire escapes, windows, and even one precariously on the ledge of the roof of the building on the left.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma);

Floral fish blowing trumpets herald the arrival of Seattle Seafair's Queen on this float inviting all of Tacoma to "Come to the Fun" at Seattle's 1952 Centennial Seafair. The Seafair float is followed by a car pulling a flatbed loaded with young women in white evening gowns.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Throngs eagerly awaited the appearance of the many floats and marching units in the 1952 Daffodil Festival Parade. Lovely ladies representing Tacoma, Puyallup and Sumner waved to the crowds at the corner of South 9th and Pacific Ave. while aboard a daffodil-filled float which included a "fountain."

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial view of 1952 Daffodil Parade as it proceeds down Pacific Avenue. The day of the parade dawned clear and sunny, prompting 200,000 Tacomans to line the parade route. People stood 10 deep at prime viewing spots, with others watching from windows, awnings, hanging from fire escapes and perching on roofs.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Drill teams; Marching bands; Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Aerial photographs;

Members of the Sons of Norway salute the crowds lining Pacific Avenue near 11th during the 1958 Daffodil Parade. The men are standing behind shields on their Viking ship and are dressed for battle. United Mutual Savings Bank, Household Finance, and the new Selden's location can be spotted in the background.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1958 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma; Sons of Norway (Tacoma);

What would be a parade be without drill teams? An unidentified group of little girls and teenagers perform a routine for the huge crowds attending the 25th annual Daffodil Parade. Strutting down Pacific Avenue, they lift their knees high and hold their batons upright as they smile at their large audience. Brilliant sunshine accompanied their endeavors.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1958 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma; Drill teams;