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 Parade. Hoping to excite the throngs gathered to view the 1970 Daffodil Parade as it passes by the bus depot on Pacific Avenue, some members of the 40-piece Woodrow Wilson High School drill team raise their arms in a cheer and salute. Led by captain Sharon Tinsman, the colorfully dressed girls are preceding the school's 82-piece band. No rain clouds threatened the enjoyment of the parade that year as brilliant sunshine was present throughout the parade's three city tour.

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

1971 Daffodil Parade. Rather than racing, these two charioteers move in step down the Tacoma parade route of the 1971 Daffodil Festival Parade. Both chariots are adorned with bright yellow daffodils and are being pulled by teams of brown and grayish horses.

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

1971 Daffodil Parade. Mayor Gordon N. Johnston and wife Esther wave to the throngs alongside Pacific Avenue on April 3, 1971, at the start of the annual Daffodil Festival Parade. Behind them in another antique automobile is Basil Anton and wife; Mr. Anton is the president of the Festival. Paradegoers were fortunate to have blue skies and plenty of sunshine for this springtime parade.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1971 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Johnston, Gordon N.; Johnston, Esther; Anton, Basil; Anton, Basil--Family; Automobiles--Tacoma;

1972 Daffodil Parade. "Lady of the Lake" was the name of the Olympia Capital Lakefair float in the 1972 Grand Floral Parade. This rosy entry captured second place in the "Communities and cities over 5,000 population" division.

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

1972 Daffodil Parade. Police units from both the Tacoma Police Department and Pierce County Sheriff were an integral part of the annual Daffodil Parade. Proceeding down wet Pacific Avenue on April 8, 1972, was believed to be a contingent from the Tacoma Police Department. The motorcycle officers were in "V" formation.

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

1973 Daffodil Festival Parade. The theme of the 40th annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade was "Happiness Is." This unidentified float, one of 27 in the parade, adds to the theme with "To the Stars." The float is colorfully decorated in golden daffodils including several large stars and a mixture of blue and white flowers, possibly signifying the sky and clouds. Children dressed in multi-colored shawls and pretty dresses wave to the crowds lining Pacific Avenue.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1973 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1974 Daffodil Festival Parade. The Afifi Temple had an appropriate float for the April 6, 1974, Daffodil Festival Grand Parade whose theme was "What the World Needs Now..." The country was suffering from a shortage of gasoline so the Afifi entry which had paused on its route down Pacific Avenue to "fill" up a clown's tiny cycle, probably spoke volumes to the parade spectators. A daffodil "oil derrick" is displayed behind a flower-bedecked tent. Several persons dressed in colorful "Middle Eastern" garb monitor the distribution of oil and gas. Fresh palm branches were imported and placed among the 35,000 daffodils. The clever Afifi Temple float captured the Grand Award, runner-up to the FTD Sweepstakes.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1974 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1974 Daffodil Parade. "Fun and Laughter" certainly exemplified the Bates Vocational-Technical Institute's entry in the 1974 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Grand Parade. Raggedy Ann and Andy rode on top of the golden daffodil-covered float along with a giant Jack-in-the-box, brightly colored blocks and a small carousel. Two clowns, one on a unicycle, and four marching "blocks" completed the entertaining float. With an artful use of 40,000 daffodils, the Bates float captured the FTD Sweepstakes Award for the best in show.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1974 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Clowns;

Grand Award winner. The St. Regis Paper Co. won the 36th annual Daffodil Festival Parade's Grand Award with its two-piece float, "Memoirs of Henry Foss," an homage to the 77-year-old native Tacoman who helped build Foss Launch and Tug into one of the largest firms of its kind on the Pacific Coast. The creation of the float came as a complete surprise to Mr. Foss who found out about the honor the morning of the parade when his son Drew escorted him to view the float. The float was divided into two sections; the first was a 20-foot replica of the tug, "Henry Foss," and was adorned with 40,000 flowers. The second piece, totaling 65 feet, displayed a boathouse, similar to the one on which Mr. Foss was born in, and rowboats, the firm's first boating rentals. 110,000 blossoms decorated the larger section. Karen Herman (Dowsett) served as "captain" of the Foss tugboat. According to Mrs. Herman, she agreed to wear the "pants" outfit in lieu of the more popular dresses in order to prevent further arguments among the float models. It proved to be a lucky decision as she got her own float and even more special, had the honor of receiving Henry Foss' own navy blue watch cap. She received a hug from Mr. Foss and was told to enjoy the day in the beautiful tugboat. Later in 1969 Mrs. Herman wrote to Mr. Foss and requested his autograph on her picture taken that day. She was thrilled to get a note from Mr. Foss in response to her request, the autographed photograph, and a compliment on her competent piloting through the streets of Tacoma. (Additional information received from Karen Herman (Dowsett) (TNT 4-12-69, p. 1, TNT 4-13-69, B-2, B-3)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1969 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Daffodils--Tacoma; Herman, Karen Dowsett; Dowsett, Karen;

