1947 Daffodil royalty. Hand-tinted portrait of Queen Joan 1, Joan Eidson of Puyallup High School (center) and her princesses, Patricia (Patsy) Buffum (L) of Lincoln High School and Patricia (Pat) McMahon of Sumner High School. All three young women were seniors at their respective high schools. (T.Times 3-25-47, p. 1-article and alternate picture) ALBUM 15.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1947 : Tacoma); Eidson, Joan; Buffum, Patricia; McMahon, Patricia;
The 10th annual 1946 Daffodil parade drew one of the largest crowds in parade history. Many Pierce County businesses, organizations and schools signed up to appear in the parade. View of Puyallup Chamber of Commerce "The Pioneer Spirit"carriage. TPL-8697
Daffodils--Puyallup; Parades & processions--Puyallup; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1946 : Puyallup); Floats (Parades)--Puyallup;
The 16th annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival began with the coronation of the 1949 Daffodil Queen, and included activities such as flower shows, parades, yacht racing and ski races. Spectators are several feet deep while viewing the Young Men Business Club daffodil float which advertised the club's 25th anniversary. This float received 3rd prize in the service clubs float 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);
View of lovely float completely covered in dazzling daffodils; "Parkland Grows" is posted on side. Parade float princesses are helping bring awareness and publicity to the Parkland area of Tacoma; many new businesses have opened during the past year in Parkland (T.N.T., 4/10/49, p. 1, 12 & B-6). TPL-9965
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1949 : Tacoma);
Commercial businesses, organizations and lodges, and service clubs entered their floats in the 1949 Daffodil Festival parade, in hopes of winning first place or an honorable mention. View of the Lions Club float featuring "Little Tyke," a live African lioness, accompanied by 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 Parade, Times. Queen Doreen Moody and Princesses Joy Lundgren and Jerene Fly are seated on the royal float. They have had a busy week. The 15th annual Daffodil Festival began March 29, 1948. Coronation took place on March 2nd at Sumner High School. Parades through Tacoma, Sumner and Puyallup and a flower show took place March 3rd. The yacht parade and sail boat races on Commencement Bay took place March 4th and a ski race at Paradise Valley on Mount Rainier also took place on March 4th. (TNT, 3/30/1948, p.1)
Daffodil Parade, Times. The crowd is dispersing after the parade along Pacific Avenue. The parade had a 2 mile march line. The Cameo Theater and Bragets Auto Supply are seen on the left. A large number of people are crossing Pacific in the background at 11th Street. TPL-9923
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1948 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Daffodils--Tacoma; Crowds--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma;
Daffodil Parade, Times. The Amvets float represented a tank and a young woman waves to the crowd from the top. A band is in front of Peoples store heading past the Puget Sound Bank Building along Pacific Avenue. In all 1/2 million daffodils were used in the parade. One hundred floats, bands, mounted posses, and marchers appeared in the fifteenth annual parade.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1948 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Amvets Club (Tacoma); Veterans organizations--Tacoma; Peoples (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);
Daffodil Parade, Times. The Golden Arrow Archery Club depicted Robin Hood and his merry band with several members on the float in costume. A large circular target is shown at the rear of the float. Several members are walking ahead of the float pulling ropes. Mondau's Tug Boat Restaurant and Tavern is seen on the opposite side of the street as well as an entrance to a pool parlor.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1948 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Daffodils--Tacoma; Golden Arrow Archery Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma; Mondau's Tug Boat Restaurant & Tavern (Tacoma);
The second annual Tacoma Yacht Club Daffodil Festival Regatta. Several wooden power motored yachts, including the "Blanche D," gather on Puget Sound. The day of the regatta, April 3rd 1938, proved to be an exciting one. It opened with a morning fire on one of the yachts, continued on with a collision during the power boat race and ended with a small cabin cruiser capsizing, spilling 5 people into the frigid Puget Sound. They were rescued by a Foss tug. (T. Times 4/4/1938, pg. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Regattas--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma);
Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Lakewood Community Center floats moves down Pacific Avenue passing Merit Paint Store with "cut-rate prices", Stationers, and Washington Hardware. T.Times, 4/1/1939, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);
Sixth Annual Daffodil Parade. Lakewood Community Center float passes the Riviera Theatre. Spectators line sidewalks. By 1939, only one stage theater, The Little Theatre, is listed in Tacoma; all others are motion picture theaters. (T. Times, 4/1/39)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);
On April 1, 1939, all the best dressed parade riders were wearing daffodils. These two unidentified young women rode on a float credited to the sixth annual Daffodil Parade wearing dresses and hats made completely of flowers. They smiled brightly from under flower covered hats tied with chiffon bows underneath their chins and carried umbrellas.
