The "Golden Future" is placed securely in the stars with the Independent Order of Foresters' entry, a daffodil bedecked flying saucer. This float won second place in the fraternal organization catagory of the 1955 Daffodil Parade. The driver wears a trench coat and safari hat to protect him from the rain and umbrellas have sprung up all over the crowd.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Independent Order of Foresters 327 (Tacoma);

In keeping with th 1955 Daffodil Parade theme of "Golden Future," The Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau's float "Dream of the Future" had an engaged couple riding on it circled by a huge diamond engagement ring and standing in front of a miniature home. The float was designed and built by Roy Stier, designer of many previous prize winning floats. The College of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran College submitted the names of six couples that had wedding dates set before June 30th and one lucky couple was selected to ride on the float and receive prizes from various retailers. The front of the float is adorned with a cupid and floral dragonflies.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau (Tacoma);

Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners) march in formation both before and after their band in the 1955 Daffodil Parade. They are wearing the traditional Moorish costumes topped with the fez hat. The parade was unified with the theme "Golden Future." It featured 56 floats, decorated with 1,250,000 blooms, 25 bands and drill teams, 12 decorated cars, 3 drum and bugle corps, 5 mounted units and 3 comic entries. The parade started north on Broadway at 10a.m., east on 9th and then south on Pacific Ave. They reformed to march in Puyallup at 1p.m. and Sumner at 2:30p.m.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma);

The Girl Scouts of America are well represented as they march down Pacific Ave. past the Bank of California building and the United Mutual Savings Bank in the 1955 Daffodil Parade.The girls wear the traditional uniform of skirt, shirt, kerchief and beret type hat. Bands worn diagonally across their chests are for displaying merit badges. There are lots of ankle socks and saddle shoes in the group. The leaders march along with their girls.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Girl Scouts (Tacoma);

An unidentified mounted posse, one of five in the 1955 Daffodil Parade, rides past the intersection of Pacific Ave. and 11th Street. The horses' rumps are adorned with a blanket of daffodils. The riders wear western cowboy hats and jackets with ties. Some in the crowd hold up umbrellas to shield them from the rain. The rains and cool weather did not deter over 200,000 spectators from turning out to view the tribute to the Puyallup Valley's money crop, the King Alfred daffodil.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Horseback riding--Tacoma; Horses--Tacoma;

A marching band rounds the turn from 9th onto Pacific Ave., preceding the Pacific Lutheran College float in the 1955 Daffodil Parade. The College's floral tribute to the year's theme "Golden Future'' depicts a globe issuing a rainbow and won the first place in the education and youth division. Rain and cool temperatures did not dissuade over 200,000 hardy souls from lining the streets to view the 22nd annual parade.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Tacoma Elks were perennial entrants in the Daffodil Parade. In 1954, their float was festooned with blossoms, including the elks' reins and sides of the wagon. Washington "vacation land" seemed to be their theme that year; members involved are wearing fishing and skiing attire. There were 52 floats entered; awards were given in many categories. While the Tacoma Naval Station won the Sweepstakes award, the Elks entry did capture first place in Fraternal Groups. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

The annual Daffodil Parade attracted participants from all over the state. Entry #55 in the 1954 parade belonged to the Hanford, Washington, Knights of Pythias organization. A flower bedecked and fringed automobile slowly pulled a daffodil covered pyramid with the large letter "C" along Pacific Avenue past spectators in front of the National Bank of Washington building.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Knights of Pythias (Hanford); Fraternal organizations;

Steve Pease, owner of the popular Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant in South Tacoma, often had an entry in the city's Daffodil Parades. His buggy is decorated with hundreds of blooms as it is pulled along Pacific Avenue during the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Two "street cleaners" in white uniforms stand behind an equally dazzling white wheeled trash can and a sign proclaiming "Steve's smorgasbord" as the "cleanest in town!"

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Stephen O.; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1950-1960;

All of the boats entered in the 1954 Daffodil marine parade were decorated with blossoms; this particular vessel even had its initials spelled out in daffodils. The name of the boat may have been the "Mony Boy". Hundreds of flowers were used to nearly cover the entire boat, leaving barely enough room for the two lounging riders.

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

Entry #76 in the 1954 Daffodil marine parade was a long, sleek craft with two large flowered butterflies on display. Three ladies are shown on board, with two waving gently to onlookers. Thousands of spectators watched the parade from Ruston Way, surrounding hillsides and the Old Tacoma Dock. More than 200 boats, all decorated with daffodils, proceeded from the Tacoma Yacht Club to the City Waterway. (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;

For 56 years, in 2008, the annual Marine Parade has brought the Daffodil Festival season to a close. Entry #99 in the 1954 Puget Sound Daffodil Regatta was covered with literally thousands of blossoms, including windshield, making it truly a floating garden of daffodils. The boats passed, one by one, in front of a reviewing yacht carrying the Daffodil queen, Mary Carlile, and her guests. Once the last boat had passed from view, the Festival would officially end. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune.

