DeSoto Heritage Festival kicks off with Children's Parade in Palmetto

The DeSoto Heritage Festival gets underway on Friday with the DeSoto Children's Parade, which is set to begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto.

The ultra-cute parade heads east from the fairgrounds on 15th Street West, turns south onto 10th Avenue West, and ends at Sutton Park, where the parade culminates in the Party in the Park that runs until 2 p.m.

This year's theme is "The Royal Family" so entrants were encouraged to build the best floats and create the best costumes to honor the festival's queen and princess.

Awards and prizes will be given for Best Use of Theme, Most Colorful, Most Crowd Pleasing, Most Imaginative, Best Team Performance, School Spirit and Best Cheerleading Performance.

The parade's just for kids, who come up with some really imaginative displays every year. The Party in the Park features entertainment and activities for the entire family.

Details: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 25, beginning at Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1303 13th Ave. W., Palmetto. Admission: Free. Information: 941-747-1998, desotohq.com.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 6:02 PM with the headline "DeSoto Heritage Festival kicks off with Children's Parade in Palmetto ."