There were thousands of people lining Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma on Saturday, to enjoy the 73rd annual Daffodil Parade. The parade traveled through Tacoma, Puyullap, Orting, and Sumner.
The Daffodil Festival began in 1926, when the Charles W. Orton family was hosting civic leaders from 125 towns in Western Washington. They celebrated with a garden party, featuring the many varieties of daffodils in bloom at this time of year. The Commander at Fort Lewis, Major General Robert Alexander, brought a military band and riding horses. The festivities became a yearly event. Eventually a yearly parade was held, featuring floats and marching bands.
This year there was a jazz festival with music on four stages, vendors, arts & crafts displays, flower show, hundreds of classic cars, and family and kids' activities. Many people came early, and put their lawn chair on the curb, with a cooler of pop nearby. People were viewing the parade from a parking garage, and from balconies along the street. I just ''happened onto the parade" on my way over to Watson's Nursery, where I was going to get a few shrubs for the back yard. A police barrier prevented traffic from going through the intersection, and there I was, stalled in my car! What a pleasant delight, and I had a front row seat.
I regretted not keeping my camera in the car, as many of the floats and banners were quite colorful. So I found a website sponsored by our local newspaper, running images of the Parade. People were encouraged to share their images - so these are a few.
