De Soto Heritage Festival Parade To March Through Downtown Bradenton

BRADENTON, FL — The De Soto Heritage Festival Grand Parade — one of the largest and oldest parades in Southwest Florida — once again takes to the streets of Bradenton Saturday night.

This 83rd annual event steps off at 7 p.m. from Manatee High School and marches 2.5 miles through downtown Bradenton, down Manatee Avenue West and ends at the intersection of 9th Street.

This year’s parade grand marshal is the two-time Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization, according to a news release.

The parade, which is organized by the Hernando De Soto Historical Society, features more than 150 entries from throughout the United States and Canada. It typically draws tens of thousands of people who want to view the illuminated floats and catch a glimpse of this year’s new Hernando DeSoto, the captain of the krewe and the newly crowned queen and princess, the society said.

Beads, coins and other items will be handed to the crowd throughout the evening.

There are several other events planned as part of the festival, as well.

This year’s queen will be chosen Wednesday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

Friday night, from 7 to 11 p.m., the convention center will also host the De Soto Heritage Festival Dinner and Coronation Ball.

The Hernando De Soto Historical Society, Inc. is a not-for-profit, community organization of 225 volunteer members — also known as "conquistadors" — who celebrate the historical significance of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto’s landing near the mouth of the Manatee River in May 1539.

“With his 600 conquistadors, De Soto claimed possession of La Florida on behalf of the Spanish crown and later began his lengthy exploration of what is now the southeastern United States,” according to the historical society’s website.

The organization maintains Bradenton’s sister city relationship with Barcarrota, Spain, which is De Soto’s hometown.

Proceeds from the parade and other events, which are attended by more than 280,000 people, support local charities, fund a cultural museum downtown and are used to provide college scholarships to local students.