The Daffodil Festival is a regional festival and royalty leadership program. The Grand Floral Parade is held in

Pierce County, Washington Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 921,130, up from 795,225 in 2010, making it the second-most populous county in Washington, behind King County, and the 60th-most populous ...

every April. It consists of a

flower parade A flower parade is a parade in which the floats, vehicles, boats, participants, animals and other things are decorated or covered in flowers. Often there are other elements like marching bands and people in costumes. Flower parades are held in ...

and a year-long royalty program to select a festival queen from one of the 23 area high schools. Each year, the Royal Court spend thousands of hours promoting education, community pride and

volunteerism Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve ...

in the county. In 2012, the Royal Court was named the "Official Ambassadors of Pierce County" by the County Executive and the Pierce County Council.Pierce County Council Resolution - Proclamation No. R2012-3

History

The Daffodil Festival came into existence because of the bulb industry between 1922 and 1925. It followed a severe infestation of ‘hop lice’ that destroyed the area's hop crops and Prohibition. The

US Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of comme ...

recommended bulb planting to Valley growers because of the mildness of the climate and ideal soil conditions. The climate conditions of the Puyallup River Valley produce blooms about 2–3 weeks earlier than other areas, in plenty of time for the mid winter markets. The area quickly became the nations ‘bulb basket’ producing 50% of the nations

daffodil ''Narcissus'' is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil,The word "daffodil" is also applied to related genera such as '' Sternbergia'', ''Is ...

bulbs, over 50% of its bulb

iris Iris most often refers to: *Iris (anatomy), part of the eye *Iris (mythology), a Greek goddess * ''Iris'' (plant), a genus of flowering plants * Iris (color), an ambiguous color term Iris or IRIS may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional ent ...

and 80% of the nations

tulip Tulips (''Tulipa'') are a genus of spring-blooming perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes (having bulbs as storage organs). The flowers are usually large, showy and brightly coloured, generally red, pink, yellow, or white (usually in warm ...

s. About 300 of the 12,000 varieties of daffodils were grown in the Valley. The most popular and most locally grown is the King Alfred. Between 1928 and 1933 a Bulb Sunday and bulb banquet were held. Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Orton hosted civic leaders from 15 towns in western Washington in 1926. In 1927 the Sumner Chamber of Commerce sponsored the first Bulb Banquet. Free daffodils were given away to visitors. The roads became increasingly congested each year as people drove out to see the colorful fields. Reaching a peak of 30,000 vehicles. A local photographer Lee Merrill suggested a parade be held to " take the daffodils to the people". He organized the first event in 1934, this was the first festival as we know it today. Lee decided every festival needs a queen so as he was driving through Puyallup he saw a pretty girl and stopped and asked her if she would be the queen. Her reply "I’ll have to ask my husband". Elizabeth Lee Wotten became the first Daffodil Queen at the age of 28. She had only 4 days to find a proper gown. She stood on a reviewing platform with her flower girl and princess to watch the parade in downtown Tacoma. Supporters of the festival included the Chambers of Commerce of Tacoma, Puyallup, and Summner. In 1937 the Daffodil Festival was made into a non-profit corporation. Funding came from donations and the sale of memberships. An annual event, the festival encompasses the whole of Pierce County. Originally five participating cities included Tacoma,

Puyallup Puyallup may refer to: * Puyallup (tribe), a Native American tribe * Puyallup, Washington, a city ** Puyallup High School ** Puyallup School District ** Puyallup station, a Sounder commuter rail station ** Washington State Fair, formerly the ...

