De Soto Heritage Festival Grand Parade

The De Soto Heritage Festival Grand Parade returns with more than 150 parade entries, decorated floats, krewes, and a large crowd expected along Manatee Avenue. The parade is one of the region’s biggest annual traditions, with floats, beads, coins, and other fun items handed to spectators throughout the evening. The updated route stages on Manatee Avenue between 1st Street and 9th Street West. That section of Manatee Avenue closes at 12:00 PM on parade day, with westbound traffic rerouted via 9th Avenue W. The remainder of Manatee Avenue from 9th Street W to 43rd Street W closes at 5:00 PM for crowd-protection barricades. Northbound lanes of the Green Bridge to Palmetto remain open during the parade; southbound lanes close at 7:00 PM. Third Avenue West and Ninth Avenue West remain open throughout the parade.