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

This float, designed for the Omaha Woodman Life Insurance Society, has a frontier theme and appears to be populated by Boy Scouts. The Scouts embrace the frontier way of life foraging for their own food by rifle, bow and arrow and fishing. Two boys wave a large American flag. A floral log cabin occupies the front half of the float. This was one of 59 floral float entries in the 1956 parade, the 23rd annual Daffodil Festival Parade.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Omaha Woodman Life Insurance Society (Tacoma);

McKinnon's Department store's contribution to the 1956 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade is dedicated to "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin eater." It is the story of a man who couldn't hang on to his wife, so he put her in a pumpkin shell where she seems quite content to remain in this picture. A bevy of beautiful girls with daffodil chain crowns ride on the front of the float. This float won third place in Division 8, retail stores, behind Sears and Rhodes.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; McKinnon's Department Store (Tacoma);

Float #13 in the 1958 Daffodil Parade was entitled "Alaska's Future in Oil" and was sponsored by the Pierce County Oil Information Committee. The float emphasized Alaska's vast oil resources and its desire to become our 49th state. Three children dressed in identical hoods and warm clothing, perhaps reflecting the future population of the forthcoming state, were seated on the float.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1958 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma; Pierce County Oil Information Committee (Tacoma);

Throngs line Pacific Avenue outside Hopper-Kelly, Washington Camera Mart and Horluck's to admire the entries in the 1958 Daffodil Parade. Passing slowly by was Float #30, sponsored by the Savings & Loan Associations of Tacoma, the top Sweepstakes Award winner. "Cinderella", Kathy Gustafson, rode in an open carriage pulled by four prancing horses, preceded by the smiling Fairy Godmother, Naoma Williams. Joann Greer was the pre-ball Cinderella. At 70 feet the longest float in the parade, the Savings & Loan Associations float was covered with 60,000 daffodils. The Daffodil Festival theme that year was "Fairy Tales in Daffodils." (TNT 4-12-58, A-1, TNT 4-13-58, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1958 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma; Savings & Loan Associations of Tacoma (Tacoma);

A giant bird of peace is at the foreground of the Tacoma Vocational Technical Institute's entry in the 1964 Daffodil parade. "Peace Among Nations" is the float's motto. Three lovely ladies wave to the throngs watching the parade while two soldiers provide an escort. This was the 31st Daffodil parade. 33 floats using more than two million daffodils, 24 bands including two from Oregon, 17 marching units, and seven mounted units were televised live on KTNT-TV and viewed in person by thousands in Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting. (TNT 4-10-64, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1964 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Stock footage of the 1965 Daffodil Parade. The City of Wenatchee's entry into the 32nd Daffodil Parade was entitled "Apple Blossom Spectacular" and featured Apple Blossom Queen Barbara Erickson in velvet robes and her attendants, Kathleen Stockstill and Amy Radewan. On the flower bedecked float, glistening "apples" grew on curving "branches."

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1965 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Erickson, Barbara; Stockstill, Kathleen; Radewan, Amy;

Stock footage Daffodil Parade. The annual Daffodil Parade always drew entrants from out of the area and 1965 was no exception. The White Pass School Band traveled a fair distance to march in the 32nd annual parade. Accompanied by students carrying the school banner, majorette and drum major, the band marched proudly down Pacific Ave. on April 10, 1965. They were dressed in military styled dress uniforms with hats. White Pass was one of 20 bands participating in the parade; they joined the 29 floats, 14 drill teams, five drum & bugle corps and seven mounted units under breezy, mid-50 degree weather conditions. View of band; Bank of California and Washington Building in background. TPL-500 (TNT 4-9-65, A-1, TNT 4-10-65, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1965 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Marching bands; Signs (Notices); Drum majors; Drum majorettes; Washington Building (Tacoma); Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Band uniforms;

The Queen and her court on the Tacoma City Light float make the turn onto Pacific Avenue to the delight of thousands of spectators viewing the 1957 Daffodil Parade. Escorted by dapper caped men, the Portland Rosarians, Daffodil queen Janice Methven of Lincoln High School and princesses are seated on a slender barge of blossoms, with an enormous eye-catching lyre as the backdrop. The theme of the 24th annual Daffodil Festival was "Melodies in Daffodils". 60,000 King Alfred daffodils decorated the float "Pomp and Circumstance", including a fountain spraying streams of golden flowers. Photograph ordered by Tacoma City Light. (TNT 4-13-57, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Methven, Janice;

Sporting a very patriotic theme, the U.S. Army Reserve float was one of 47 entries in the 1957 Daffodil Parade. A giant eagle perches majestically aboard the float while Diane Ryan, Fife High School senior and newly elected Queen of the Army Reserve, and her four princesses wave and smile at the crowds thronging Pacific Avenue. As with all entered floats, only blossoms were used as decorations with other natural items, such as woods and foliage. 40,000 daffodils were used on the float which won first place in the Armed Services division. Photograph ordered by the U.S. Army Reserve. (TNT 4-14-57, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Patriotism; Ryan, Diane;

