‘I’ve been smiling all morning’: Sun shines down on Daffodil Parade kickoff in Tacoma
Crowds lined the street on a sunny morning in downtown Tacoma to see decorated floats, trucks and bands start their promenade through Pierce County for the 92nd Daffodil Festival Parade.
After last year’s overcast, rainy parade day, forcing the Daffodil Royal Court to don umbrellas and jackets over their spring gowns, Saturday dawned warm and bright.
“This is the first year in a while we’ve had good weather,” festival Communications Director Katelyn Gulley told The News Tribune. “We’re really excited to be out here today.”
The parade started around 10:15 a.m. in Tacoma before moving on to stops in Puyallup, Sumner and Orting. The festival began in 1926 to invite visitors to see daffodils blooming in the Puyallup, Summer and Orting areas. In 1934, Tacoma photographer and founding member Lee Merrill suggested that the daffodil blooms be used to decorate automobiles and bicycles for an annual parade, according to the festival website.
She said that this year’s parade has a black car in front to honor the late Robert G. Wekell, a longtime leader in the Daffodil organization who provided support and mentorship for the festival for 51 years, according to the organization’s online tribute to Wekell. Wekell shared Honorary Life Daffodilian status with his wife Connie. He died on March 16, the day after the Daffodil Queen’s Coronation, Gulley said.
This year’s Daffodil Queen is Harmony Jones, with 23 other Daffodil Princesses selected to represent participating Pierce County high schools and make other appearances throughout the year.
The Clan Gordon Pipe Band, a highland bagpipe group formed in 1955 by Scottish immigrants in the Tacoma area, walked in front of the princesses’ float as the official “Queen’s Guard.” Pipe Major James Naismith told The News Tribune the pipe band has been playing for the Grand Floral Parade since 1957.
“It’s a great honor to be the Queen’s Guard of the Daffodil Princess and the Daffodil Queen,” Naismith said. “So we’re very happy to be here.”
Other highlights included a Seattle Seafair Pirates float with a booming cannon, a pink float helmed by a unicorn for the Rhododendron Festival in Jefferson County and numerous school bands and cheer teams following the train of yellow blooms.
“I’ve been smiling all morning,” Tacoma resident Bruce Dougherty said after packing up his lawn chair.
This story was originally published April 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM.
