A child rode in the large wicker basket atop a flower bedecked automobile in the first Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade in March of 1934. The early Daffodil Festival parades were held in late March at a time when the golden daffodils were blooming profusely. This float was sponsored by Mannings Inc., a tea and coffee dealer. Few entries in that first parade were as lavish as this one. Awards were given in eight categories in 1934: best pony, best horse, best bicycle, best Valley Exhibit Car, best Garden Club float, best service club float and best commercial division float. Mannings took the best commercial float honors for their beautifully decorated entry. (T.Times 3-19-34, p. 1-article; p. 5-alternate photograph)

Governor Clarence D. Martin rides in an open car for the Labor Day parade in 1934. Gov. Martin sits on the left side of the rear seat of the automobile, beside him sits Mayor George Smitley's wife dressed in white; the man on the right is unidentified. Tacoma Mayor Smitley rides next to the driver in the front seat. The group rides past the Bostwick Building, 755-71 Saint Helens Ave., at this time occupied by William Whetstone, the Credit Dentist. In the background, streetcars are parked to accomodate the passing of the parade. Later the same group would oversee the dedication of the relocated and reconstructed Fort Nisqually at Point Defiance.

Tacoma loves a good parade and Labor Day of 1934 was no exception. The Chamber of Commerce float bears Miss Tacoma, Queen of the Labor Day festivities and the Seattle Potlatch, Roberta Cohoon, down the parade route. She is attended by Margie Christen, left, and Eleanor Layton. The parade preceded the dedication ceremony for the relocated and restored Fort Nisqually. (TDL 9/4/1934, pg. 1)

ca. 1935. The Rotary Club, almost always represented in the Daffodil Parade, entered this flower covered car in one of the early parades, most likely 1935. The automobile has so many flowers that even the wheels are covered with their own bouquets.

ca. 1935. This float was entered in one of the very early Daffodil Festival parades, most likely 1935. A grass covered car is topped by a daffodil basket in which sit two charming cherubs. The two children are dressed formally, he in top hat and tails and she in a white bonnet. The floats at this time period were very simple; usually flower covered cars or mounted on the flat beds of small trucks.

Margaret Thomas, crowned Queen Margaret I of the 1935 Greater Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival, smiles serenely over her bouquet of daffodils. The twenty three year old from Sumner was the first Queen chosen in an actual contest. Queen Margaret was selected from a field of ten candidates. The very first Festival Queen, Mrs. Elizabeth Lee Wooten, was selected by a committee without a contest. Until the mid-1950s, the Queen was always from Sumner or Puyallup, the birthplaces of the daffodil industry.

The 6th Avenue Business Men's Club entry in the 1935 Daffodil Parade and the winner of the $25 Sweepstakes prize for best float. The float features a flora replica of the Narrows Bridge. Disaster was narrowly averted the night before the parade when decorators ran out of flowers at midnight with the float unfinished. A delegation of volunteers journeyed out to pick 3,000 daffodils by moonlight at the Fox Island fields of Arthur Wright. The float was finished and declared the best of the fifty entered floats. It has over 18,000 blooms. (T. Times 3/25/1935, pg. 16) (filed with Argentum)

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma);

The John Dower Lumber Co. float in the 1935 Daffodil Parade. This floral tribute was the first prize winner in Division IV, commercial entries. It displayed a miniature house, all constructed of daffodils, with real glass windows.

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma);

The viewing stand for the 1935 Daffodil Parade, a daffodil fountain erected in Broadway Square, at 9th and Broadway. The framework for the fountain was 25 feet square and 25 feet high and was constructed by carpenters on loan from the Fisher Co., Rhodes Department store and the Hotel Winthrop. Into its chicken wire framework were thrust 100,000 daffodil blossoms, giving it a fresh, sunny yellow glow. Over 175,000 blossoms were used to decorate Pacific Avenue and over a million were used on the floats. (filed with Argentum)

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma);

Merrill Almanac's entry in the 1935 Daffodil Parade. Two people pose by a decorated basket with "Merrill Almanac" on its side by the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park. (filed with Argentum)

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma); Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma); Greenhouses--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Flower bedecked automobile used as Tacoma Seed Company float in the 1935 Daffodil Parade, parked in front of the Seymour Conservatory at Wright's Park. Sign on float reads "Tacoma Seed Co. headquarters for Von Zonnevelt Farm Bulbs."

