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;

Tacoma Indian Hospital's entry in the 1958 Daffodil Parade was entitled "Legend of Hiawatha." Seated under a rainbow arch of blossoms is Hiawatha and his bride, Minnehaha, both dressed in Native American garments. The Hiawatha float, accompanied by special music, won first place in the "Other Clubs and Organizations" division. The theme for the 1958 parade was "Fairy Tales in Daffodils." (TNT 4-13-58, B-9)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1958 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma; Tacoma Indian Hospital (Tacoma);

An out-of-town entry in the 1957 Daffodil Parade was a float sponsored by the Beach Haven Resort on Orcas Island. The large float was decorated in daffodils and green foliage. It had a castle on the top level and the slogan, "Where Your Vacation Dreams Come True." Photograph ordered by Beach Haven Resort.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Beach Haven Resort (Orcas Island); Signs (Notices);

A genuine cable car from the Municipal Railway of San Francisco was the Steve's Gay '90s entry in the 1957 Daffodil Parade. A Dixieland band on board entertains parade spectators while women and children, dressed in costumes of long ago, peer out of the conveyance. A multitude of daffodils cover the base of the cable car. View of Steve's entry as it passes 11th & Pacific; the 11th Street Bridge is in the background. Photograph ordered by Steve's.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cable railroads--Tacoma; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma);

Keep the Home Fires Burning was the Oil Information Committee of Pierce County's entry in the 1957 Daffodil Parade. A profusion of daffodils decorate this float with the vehicle pulling the float completely covered with flowers. A smaller truck advertising oil heat is also bedecked with blossoms as well as the little girl's house. The small child keeps a firm grip on the lamppost as the parade continues down Pacific Avenue. This entry won first place in the Wholesale and Industrial Division. Photograph ordered by the Oil Information Committee of Pierce County. (TNT 4-14-57, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Oil Information Committee of Pierce County (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;

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;

The Suitsus, owned by Harold Thompson of Tacoma, its sails decorated with thousands of daffodils, won an honorable mention in the 1954 Puget Sound Daffodil Regatta. More than 200 boats participated in the parade, including sailboats, purse seiners, and the City fireboat which tossed thousands of gallons of colored water into the air for a beautiful water fountain effect. The surrounding hillsides, Old Tacoma Dock and Ruston Way were crammed with spectators enjoying the impressive procession of vessels. Photograph ordered by the TNT. (TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;

Thousands were expected to line the city waterfront to watch the 200+ daffodil adorned boats proceed from the Tacoma Yacht Club to the City Waterway. This would be the final activity in the 1954 Daffodil festivities. Flags and flowers decorate the purse seiners Joann and Memories, among others, as they file in single formation past a reviewing yacht containing the Daffodil queen, Mary Carlile, and guests. The Joann, owned by George J. Peterson of Peterson Boat Co., won a special award. The festival would officially end when the last boat vanished from view. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1, TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;

Two majestic elk, festooned with blossoms, "pull" an old fashioned streetcar in the 1953 Daffodil parade. The float was entered by the Tacoma Elks Club; the surface of the float, including its sides and also the streetcar, are covered with daffodils. There is a policeman, dressed in an old-time uniform, and conductor on board along with several passengers. Photograph ordered by Jay Downs.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1953 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Elk; Street railroads--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Herb Erickson leads his students in a melody during the 1953 Daffodil parade. He was a teacher of the Honolulu Conservatory of Music; the school taught accordion and guitar to aspiring musicians. View of Erickson conducting his ensemble of accordionists, guitarists and bass player. Hundreds of daffodils cover the float, including a shell and two musical symbols, as well as a multitude of wooden notes. Photograph orderd by Floyd Piper.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1953 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Honolulu Conservatory of Music (Tacoma); Erickson, Herb; Accordions; Guitars; Daffodils--Tacoma;

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);

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;