MANATEE -- There’s only one night in Manatee County when you can dance yourself dizzy, scream yourself hoarse and beg and plead for jewelry from passing vehicles and not get arrested.
That night is the night of the DeSoto Heritage Festival Grand Parade, the largest parade in Florida and perhaps in the entire Southeast, organizers say.
The record-breaking 72nd edition appeared to be a hometown hit Saturday as a crowd estimated at 150,000 was several people deep along Manatee Avenue West and other locations as they danced to music from six local high school bands, screamed for roughly 350 participants in the DeSoto 5K run and begged for colorful beads from passing floats.
Among the highlights:
n Three members the U.S. Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team made successful parachute jumps into the center of the football field at Hawkins Stadium at 6:20 p.m. to kick off the parade.
The first jumper released a trail of red smoke and carried the American flag. The third jumper carried a POW-MIA flag.
As the first jumper landed, the Conquistadors of the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society, hosts of the parade, all removed their helmets in honor of the American flag.
n Josh Sanchez, 21, the former Manatee High track and cross country star, and current University of Florida pre-med student, won the men’s DeSoto 5K in 15 minutes, 49 seconds.
Sarasota High School distance track coach Kim Sheffield, 45, won the women’s race in 19:02.
n An all-time record 193 entries made this three-hour parade the largest in history, said Sharon McGlynn, executive director of the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society.
As usual, the crowd appeared to eat it all up.
“I love this parade,” said Rita Wonders, a 1966 Manatee High School graduate whose maiden name is Parard. “It’s a tradition. I’ve seen 60 of them. I get to see local bands and lots of friends. And if you want to have a beverage you can. My husband, Tiny, and I just bring our soda and food in coolers.”
Sheffield, who had never run the DeSoto 5K, said she was blown away by the crowd that lined the streets and screamed for her.
“Awesome,” she said. “Just great people. They were yelling, singing songs, cheering. They made it totally worth it. I’m definitely coming back.”
First-time DeSoto 5K runners Silky Sullivan, 67, and John Mueller, 64, both from Tampa, also raved about the parade crowd.
“This is one of the most exhilarating races I’ve ever been in because of the crowd here,” Mueller said. “The crowd was fantastic.”
After the runners passed, the crowd cheered for the marching bands from Southeast, Bayshore, Palmetto, Manatee, Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools, which joined forces with the rockin’ drum line of Harllee Middle.
There were many “krewes,” volunteer organizations from around the county similar to the local Hernando DeSoto Historical Society; but the local DeSoto unit, in their San Cristobal motorized float, got the most adoring reactions from the crowds.
“I love their music,” Rita Wonders said of the San Cristobal float.
Dave Miner, the well-known local lawyer who has run for political office many times and goes by the nickname, “The Watchdog” was all smiles.
“It’s the best parade in the state,” Miner said.
A family affair
The parade is a classic Manatee County family outing. Just ask Bradenton’s Vickey Renz.
“When my kids were little I always took them to the parade,” she said. “The parade is family time. Everyone gets together.”
Although her children are older now, it didn’t stop Renz from going with them to the parade Saturday.
In fact, in honor of her son, K.C. Corigliano, 30, a U.S. Air Force triathlete, Renz ran with her son and grandchildren in the DeSoto 5K and finished it.
K.C. Corigliano finished third overall in the race in 17:34.
“This was our gift to K.C.,” Renz said. “He is scheduled to deploy in a couple of weeks and to have the whole family out here means a lot to him.”
Much work behind scenes
At 8 a.m. Saturday, work began with the setting up of a tent on the grounds of Manatee High School. It quickly became “base camp.”
That’s where parade co-chairmen Chris Wilkinson and Keith Mastny began their job of “choreographing” the parade.
Each entry was assigned a number and “measured out” to see how much space they would need.
“It’s kind of like the choreography of a musical,” said Kelly Stasurak, who along with McGlynn are the only full-time employees of the DeSoto Historical Society, which serves 220 members and their spouses.
Sheri Mozina seemed a little wide-eyed watching her first parade from behind the scenes.
She was one of 20 “applicants,” newcomers sponsored to join the society this year. Her job as a “newbie” was to do whatever was needed and keep a cheerful disposition.
She never quit smiling as she accepted her marching orders.
“You work your backside off, but I have loved it,” Mozina said. “I love the fact that I am giving back to the community. I believe in the causes that the Historical Society upholds. It’s a lot of fun, too.”
Mozina, Strasurak and McGlynn didn’t even get to see the three-hour parade.
When the last entry left Manatee High at 8:30 p.m., they began to take down the tent and barricades.
“It will be 10 p.m. before we are done,” Strasurak said. “But don’t feel bad for us. We’re all going to the After-Parade party downtown!”
-- Herald photographer Tiffany Tompkins-Condie contributed to this report.
