Some of the youngest parade-watchers were the warmest as the 80th Daffodil Parade worked its way through chilly drizzle, occasional downpours and rare sun breaks in four Pierce County communities Saturday.
That’s because the toddler set took the parade theme — “The Magic of Music” — to heart.
As strains of everything from “Jailhouse Rock” to the “Macarena” drifted over the crowd from parade floats, the little ones danced. And smiled — warmly.
Daffodil royalty, high school band members and plenty of other parade participants took cover under plastic rain gear. Representatives of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians wore hats woven from cedar bark.
Clarence Tougaw said the traditional head covering kept his head perfectly dry.
The first leg of the parade wound through downtown Tacoma, then it moved on to Puyallup and Sumner, and wrapped up in Orting. More than 150 units — including floral floats, dance teams, animals, classic cars and more — took part.
Parade-watchers along the routes lined the sidewalks wrapped in blankets and winter gear. In Sumner, Shannon Haavik and 13 members of her family stayed dry under a camping awning that she set in place along Main Street at 8 a.m. Saturday. When stormy skies opened up, she said, “my kids kept waiting for the phone call — ‘Is she gonna cancel?’”
She didn’t.
“I love the music, the participation of everybody in the parade,” Haavik said. “If they are going to come out here, I’m going to come out here.”
TACOMA PEOPLE
The Thomas family from Spanaway — Avis, Alexa, Anita and Keyshawn — said they were determined to stay put for the duration of the Tacoma parade, rain or shine.
“We’re Washingtonians,” Avis Thomas explained.
She said she had been coming to the Daffodil Parade since she was a kid, and wants her kids to continue the tradition.
Same with Linda Pearn and her family members.
“You have to support it, or it will disappear,” she said.
“We’re Tacoma people,” said Pearn’s daughter, Shannon Eddy, whose son Cooper was drumming with the Wilson High School band. “It’s our tradition. We don’t have many.”
Eddy also marched in the parade when she was a student at Sumner High School, and Pearn remembers being part of the Daffodil Parade as a member of Stadium High School’s “Tigeranna” drill team back in the day.
Eddy said another son’s girlfriend from back East was also part of her family group of parade-watchers.
“We told her, ‘This is the day you either get a tan – or you rust,’” Eddy said. “If you suffer through a Daffodil Parade, you’re in the family.”
DUTY CALLS IN PUYALLUP
Along South Meridian Avenue in Puyallup, Rodger Stanton Jr. and Tyson Ramsdell arrived with exuberant spirits and neon yellow pants. They used a loudspeaker to pump up the crowded Anthem Café before the parade began.
“It’s your job as a Puyallup-ite to enjoy the Daffodil Parade,” Stanton admonished.
Just as the floats arrived in Puyallup, the rain paused momentarily, as if on cue. The Daffodil princesses beamed at their audience as they were able to shed their rain ponchos and replace them with shawls.
Matt Herrera of Parkland and his two daughters Randi, 2, and Bella, 4, wore giant grins. Herrera smiled up at Randi who was sitting on his shoulders, clapping to the music and pointing at each float.
“She is really loving this,” Herrera said. “I went as a kid and it’s an awesome experience to be able to share these memories with my kids.”
SUMNER SMILES
By the time they reached Sumner, members of the Orting High School Dance Team were still smiling.
They’d survived wind, rain and hail on the Tacoma and Puyallup parade routes.
How did they stay happy?
“We just cheer each other up — and keep up a good mood,” said dance team member Melissa Duncan, an Orting High senior.
Watching them in downtown Sumner were Shelly Barnes and her five daughters, Opal, Hailey, Astoria, Narisa and Lyric.
Just 1 year old, baby Opal is already a Daffodil Parade veteran. At last year’s parade, her mom said, “she was brand new.”
Greta Frantzen has been a faithful parade-watcher since 1962, first in Tacoma and then in Sumner, where she was on Saturday.
“I try to come every year,” she said. “I like the bands the most.”
Frantzen’s one-time Sumner neighbor, Denise Nation, said she enjoys the community feeling that the parade brings out.
“I love the floats, the bands — the hometown spirit. That’s what brings me back.”
SUNSHINE IN ORTING
The shortest and last leg of Saturday’s four parades was long on energy, as the sun made a late appearance. Although still chilly, the rain clouds parted for the march through Orting.
Residents from the small town and surrounding communities lined the sidewalks, dancing to upbeat tunes and waving to yellow-clad princesses. A carnival-like atmosphere ruled the sidelines, as vendors set up tents and kids climbed trees and took pony rides in the park.
“My favorite are the pirates,” said 5-year-old Isaiah Summers, who had been to all four parades with his mom, Kimberly.
The Tacoma family was supporting Isaiah’s cousin, a member of the Spanaway Lake High School marching band.
“We wanted to cheer him on every time,” Kimberly Summers said.
Parade floats and marching bands, including Orting High School’s band and cheerleaders, made their way down Washington Avenue as spectators dozens deep lined the sidewalks. Orting’s population of about 6,800 triples when the parade comes to town, and it showed.
Tyler Anderson, 18, was there passing out coupons for the Spring Fair in Puyallup as a fundraiser. He and a group from Our Savior Lutheran Church in Tacoma were also at all four parades.
“It’s been a long day,” Anderson said.
DAFFODIL PARADE AWARDS
Grand Sweepstakes: Sumner.
President’s Award: Port Orchard.
Queen’s Award: Clover Park Community Float.
Princess Award: Sequim.
Festival Award: Leavenworth.
Daffodillian Award: Chief Leschi.
Ambassador Award: Hyack.
International Award: Peach Festival.
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/04/14/2556444/magic-of-music-lifts-spirts-at.html#storylink=cpy