, Sumner, Orting and

Fife Fife (, ; gd, Fìobha, ; sco, Fife) is a council area, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries with Perth and Kinross ...

joined in 1959. The Daffodil Festival grew to become the 3rd largest floral festival in the US by the 1960s. With the exception of 2020 due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

and 1943-1945 due to the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, the Daffodil Parade has been held each year since 1934. The first daffodils and

narcissus Narcissus may refer to: Biology * ''Narcissus'' (plant), a genus containing daffodils and others People * Narcissus (mythology), Greek mythological character * Narcissus (wrestler) (2nd century), assassin of the Roman emperor Commodus * Tiberiu ...

were planted in 1910 by George Lawler at Gardenville, now the location of the Poodle Dog Restaurant in Fife. Many of the earliest bulbs were imported from

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

and the Continent, sometimes at a cost of $75 a bulb. In 1911, Lawler purchased 9000 bulbs of all varieties and kinds and hand planted them Dutch style. These plantings grew to 15 acres in North Puyallup, and finally to about 100 acres on the banks of the Nisqually River near Roy. Other early growers were Charles and Ed Orton, Frank Chernenko, H.F. Groningen and L.M.Hatch. The largest growers were Harold Knutson in Sumner, Van Lierop in Puyallup, and Wally Staazt at Orting. The best viewing times are from March 15- April 1.

Parade

The Grand Floral Parade travels through Pierce County, WA, with four routes in: Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting in one day.

Participating high schools

As of 2019, the participating high schools are: * Bethel High School ( Spanaway) * Bonney Lake High School ( Bonney Lake) * Chief Leschi High School (Puyallup) *

Clover Park High School Clover Park High School (CPHS), located in Lakewood, Washington, is one of two secondary schools within the Clover Park School District. History The high school was established in 1938 due to the rapid expansion of nearby military posts at For ...

( Lakewood) *

Curtis Senior High School Curtis Senior High School is a public high school located in University Place, Washington. Curtis Senior High School is a part of the University Place School District and the only high school in the district. The University Place school district ...

( University Place) *

Eatonville High School Eatonville may refer to: * Eatonville, Florida, United States * Eatonville, Minnesota, United States, an alternative name for the former Dakota village Ḣeyate Otuŋwe * Eatonville, Mississippi, United States * Eatonville, Ontario, a neighbourhood ...

(

Eatonville Eatonville may refer to: * Eatonville, Florida, United States * Eatonville, Minnesota, United States, an alternative name for the former Dakota village Ḣeyate Otuŋwe * Eatonville, Mississippi, United States * Eatonville, Ontario, a neighbourhood ...

) *

Emerald Ridge High School Emerald Ridge High School is a high school in the Puyallup School District of Washington, United States and is commonly referred to as ERHS or simply ER. Emerald Ridge opened in September 2000. It features green, black and silver as its primary co ...

(Puyallup) * Fife High School (

) *

Franklin Pierce High School Franklin Pierce High School is a public high school in Clover Creek, Washington (the facility has a Tacoma mailing address). It is named after the fourteenth US President, Franklin Pierce, who was president when the Washington Territory was fo ...

( Parkland) *

Graham-Kapowsin High School Graham-Kapowsin High School is a high school in the Bethel School District, Pierce County, Washington, United States. Its doors first opened to grade 10 and 11 students in September 2005. GK added grade 12 students beginning Fall 2006. Grade ...

(

Graham Graham and Graeme may refer to: People * Graham (given name), an English-language given name * Graham (surname), an English-language surname * Graeme (surname), an English-language surname * Graham (musician) (born 1979), Burmese singer * Clan ...

) * Henry Foss High School (Tacoma) *

Lakes High School Lakes High School is located in Lakewood, Washington. It serves students from 9th grade to 12th grade. It is one of the two major high schools in the Clover Park School District. Daffodil Festival Every year, Lakes participates in the Pierce C ...

(Lakewood) * Lincoln High School (Tacoma) * Mt. Tahoma High School (Tacoma) * Orting High School (Orting) *

Puyallup High School Puyallup High School is a high school in the Puyallup School District in Pierce County, Washington, commonly referred to as PHS. History Founded in 1890 as Central High School, the first nine students graduated from the school in 1893. In 1902, ...

(Puyallup) * Rogers High School (Puyallup) *

Silas High School Silas High School is a four-year public secondary school in Tacoma, Washington. It is one of five traditional high schools in the Tacoma Public Schools and is located at the intersection of Orchard Street and 11th Street. Silas' current principal i ...

