Weather cancels Bradenton’s De Soto Grand Parade for a second year in a row
The De Soto Grand Parade has been canceled for bad weather for the second year in a row, officials announced at the pushed-back start time of 7:45 p.m. Saturday.
Lightning was still a threat, and the storm front had not yet passed through the area.
“The safety of both participants and spectators is of utmost importance,” Hernando De Soto Historical Society posted on its Facebook page. “After consulting with emergency personnel, we have made the hard decision to cancel the 2023 De Soto Heritage Festival Grant Parade.”
The parade also was canceled in 2022 because of the threat of severe weather.
Parade officials said that, like last year, there will be no reschedule date.
“Unfortunately, because the permitting process takes months and requires approval from the Florida Department of Transportation, we cannot reschedule the parade,” parade officials said in an email Friday.
Parade participants had lined up floats early and sheltered in Manatee High School’s cafeteria to wait for the line of storms to pass, but the front did not move through quickly enough.
The parade typically draws tens of thousands of people to downtown.
Alex Garcia, 35, of Bradenton and his wife and three children sat along the parade route on and off from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. before deciding to leave.
Garcia said he was looking forward to the parade this year so his youngest daughter could experience it.
“They were actually really really excited, Penelope my youngest one has never really done it or has or, you know, hasn’t really because of COVID so she doesn’t remember it,” Garcia said.
His oldest daughter, Emma Garcia, 10, who attends Stewart Elementary, was disappointed she didn’t get to see her school’s float in the in the parade.
“I’m pretty mad,” said Garcia. “I didn’t get to see the big boat or my school.”
Kelly Lipp, from Bradenton, was at the parade with her 4-year-old and 7-year-old relative who she brought to the parade for their first time.
“We were really looking forward to it. We’re disappointed, but we understand you have to keep people safe. So, you know, we’ll see you next year,” she said.
This story will be updated with more information.
This story was originally published April 29, 2023 at 8:04 PM.
