The city’s biggest spectacle returned to Manatee Avenue in Bradenton during Saturday’s DeSoto Grand Parade. More than 100 floats, including 107.9 WSRZ, lined the streets for the annual celebration put on by the DeSoto Historical Society. Jones and Company threw out 28,000 beads, gave countless hugs, and took photos with listeners who held up signs cheering them on. The grand marshal of the parade this year was Dr. Sandy Elton, a local physician who has served the Manatee community for 40 years.
The parade's two and a half mile route began near Manatee High School, at the intersection of 32nd Street and Ninth Avenue West, heading east to 39th Street West before making a loop around and back west down Manatee Avenue, which officers blocked off for most of the day in preparation.
The party that was the Desoto Heritage Parade was so awesome, we had to split up our video into two parts! Check them out and see if you can spot yourself or someone you know!