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma); Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma); Greenhouses--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The 1935 Daffodil Parade proceeds down 9th in front of the Roxy, now the Pantages. The 25 foot "daffodil fountain," the royal viewing stand, can be seen at the intersection of 9th and Broadway. The Girls' Drum & Bugle Corps of the John R. Thompson Post of the USWV is caught in mid action prancing down the street followed by a floral laden automobile, sponsored by the National Farmers' Union of Puyallup. Up the hill on 9th can be seen the Music Box, Rialto and the First Baptist Church. Crowds, many layers thick, have turned out to view the parade. (TDL 3/24/1935, pg. 1)

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma);

Queen Margaret I, Margaret Thomas of Sumner, and her four attendants pose on their Daffodil Parade float on March 23, 1935. The attendants are, left to right, Irma Jane Janig, Sumner; Billie Barto, Puyallup; Olive Chervenka, Sumner; and Evelyn Mellinger of Tacoma. The 1935 parade was the second annual.

The float entered by the Medosweet Dairy, second place winner in Division IV, commercial entries. The float is centered around a huge bottle of milk covered with flowers. Two tones of daffodils were used to represent cream and milk. (filed with Argentum)

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma); Medosweet Dairies, Inc. (Tacoma);

A Sumner-Orting-Fairfax-Tacoma bus festooned with daffodils; the Constanti entry in the 1935 Daffodil Parade. The floats lined up on Jefferson Avenue, preparing for the parade on Broadway and Pacific Ave.

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma);

Tacoma turned out in full force to welcome the marines and sailors from the U.S. Naval fleet during the big, colorful parade that was part of the July 1935 "Fleet Week" celebration. Tens of thousands viewed with patriotic pride Uncle Sam's best: the 1,700 sailors and marines and 2,500 Fort Lewis soldiers, R.O.T.C., and C.M.T.C. troops who marched in the joint naval and military four-mile parade. The Reserve Officers from Fort Lewis are pictured above marching down Broadway in front of buildings in the 900 block. The distinctive Bostwick building can be seen clearly in the right background. In addition, new motorized artillery were displayed including 75 mm guns and 165 mm howitzers. (T.Times 7/18/1935, pg. 1- picture; T.Times 7-17-35, p. 1-article) (almost the same image as 2600-12)

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The second annual Fairyland and Christmas Parade, November 29, 1935. A large crowd of spectators, including lots of excited children, lines the street at South 9th and Saint Helens Avenue to catch a glimpse of Santa. Caswell Optical Company can be seen in the background. The parade was sponsored by the Broadway and Pacific Avenue merchants the day after Thanksgiving to kick off the Christmas shopping season. The parade route began at 7th and Broadway and proceeded south to 13th Street and north on Pacific to 7th Street. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Caswell Optical Co. (Tacoma);

1935 Fairyland and Christmas Parade. Float carrying Humpty Dumpty and all the Kings Men (soldiers) on Broadway in front of the Elks' Temple. Parade officials run alongside the float. The parade was sponsored by the Broadway and Pacific merchants to kick off the Christmas Shopping season. This was the second annual parade, held the day after Thanksgiving. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Elks Temple (Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Fairyland and Christmas parade for children, 1935. Clowns and toy blocks standing by the Three Wise Men float on Broadway. Brandes-Madsen Co. building and Broadway Service Station Mobilgas station and Willis-Tacoma Motor Service in background.The dancing blocks spelling "TOYS" followed Santa and proceeded the Three Wise Men on the camels. Some of the favorite characters in the parade were the clowns and the paraders wearing the huge heads. This parade was sponsored by the Broadway and Pacific Ave. merchants and took place the day after Thanksgiving, officially beginning the Christmas shopping season. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brandes-Madsen Co. (Tacoma);

Fairyland and Christmas parade for children, November 29, 1935. A tall figure on a float moving along the street in front of Brandes-Madsen Co. and the Broadway Service Mobilgas station. This float depicts the giant that Jack killed in Jack and the Bean Stalk. All the floats were peopled with characters from Fairy Tales. Thousands of Tacoma youngsters turned out to wave to their favorite imaginary character. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brandes-Madsen Co. (Tacoma);

