DeSoto Heritage Grand Parade unites Manatee County families
DeSoto Heritage Grand Parade unites Manatee County generations
BRADENTON
For many Manatee County families, attending the annual DeSoto Heritage Grand Parade is a tradition that extends generations.
John Cicero, 61, and his wife brought their two granddaughters to watch the parade Saturday.
"I brought my kids to the parade in the past, and now I bring my grandkids," Cicero said. "We come every year."
The excitement the parade creates is what he loves best.
"It's nice for the community. Everybody gets out and has a good time," he said.
His 8-year-old granddaughter, Addison Cornett, was front and center, not wanting to miss a thing.
"I like catching the beads, and sometimes they throw stuffed animals," Addison said. "And I like watching my school Palma Sola Elementary's float."
The best parade though, Addison said, was watching all the crewe members dressed as pirates.
As usual, thousands lined the 2016 DeSoto Heritage Grand Parade route smiling and jumping as they caught beads, T-shirts and other trinkets and tidbits.
Some were seated hours before the parade started. Others staked out their chairs days beforehand.
Many partook in house parties nearby: grilling, drinking and waiting for the arrival of the parade.
Bernice Smith, 39, walked over from a nearby cousin's house just in time to watch the parade begin.
"The parade day is like Christmas morning," Smith said. "It's such a buildup to the big day, and then it's so much fun." Smith said she had been coming to the parade since moving to town in 2003 and loves all the community spirit it creates.
"It's just a fun time for all the community to get together," Smith said.
This year, her brother came to watch the parade with her for the first time, she said.
"Unless you have attended the parade, you don't understand," she added.
Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.
This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "DeSoto Heritage Grand Parade unites Manatee County families ."