Major Float Awards

Grand Sweepstakes (Best in parade): Orting Chamber Community Float
President’s Award (Sweepstakes runner-up): Puyallup Tribe Float

King Alfred Awards

Queen’s Trophy (Best use of festival theme): Eatonville Community Float
Festival Trophy (Best from another festival): Capital Lakefair
Daffodilian Trophy (Most effective use of daffodils): Sumner Community Float
Princess Trophy (Best animation): Puyallup Community Float
County Council Trophy (Most original): Bethel Community Float
Judges Trophy (Most representative of Pacific Northwest): …

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In Sumner, parade spectators lined up three and four deep along the sidewalk storefronts on Main Street. Under blue sky and sunshine, people lounged on chairs and blankets spread out on residential lawns across the street from Sumner High.

Bruce Galicia of Tacoma watched the parade with his wife and four children on the grassy area in front of the Ryan House Museum. He grew up in the corner house across from the museum.

“I used to watch it from our porch when I was young,” said Galicia, who wore a T-shirt and sunglasses. “Now that my  kids are old enough to enjoy it, I wanted to bring them back.”

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The Daffodil Parade in Puyallup got off to a fine start. It was warm early this afternoon despite a sometimes stiff breeze, and the sun peaked through some wispy clouds.

Thousands of people lined the parade route along Meridian and Meeker. The typical sights of a great parade were plentiful. The sun sparkled. Toddlers perched on their parents’ shoulders to watch the festivities. Toddlers scrambled in the street to snatch peppermint candy tossed from passing cars. Vendors sold cotton candy and cupcakes, Jolly Roger flags and Bart Simpson balloons.

Frank and Pam Aguilar sold “yo-yo” balloons – palm-sized balloons filled …

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A brisk, biting wind greeted people who lined Pacific Avenue this morning for the Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade in Tacoma. At least it wasn’t raining, many pointed out.

The crowd estimate from the two-hour Tacoma parade was 8,500, said Susan McGuire, spokeswoman for the festival. Next up: Puyallup at 12:45 p.m., followed by Sumner at 2:30 p.m. then Orting at 5 p.m. Find the full schedule here.

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As the 2010 Daffodil parade makes its way through the streets of Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting, we’ll have two reporters and two photographers covering today’s events.

Check this blog for updates throughout the day, or leave a comment to share your own stories. What’s your favorite thing about the Daffodil parade?

Here are Daffodil parade routes and start times:

• 10:15 a.m. in downtown Tacoma at 11th Street and Pacific Avenue and travels along Pacific Avenue, ending at South 21st Street.

• 12:45 p.m. in Puyallup at the intersection of Seventh Avenue Southwest and Fifth Street Southwest.

• 2:30 p.m. in Sumner …

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Rain or shine, the 49th annual Junior Daffodil Parade will invade Tacoma’s Proctor Business District Saturday.

Thousands of kids representing their schools, churches and youth groups are expected to participate in what’s become an annual tradition for many families. This year’s theme is “Carousel Of Spring.”

The event begins at 10 a.m. at Mason Middle School, 28th and Proctor streets, heads south on Proctor, then heads east along 26th Street through the business district. Streets in immediate vicinity will be closed to traffic for the morning.

The parade will be replayed several times on TV Tacoma (channel …

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Susan McGuire, the vice president for public relations for the Daffodil Festival, is gushing. She just e-mailed this report.

The crowd in Orting is as large or larger then last year at 8,000 – 10,000. Not sure how they get that many people into town, but they do and they have been waiting all day for the Parade!!

This has been an amazing day for the Daffodil Festival…the Tradition seems to be alive, the crowds in every city have been awesome and the enthusiasm has been tremendous…it makes one feel good to know that all of our

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The sidewalks are filled to capacity along Main Street today, and in a small garden nearby there was a small ceremony as the City of Roses paid respect to the Land of Daffodils.

A group of 14 Rosarians (the Portland equivalent of Daffodilians) planted an Oregon Celebration rosebush beside the Ryan House Museum.

The

Rosarians had earlier ridden through Tacoma and Puyallup to show their colors (cream and red) to the people of Pierce County.

Daffodilians, by the way, have already offered the Rosarians a selection of daffodil bulbs.

“We think your parade was

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