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;

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;

1978 Daffodil Festival Parade. The Olympic Arabian Pleasure Horse Club members and their nine pure or one-half Arabian horses moved majestically down Pacific Avenue during the 1978 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade. The riders hail from the Bremerton area. They wear attractive costumes that are handmade. The Olympic Arabian Pleasure Horse Club would win third place in the Mounted Units category. They were one of the 13 horse units entered in the parade.

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

The Honolulu Conservatory of Music's float from the 1951 Daffodil Parade. Two men sit in the front seat. Two young women are seated above the back seat, one holding an accordion and one with a guitar. Large music staves have been added to the front of the car which has been covered with daffodils and outlines of notes.

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Accordions; Guitars;

This daffodil-covered "zoo" depicting a jungle theme was just one of the 70 floats entered in the 1951 Daffodil Parade. On top of the cage were two young ladies in leopard-spotted strapless dresses while inside the cage, petting a lion created out of daffodils, is another young lady in a two-piece zebra-striped bathing suit. Crowds estimated at 100,000 lined downtown streets, fire escapes and peered out of office buildings to view the 1 1/2 hour procession. The float is pictured on Pacific Avenue passing the California Oyster House (930 Pacific) and Norman R. Smith's Men's Clothing (928 Pacific). (TNT 4-7-51, p. 1-article on parade)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); California Oyster House (Tacoma); Norman R. Smith's (Tacoma);

Decorated with hundreds, if not thousands of golden daffodils, the Jordan Baking Co. float proceeded down Pacific Avenue during the 18th annual Daffodil Festival Parade on April 7, 1951. It was photographed passing the Washington Hardware Co. (922-24 Pacific) and the Stationers, Inc. (926-28). Aboard was a display of the company's familiar wrapping and a subtle reminder of the freshness of its products. Jordan's was believed to be the state's largest independent bakery and had won numerous awards for its bread. Its "Fresh As A Daisy" float won second place in the parade's Commercial Division. (TNT 4-8-51, A9-alt. photo)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1951 : Tacoma); Jordan Baking Co. (Tacoma); Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Stationers, Inc. (Tacoma);

The Cammarano Brothers' float won second place in the Industrial Division of the 1955 Daffodil Parade. It depicts the Golden Future of space travel. Two big headed Kewpie doll figures light a rocket ready to shoot off into space, while markers show the distance to the moon, sun and Milky Way. The crowd shields itself from the rain with umbrellas while the float rolls past. The best seats for the parade this year were the upper story windows, where viewers were shielded from the elements.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

The theme of the Tacoma Kiwanis Club float was "Peace, the Golden Future." The float won second place in the Service Club Division of the 1955 Daffodil Parade. On the float, three girls sit amidst what appear to be blossoming cherry trees and doves. The girls appear to be shivering in their lacy shawls in the cool spring air.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kiwanis Club (Tacoma);

This humorous float received Honorable Mention in the retail catagory. In keeping with the theme of "Golden Future," two women sit at the back of the float on the covered patio sipping ice tea and visiting while two robots mow the lawn and trim the hedges. The float was sponsored by McKinnon's Department store. The store was located at 3639 So. "G" and was owned by Ray and Alice B. McKinnon.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; McKinnon's Department Store (Tacoma);