The second annual Tacoma Fairyland and Christmas Parade was held on November 29, 1935. This tall Mother Goose figure with her billowing blue hoop skirt was actually a float. She was so tall that she could nod to the spectators in the second floor windows of the buildings she passed. Several clown characters stand to one side, one wearing a huge "grotesque" head mask. Behind the clowns is a float with Humpty Dumpty and some of the Kings Men. This parade was the kick off for the Christmas toy shopping season. Thousands of bright eyed Tacoma youngsters turned out to see their favorite Fairy Tale characters. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The second annual Fairyland and Christmas Parade, November 29, 1935. Float with Santa in sleigh pulled by pure white reindeer in front of Brandes-Madsen Co. on Broadway. Santa will be preceded by two boys carrying a sign proclaiming "Santa from the North Pole." Santa's float is flanked by dancing letter blocks that spell TOYS. Following Santa is the float with the Three Wise Men on camels. The parade took place on the day after Thanksgiving on a route that covered Broadway and Pacific Ave. from 7th - 13th streets. The parade signalled the beginning of Christmas toy shopping season. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brandes-Madsen Co. (Tacoma); Reindeer;

Riding in a white, toy filled sleigh pulled by two snow white reindeer, Santa Claus rode on the first float in the second annual Fairyland and Christmas Parade, November 29, 1935. Sponsored by merchants on Broadway and Pacific Avenues, the parade took place the day after Thanksgiving and kicked off the Christmas shopping season in Tacoma. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Reindeer;

Fairyland and Christmas parade, November 29, 1935. Marching band in front of the Elks' Temple on Broadway. Three marching bands were scheduled in the parade, the Musicians' Union band, Stadium High School and Lincoln High School. This is most probably the Musicians' Union Band that was scheduled to start off the parade, accompanying Santa Claus. The Mother Goose float can be seen behind the band, followed by another marching band. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Marching bands; Elks Temple (Tacoma);

The Tacoma merchants on Broadway and Pacific Avenues sponsored the second annual Fairyland and Christmas Parade for Children which was held on the day after Thanksgiving, 1935. The first float in the parade carried Santa in a well packed sleigh pulled by two snow white reindeer. Starting near the Elks Temple at 565 South Broadway, the parade traveled down Broadway, turned east at South 13th Street and then proceeded north on Pacific. The parade signalled the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Reindeer; Elks Temple (Tacoma);

The Fairyland and Christmas Parade for children, November 29, 1935. Stadium High School's Marching band on Broadway in front of the Elks' Temple, 565 Broadway. Union Club of Tacoma, 539 Broadway, in the background. The Stadium marching band led the third quadrant of the parade, followed by the Humpty Dumpty float, the Old Lady who lived in a shoe and clowns and the paraders wearing grotesque heads. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Marching bands; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma);

Fairyland and Christmas parade for children, the day after Thanksgiving, November 29, 1935. Four clowns ride on a float with the sign " Merry Christmas, Happy New Year." This is possibly the "mechanical clown" float referred to in the news stories. Crowd of spectators stand at 9th and Broadway watching the float pass by. The Bostwick block is on the right with the Medical Arts Building across the street. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Fairyland and Christmas parade for children, November 29, 1935. Marching band at corner of 9th and Broadway. This large band is unidentified, it is one of three in the parade. The bands hailed from the Musicians' Union, Stadium and Lincoln High Schools. The Bostwick Block can be seen at the right, the Bostwick Hotel on the upper floors with the "Credit Dentist" Walter Whetstone below. On the left hand side is the Caswell Optical Co., followed by the Medical Arts Building. (T. Times 11/28/1935, pg.1; 11/29/1935, pg.1; 11/30/1935, pg. 9)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Marching bands;

ca. 1936. This float was entered by the city of Puyallup in the Daffodil Parade in the mid to late 1930s. Daffodils and crepe paper streamers cover the truck where uniformed Girl Scouts ride on the bed. The girls hold an American flag and a second flag, possibly the Washington state flag.

A flower bedecked car representing the Tacoma Seed Company passes in front of the reviewing stand for the 1936 Daffodil Parade. The 35 foot tower made of 200,000 daffodils was erected at South 10th and Pacific Avenue. Queen Helen Edgerton and her court viewed the parade from this vantage point after the passage of their own float. 35 floats with hundreds of thousands of blooms thrilled the parade watchers. (T. Times 4-17-36, p. 1-article; T. Times 4-18-36, p. 1-article; T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Reviewing stands; Daffodils; Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940;