The Brief
- Since 1939, the de Soto Heritage Festival Grand Parade has been a part of Bradenton’s history.
- More than 100,000 visitors from across the world are expected to gather on the parade route.
- The parade kicks off on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
BRADENTON, Fla. – If you take a drive down Manatee Avenue right now, you’ll see the telltale signs. The chairs are out, and the spots are being claimed. It’s a sure signal that the de Soto Grand Parade is getting ready to kick off Saturday night.
While Tampa has Gasparilla and its pirates, Manatee County has the “conquistadores.” For 87 years, they’ve been welcoming guests to one of the oldest and largest night parades in the southeastern United States. This Saturday, the area is expected to welcome more than 100,000 visitors to the parade route.
The backstory:…