Crowds line the streets of downtown Tacoma to view the Lions Club entry cruise by during the 1957 Daffodil Parade. Children in sailor suits, possibly those of club members, frolic on the bright yellow tug. Even the smokestack and floating device are made of compressed daffodils. 50,000 daffodils were used for "On the Good Ship Lollipop". The Lions Club entry was awarded 3rd place among Service Clubs. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Lions Club. (TNT 4-14-57, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Spectators--Tacoma; Lions Club (Tacoma);

Rain did not deter these youngsters from rushing to Float #28, a Dutch wonderland of daffodil fields, during the 30th annual Daffodil Festival on April 6, 1963. While the wet and chilly weather, unusual in the past few Daffodil parades, may have forced some spectators to huddle under canopies, other Tacomans stoically stood on the sidewalks to view the colorful spectacle of 27 floats, 34 marching bands, and 37 drill teams. Thousands would watch the parade in person, warmly dressed to ward off rain and cold, while thousands of others would view the procession in the comfort of their own homes via television. Approximately two million daffodils were used in the parade. (TNT 4-6-63, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1963 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Daffodils--Tacoma; Windmills--Tacoma;

Float #19 with its carousel and miniature ferris wheel slowly proceeded through the wet streets of downtown Tacoma on April 6, 1963. Entitled "Moments of Make Believe," it was the Fife Boosters Club's entry in the 30th annual Daffodil Parade. The three princesses, Jane Durr on throne, Diane Reck and Janie Yamada standing, bore umbrellas and wore sheer raincoats to protect them against the rain. The eight children on the carnival rides also appeared equipped with rain gear. Depicting great moments in the lives of children, the Fife community's entry won first prize in Division 3, incorporated communities over 1500 population. (TNT 4-7-63, B-8)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1963 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Merry-go-rounds--Tacoma; Ferris wheels--Tacoma;

Billye Fairchild strikes a pose in her Jantzen swimsuit in a field of Spring daffodils in March of 1934. She smiles gamely, despite what is undoubtedly chilly Northwest Spring weather. She is providing a little "cheesecake" for the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival, to be held March 17-18, 1934. Miss Fairchild lists her occupation in the 1934 City Directory as waitress and her address as 1120 So. 14th Street. Miss Fairchild was also chosen as Tacoma's royal attendant for the 1934 festival.

The 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. Three bathing beauties, left to right, Frankie Cowan, Betty Brumbaugh and Billye Fairchild, pose in a field of bright yellow daffodils as a promotion for the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival, March 17-18, 1934. The flower festival, loosely patterned on the Dutch flower festivals held around Easter, started with a small group of organizers and a budget of $600 and grew to one of America's oldest flower extravaganzas. TPL-9418

On this float in the 1936 Daffodil Parade, the flower vase has tipped over, sending the daffodils and the smiling girls they hold to the ground. Peeking around the edge of her flower is Mary Frances Cavanaugh, left, and in the other blossom is Weda Claire Dykeman. Mary Frances is the daughter of Cecil Cavanaugh, of Cavanaugh Lumber Co., and Weda Claire is the daughter of Doug Dykeman. (T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)

The 1936 Daffodil court is getting out of their vehicle at the base of the reviewing stand on So. 10th Street & Pacific, a 35-feet-high, four-tiered structure covered with 200,000 daffodils. They will ascend to the first daffodil covered platform to view the parade as it passes by. The pylon was the photo opportunity of the third annual Daffodil Festival. The old bank building at 10th and Pacific, overhead streetcar wires, and the ruins of The Tacoma Hotel punctuate the background. (T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)

An enthusiastic crowd watched in awe as the first Daffodil Parade rolled by in 1934. The parade, designed to use the leftover daffodil blooms that were formerly thrown away when the bulb was harvested, has become a much anticipated annual feature of the spring festival. There has been a parade every year since 1934, with the exception of the war years of 1943, 1944 and 1945. In 1934, the parade consisted of decorated horses, bicycles, flower covered automobiles and a few floats. It started at Union Station and continued uptown. It later travelled to Puyallup, Sumner and Orting. In this photograph, two flower bedecked automobiles pass by delighted spectators.

On March 17, 1934 at 1:30p.m. in the afternoon, the first Daffodil Parade rolled out from Union Station, proceeded uptown through Tacoma and later through Puyallup, Sumner and Orting and on into history. There has been a parade every year since 1934, with the exception of the war years of 1943, 1944 and 1945. The parade in 1934 was composed of decorated horses, bicycles, automobiles and floats. This vehicle covered with the early spring blossom was sponsored by the Lions Club, a civic organization.