(Tacoma) * Spanaway Lake High School (Spanaway) *

Stadium High School Stadium High School is a public high school in Tacoma, Washington, and a historic landmark. It is part of Tacoma Public Schools, or Tacoma School District No. 10 and is located in the Stadium District, near downtown Tacoma. The original buildin ...

(Tacoma) * Sumner High School (Sumner) * Washington High School (Parkland) * White River High School (Buckley)

Past Queens

Each year in March the 23 princesses participate in the Daffodil Festival Queen's Coronation, where one of them is crowned Daffodil Festival Queen. *2021: Queen Katie Rose Abegglen (Puyallup) * 2020: NO QUEEN SELECTED (due to pandemic) * 2019: Queen Katie Gilbert (White River) * 2018: Queen Allie Brooks (Lincoln) * 2017: Queen Marin Sasaki (Orting) * 2016: Queen Emily Oliver (Spanaway Lake) * 2015: Queen Ashley Becker (Bonney Lake) * 2014: Queen Marissa Modestowicz (Emerald Ridge) * 2013: Queen McKenna Erhardt (Rogers) * 2012: Queen Sarah Karamoko (Henry Foss) * 2011: Queen Claire Flemming (Curtis HS) * 2010: Queen Annie Jeong (Stadium High School) * 2009: Queen Melanie Stambaugh (Emerald Ridge) * 2008: Queen Olivia Anderson (Cascade Christian) * 2007: Queen Michell Wood (Sumner) * 2006: Queen Mollie Ruiz (Curtis) * 2005: Queen Jessica DeWitt (Mt Tahoma) * 2004: Queen Romelynn Eleno (Lakes) * 2003: Queen Angie Voiles (Sumner) * 2002: Queen Katrina Woldseth (Franklin Pierce) * 2001: Queen Tara Faw (Orting) * 2000: Queen Tiye Smith Henry Foss H.S. * 1999: Queen Jeanna Little Sumner H.S. * 1998: Queen Allison Porter Curtis H.S * 1997: Queen Jennifer Brown Sumner H.S. * 1996: Queen Hillary Faulk Sumner H.S. * 1995: Queen Cynthia Gee Henry Foss H.S. * 1994: Queen Julie Frye Rogers H.S. * 1993: Queen Erin Haynie Rogers H.S. * 1992: Queen Brandi Rector Orting H.S. * 1991: Queen Ensung Kelly Nah Wilson H.S. * 1990: Queen Kelly Parkhurst Fife H.S. * 1989: Queen Lea Snider Puyallup H.S. * 1988: Queen Heidi Johnson Curtis H.S. * 1987: Queen Deborah Harlan Puyallup H.S. * 1986: Queen Kristin Macrander Lakes H.S. * 1985: Queen Jaymee Marty Clover Park H.S. * 1984: Queen Jeanette Hopkins Gig Harbor H.S. * 1983: Queen Jeanene Dryer Bethel H.S. * 1982: Queen Sandy Furtaw Bethel H.S. * 1981: Queen Cindy Kovalenko Sumner H.S. * 1980: Queen Robin Asbjorsen Puyallup H.S. * 1979: Queen Paula Nelson Curtis H.S. * 1978: Queen Janice Ash Wilson H.S. * 1977: Queen Carol Glenn Bethel H.S. * 1976: Queen Renee Hopp Rogers H.S. * 1975: Queen Wendy Van Noy Franklin Pierce H.S. * 1974: Queen Lori Webber Wilson H.S. * 1973: Queen Sherri Murraey Fife H.S. * 1972: Queen Paula Achziger Wilson H.S. * 1971: Queen Jean Fink Lakes H.S. * 1970: Queen Shelly Grobey Mt Tahoma H.S.

Parades Through the Years (Themes, President, Sir Boss)

References

External links

The Daffodil Festival Website

Puyallup.com

Collection of photos
from the (Tacoma) ''News Tribune''
Pierce County resolution R2006-37
recognizing and honoring the festival and its royal court
Daffodil Festival Instagram
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daffodil Festival Tourist attractions in Pierce County, Washington Festivals in the Puget Sound region Parades in the United States Puyallup, Washington 1926 establishments in Washington (state) Festivals established in 1926 Flower festivals in the United States