The float entered by the Knights of Pythias won 3rd place in Division 4, Fraternal groups, in the 1955 Daffodil Parade. In keeping with the theme "Golden Future," steps labelled benevolence, charity and friendship lead to the doorway flanked with the words Universal Brotherhood. The Pythian symbol adorns the front of the float, a triangle within a triangle. The float is being pulled by a late model convertible.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Knights of Pythias (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Twelve princesses for the 1956 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival, dressed in Easter dresses and hats and holding baskets of flowers. Preparations were well underway for the 23rd annual Daffodil Festival to be held on April 9-15, 1956. Twelve candidates were vying for Queen. Seated left to right in row 1 are Dianne Divelbiss of Sumner and Judy Poolman of Sumner. 2nd row: Donna Kaelin of Sumner, Nancy Rosario of Sumner, Cheryl McDonald of Tacoma, Evelyn Strandley of Puyallup. 3rd row: Frances Delano of Puyallup, Connie Vandewall of Puyallup, Judy Nelson of Puyallup, Margaret Strachan of Tacoma. Top Row-Kathy Gustafson of Tacoma and Betty Zevenberger of Tacoma. Margaret Strachan was crowned Queen by Governor Arthur Langley April 9th in Spartan Hall in Sumner. The 18 year old Stadium High School senior was the first Tacoma girl ever elected Queen. Princesses were Diane Divelbiss, 17 year old Sumner senior, and Evelyn Strandley, 16 year old Puyallup junior. (TNT 4/1/1956, pg. D-1, TNT 4/10/1956, pg.1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956); Divelbiss, Dianne; Poolman, Judy; Kaelin, Donna; Rosario, Nancy; McDonald, Cheryl; Strandley, Evelyn; Delano, Frances; Vandewall, Connie; Nelson, Judy; Strachan, Margaret; Gustafson, Kathy; Zevenberger, Betty;

The characters from the famous L. Frank Baum childrens' book "The Wizard of Oz" populate this float in the Daffodil Parade. Waving to the audience are Dorothy, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and Princess Ozma of Oz. The Oz float was sponsored by the West Coast Grocery's Shop Rite Markets and won the Festival Award for 1956. The float had an 8 x 10 replica of the book and used 40,000 daffodils for coverage. (TNT 4/14/1956, pg. 1; 4/15/1956, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The nursery rhyme "Mary Mary, quite contrary" is the theme of this float; Mary waves to the crowd as she waters streams of flowers on her garden of "pretty maids all in a row." This float was sponsored by the Sears and Roebuck Co. and won first place in the Retail division, division 8. The parade viewers are bundled up in coats and hats as the day was dull and overcast, but the pretty maids show off their stems in short skirts. (TNT 4/14/1956, pg. 1; 4/15/1956, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau seems to have transported this float directly from the Arabian Nights to the Daffodil Festival. Two harem girls in black two piece outfits adorn the front of the float, while the sultan sits cross legged in the rear. The two Nubian slaves appear to be floral mannequins. The flower bedecked float adheres to the 1956 theme of "Storytime in Daffodils" and won first place in Division 6, other clubs and organizations.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau (Tacoma);

Two horsemen representing the Tacobat Grotto fraternal organization lead the way for a small horse and cart publicizing the benefit show for the handicapped to be held on May 16, 1954. The tiny cart is well covered with daffodils, including the wheels, as it marches along in the 21st annual Daffodil Parade. There were 135 marching units of all varieties taking part in addition to 52 floats.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacobat Grotto (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Horses--Tacoma;

Bathing beauties on the Rhodes Brothers Department Store ocean-themed float wave happily to the packed reviewing stands during the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Over 100,000 people turned out to watch the 21st annual parade and television stations provided access to thousands more. The Rhodes entry was awarded first place in the Retail division. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

Members of the Marcetta-Ki drill team from Lincoln High School perform a snappy maneuver for the thousands watching the 1954 Daffodil Parade. The unpredictable spring weather brought a day of sunshine after several days of rain; the parade enjoyed plenty of sun and 50 degree temperatures. View of drill team pausing in front of Puget Sound National Bank on Pacific Avenue; total length of the parade route in Tacoma was two miles.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marcetta-Ki (Tacoma); Drill teams;

Crowds of 5-20 people deep lined the streets of downtown Tacoma for the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Thousands jammed the windows in stores and office buildings; it was estimated that over 100,000 people saw the parade. Brilliant sunshine and 50 degree temperatures greeted parade participants and watchers alike. There were 52 floats and 135 marching units involved; view of military and auxiliary groups marching along the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue. (TNT 4-10-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960;