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1939 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades);
1937 Daffodil Parade. Three patrolmen on motorcycles proceed a military unit, military band and flag bearers marching down Ninth Street to Pacific Avenue. (T. Times, 4/10/1937, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1937 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Marching bands--Tacoma--1930-1940;
1937 Daffodil Parade. Close-up of Festival Queen Dorothy I (Lyons) and her attendants, Eugenia Spencer of Tacoma and Hazel Phillips of Puyallup, standing on the reviewing stand at Tenth Street and Pacific. (T. Times, 4/10/1937, p. 1)
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1937 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Reviewing stands; Lyons, Dorothy; Spencer, Eugenia; Phillips, Hazel;
The Olympia Centennial Queen Royal and her court, dressed in pioneer garb, appear in the 1950 Daffodil Parade to advertise their upcoming celebration May 1-7th. In the background spectators view the parade from the front of Union Station. The two hour parade was led by the U.S. Marine color guard, followed by the Governor's car, with the cars bearing the mayors and officials of the sponsoring cities of Tacoma, Puyallup and Sumner immediately behind.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Union Station (Tacoma);
Daffodil court members smile in the early morning gloom aboard the Tacoma Kiwanis float as they line up for the parade. The Kiwanis' floral tribute to spring topped by a beautiful butterfly took second place in service club entrants in the 1950 parade. The parade was a grueling all day affair for marchers and float riders, beginning with the line up in the morning and the two hour parade through Tacoma, after which parade performers reassembled at noon in Puyallup for the march to Sumner.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kiwanis Club (Tacoma);
This float sponsored by the city of Bonney Lake celebrates the Boys Club. It is topped by two youngsters, one in a football uniform and one in skiing garb. The Bonney Lake float is making the turn from Broadway to 9th, followed by the Associated Contractors sweepstakes winning windmill float and a marching band. The cold weather in 1950 delayed the opening of many of the daffodil blooms, cutting the amount available for the parade in half.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma);
This "small fry" float representing the little old lady who lived in a shoe nursery rhyme passes down Pacific Ave. in the 1950 Daffodil Parade. The little old lady and her many children ride on the float. The Daffodil Parades had no theme until after 1951. The parade operated on a very small budget of about $5,000 financed through the sale of 50 cent daffodil buttons and contributions. Daffodil growers, although not the parade's biggest supporters, ended up being the biggest contributors, delivering approximately 1,000,000 flowers to the parade at a price well below market price.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma);
The 1950 Daffodil parade heralded the arrival of Spring and the coming of the Easter holidays, as evidenced by the bunny float entered by the Orting Lions Club. This float was 3rd place winner in class 2 service club entrants.The driver's head can be seen out the side of the bunny. Parade floats had to cut their demand for daffodils by one half when cold weather stopped many of the yellow blossoms from opening in time for the parade.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Lions Club (Orting);
This flower bedecked tribute to the new Narrows Bridge, which was under construction, was the 3rd place commercial entry award winning float, sponsored by Rhodes Brothers department store. The float boasted that now even "more roads will lead to Rhodes." The float had miniature cars crossing the span over a floral Puget Sound. Rhodes was Tacoma's largest department store and was located in downtown Tacoma on Broadway.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);
First place winner of the 1950 Daffodil parade class 2 service club entrants was this float by the Young Mens Business Club. Daffodil court members rode atop this sweetheart float decorated with daffodils and tulips. The 1950 parade was the largest ever with 125 units- 70 floats, 18 bands, and 26 marching organizations plus comic groups, mounted drill teams, and decorated automobiles.
Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960;
1968 Richards stock footage of 35th annual Daffodil Festival parade. It looks like the parade is over as the massive crowds disperse on April 6, 1968. The cold, brisk weather may not have caught many unaware as most of the crowd seems to be dressed in winter clothing and hats. The scene pictured above is the downtown business district near 11th & Pacific Avenue. Major Tacoma landmarks such as the Security Bldg. (formerly Provident Bldg.), Bank of California with its ionic columns, and the massive Washington Bldg. on the corner are clearly visible.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1968 : Tacoma); Crowds--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Security Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Bank of California National Association (Tacoma);
Clover Park School District marching band and girls' marching unit in Daffodil Parade. Resplendent in vibrant shades of deep green and white were the emissaries of Clover Park School District. The girls' marching units led the way for the more somberly-clad members of the high school's marching band. Despite threats of rain, the weather held off, at least in Tacoma, and local residents were able to bask in shirt-sleeve sunny conditions on April 12, 1969, at the 36th annual Daffodil Festival Parade. For the first time in the parade's long history, the Tacoma parade route started from Stadium High School's North "E" location, headed south on Stadium Way and rambled on down on Pacific Ave. to 21st St. This route change removed two right angle turns that floats had to navigate on the old Broadway/Pacific route and also permitted television cameras to capture scenic Commencement Bay footage to accent the outstanding floats. (TNT 4-13-69, B-2)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1969 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Marching bands;
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;
Shortly after the 1971 Junior Daffodil Parade was completed on March 26th, twelve Daffodil princesses posed with an Arabian horse and costumed rider in the vicinity of the Tacoma Totem Pole, 9th & A St. The high school seniors are all wearing rain jackets to combat the chilly and windy weather conditions. Jean Fink of Lakes High School, sixth from left and touching the Arabian, would be chosen Queen of the 1971 Daffodil Festival three days later. Photograph ordered by Daffodil Arabian Horse Show.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1971 : Tacoma); Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fink, Jean; Horses--Tacoma;
1971 Daffodil Parade. Chugging down Pacific Avenue on April 3, 1971, was the Gig Harbor entry to the 1971 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Parade. The vessel, festooned with bright yellow daffodils, had several young women dressed in wet weather gear waving to the large crowd. The artful use of daffodils won Gig Harbor the "Mayor's" trophy for best use of the flower. The theme of the 1971 parade was "Nature - Our Greatest Heritage." (TNT 4-3-71, p. 1 - article)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1971 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1970-1980;
1967 Daffodil Parade. Though the sun may have been lacking and the wind cold, people still poured out to fill the sidewalks and nearby office buildings for a view of the 1967 Puyallup Valley Daffodil parade as it meandered through the streets of downtown Tacoma. Among the many floats on April 8, 1967, was the Lakewood Unlimited entry entitled "Flight of Fancy." Swooping on butterfly wings were the four princesses of the Lakewood Summer Festival, Sally Fiss and Chris Hickson of Clover Park High School and Patsy Thompson and Ann Harris of Lakes High. The Lakewood float was one of 31 floats that had entered the parade. It was the first prize winner among unincorporated communities. (TNT 4-8-67, A-1, TNT 4-9-67, B-3)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1967: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Daffodils--Tacoma;
