Editorial: New arrangement for Daffodil Festival in the future

As the nation’s hard economic times trickle down to affect even community events such as the Daffodil Festival, it creates an opportunity to rethink this 75-year-old East Pierce County tradition.

The Daffodil Festival board fell $29,000 short of raising enough funds to cover this year’s operating budget of $250,000, and it’s questionable whether the Emerald Queen Casino will make good on a $35,000 pledge. That left the board $65,000 short and recently forced it to suspend all parade participation for the remainder of the year. They had already cut out traveling to Spokane’s summer event.

Not only have pleas to make up this year’s shortfall been unsuccessful — letters sent to past royalty and their parents for financial support received only a 2 percent response — but projections for 2009 funding look equally grim. Festival officials have already decided not to televise the parade next year because of the cost. Just this week, Pierce County notified the Daffodil board they would be reducing their contribution by 25 percent.

That raises the question about what kind of future awaits the festival and the 75-year tradition of Daffodil princesses. If the board can only garner little more than half of its former quarter-million-dollar budget, should it just fold and go away? Is a dramatically reduced festival not worth the effort? Or can the board reinvent itself and the Daffodil Festival to reflect modern times?

We understand the Daffodil Festival Foundation, which raises funds for the educational scholarships awarded to the princesses, is doing quite well. And that may point to a sustainable future for the festival. Maybe the Daffodil Festival is all about choosing worthy young women who reflect the quality and aspirations of East Pierce young people. They become symbols of quality citizens of the next generation and we recognize them with scholarships that enable them to make a difference to our cities, our county, our world.

Or, maybe there’s another direction for the Daffodil Festival. There was a huge turnout for the parade in all communities this year, which seems to indicate a continued interest from the public. Perhaps the parade doesn’t need to wind its way through so many Pierce County cities each year; maybe they each take a turn to help cut costs.

Either way it seems clear that the old model of sending large East Pierce delegations of princesses, drivers and chaperones to participate in parades around the state and even neighboring states is just too expensive to maintain. Especially when individuals, businesses and municipalities are all struggling under the weight of high gas prices, a banking crisis and rising unemployment.

It’s quite possible that a financial angel will appear and fill the Daffodil Festival coffers to previous year’s levels. But a prudent board and a group of caring community supporters shouldn’t bank on that. Better to rebuild the Festival itself with a new focus so it can survive another 75 years.

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Readers:

What is your vision for the Daffodil Festival? What suggestions do you have that the Daffodil Festival board should consider as they look toward the future? Is the Daffodil Festival still important to you?

Let other Herald readers know your thoughts.

Send letters with 250 words or less to editor@puyallupherald.com or The Herald, P.O. Box 517, Puyallup, WA 98371-0170.

Be sure to include your name, the community where you live and a phone number that won’t be published but allows us to verify the letter.