Thousands of Pierce County residents participate in the Daffodil
Parade every year, from school marching band performers to
politicians. This year,
Parade every year, from school marching band performers to
politicians. This year,
average citizens can buy a ride in the
parade and view the festivities from a new vantage point.
parade and view the festivities from a new vantage point.
Thousands of Pierce County residents participate in the Daffodil Parade every year, from school marching band performers to politicians. This year for the first time, average citizens can buy a ride in the parade and view the festivities from a new vantage point.
Tacoma Art Bus will take its first jaunt through the Tacoma and Puyallup legs of the parade. Tickets are available for anyone who wants to hop a ride.
Parade routes:
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“This is a very different thing for us,” said Angela Jossy, Tacoma artist and founder of the Art Bus and its tour company, Duchess of Downtown Tours. “I would love to have a full bus.”
The bus is one of only a few changes to the tradition-rich 80th Annual Grand Floral Parade, which will kick off at 10:15 a.m. Saturday in Tacoma. The parade, themed “The Magic of Music,” is also scheduled to run through Puyallup at 12:45 p.m., Sumner at 2:30 p.m. and Orting at 5 p.m.
Steve James, executive director of the Daffodil Festival, said the parade will feature 150 entries. Recognizable favorites include the Seafair Pirates, Ronald McDonald and floats for all the major festivals in the Pacific Northwest, including Daffodil Queen Kenna Erhardt and the 23 Pierce County princesses.
Weather for the all four parades looks wet, with about a 60 percent chance of showers and a high of about 50 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The queen said she’s not worried about a little rain. The royal court can pull out umbrellas and ponchos if needed.
“We’re ready for the worst but hoping for the best,” she said Wednesday.
Kenna said she’s most excited to be with her fellow princesses and see the communities come out to enjoy the festivities.
Bri Pedicone of Puyallup High School has been in the Puyallup leg of the parade with her school’s marching band, but now she gets to participate in all four sections as a Daffodil princess.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the smiling faces on the sidelines,” she said.
One big change this year is increased exposure beyond Pierce County. KING 5 will film the parade in Puyallup, and KONG 6/16 will show a tape-delayed, 90-minute broadcast at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, so the parade’s 5,000 participants can go back and re-live the experience, James said.
Jossy hopes to fill her 42-seat bus, which will be adorned with nearly 1,000 daffodils, and blast a music playlist of bus-related tunes.
The Art Bus started three years ago when Jossy noticed that her gallery, Speakeasy Arts Cooperative, and other small Tacoma galleries weren’t getting a lot of foot traffic. She collaborated with other gallery owners to rent a bus and create what she calls “a fun evening adventure.”
The bus has grown in popularity, attracting “celebrity” tour guides including Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland.
Parade-goers interested in riding the bus can purchase tickets through brownpapertickets.com. Tickets are $10 regular and $20 VIP, which Jossy said will include souvenirs and window seats. Discounted tickets are available for children younger than 10.
Jossy promises, rain or shine, the tour guides will have a few surprises to ensure a good time for those aboard.
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