Daffodil Royalty. Fpss senior Sarah Karamoko is officially proclaimed a Daffodil Festival Princess through a tapping ceremony at the Princess Promenade Feb. 4. (Photo by Steve James)
One of Pierce County's fondest traditions kicked off Feb. 4 with the area's brightest young women donning their quintessential yellow gowns for the public debut of this year's Daffodil Festival Princesses.
The 2012 Princess Promenade, which officially proclaims 24 of the area's high school seniors as official Daffodil Festival Royalty, is the traditional first appearance for the princesses and the start of what will be three months of attending various community service events, area functions, and of course, the Daffodil Parade later this spring.
The 79th annual Festival Promenade put a higher level of responsibility on the Princesses this year, with the first ever resolution by Pierce County dubbing them as official ambassadors for the region through what will eventually be hundreds of hours of community service this season.
"Over the next three months these girls are going to do a tremendous amount in their communities," said Steve James, executive director for the festival. "This resolution is putting the emphasis on the thousands of hours of work they do, not just the fact that they ride in the parade."
James said the princess are amping up the amount of community service activities this year as well, and are able to help further promote the festival and Pierce County through their roles as official ambassadors.
Pierce County Councilmember Rick Talbert read the official resolution after the princesses had been formally inducted into their roles through the traditional tapping ceremony by Susan McGuire, president of the Daffodil Festival Board of Directors.
"Each of you represents your schools, community and all of Pierce County. I would like to recognize each of you as official ambassadors of Pierce County," Talbert said.
"Congratulations for being selected to this high honor and thank you for all you do for your schools, community and Pierce County."
Tacoma's Princesses this year include Savannah Fry from Stadium, Wilson's Nicole Aqua, Lincoln's Quennie Eslava, Brianne Shaw from Mount Tahoma and Sarah Karamoko from Henry Foss.
Fife High School's Delaney Farrell said she was encouraged to be a Daffodil Princess from a friend who participated in 2010.
She said she is most looking forward to participating in the parade, as well as the opportunity to read with children through the festival's partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.
"I hope to get to read a lot at our new library in Fife, as well as branching out into other parts of Pierce County."
One of the 24 princesses will be dubbed Daffodil Queen during The Queen's Coronation at 7 p.m. on March 16 at Life Center in Tacoma. The 2012 Daffodil Parade Season kicks off with the 79th annual Grand Floral Street Parades April 14, the 51st annual Junior Parade April 21 and the 60th annual Marine Parade April 22. For more information call the Daffodil Festival office at (253) 840-4194 or go to www.daffodilfestival.net.
