2026 De Soto Grand Parade Guide

BRADENTON — The 100th anniversary of the De Soto Historical Society's Grand Parade will take place this Saturday evening, stepping off at 7:30 p.m.

The Pre-Parade Party will take over downtown Bradenton on Old Main Street starting at 3:30 pm, creating a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. With live music, street vendors, and a kids zone, there’s plenty to enjoy before the Grand Parade begins. Visitors can stay downtown to watch the parade step off at 7:30 pm, making it the perfect spot to experience all the excitement.

With over 150 entries, the De Soto Grand Parade is one of the largest and oldest parades in the Southeastern United States. Over 100,000 people line the streets of Bradenton to view the illuminated floats and catch a glimpse of our new Hernando de Soto, Captain of the Crewe, and their newly crowned Queen and Princess. Beads, coins, and other fun items are handed to the crowd throughout the night.

The parade will stage on Manatee Avenue between 1st Street and 9th Street West. This nine-block section of Manatee Avenue will close at 12:00 PM on parade day, with westbound Manatee Avenue traffic rerouted around the parade staging area via 9th Avenue W. Eastbound traffic will not be affected. The remainder of Manatee Avenue from 9th Street W to 43rd Street W will close at 5:00 pm to allow crowd-protection barricades to be placed along the 1.75-mile route.

Road Closures

• 12th Street W, from Manatee Avenue West to 6th Avenue West, will be closed from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm
• Manatee Avenue West from 1st Street West to 14th Street West will be closed from 12:00 noon to 11:00 pm.
• Manatee Avenue West from 14th Street West to 43rd Street West will be closed from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
• 43rd Street West from Manatee Avenue West to 9th Street West will be closed from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
• Green Bridge (US BUS 41) Southbound from Riverside Drive in Palmetto to 6th Avenue West in Bradenton will be closed from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
• 9th Street West from 6th Avenue West to 4th Avenue West will be closed from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

The Northbound lanes of the Green Bridge leading to Palmetto will remain open during the parade. The southbound lanes will close roughly one hour before the parade starts. Third Avenue West and Ninth Avenue West will remain open throughout the parade. This route greatly improves traffic flow into and out of the downtown area during and after the parade. Several roadways that were closed in previous years now remain open, allowing traffic to freely move into and out of downtown, even during the parade.