Supportingour CommunityFor over 75 yearS

Hernando de Soto HiStoriCal SoCiety By tHe numBerS

• 12 Community events per year• 52 year partnership with

Barcarrota, Spain• 225 Members• 300 Visiting dignitaries• 2,500 volunteer hours at local

charity events• 280,000 attendants• $750,000 donated to local charities

since 2000

Some oF tHe loCal organizationS provided grant money:Adopt A Family

American Cancer Society

Big Brothers & Big Sisters

Boys & Girls Club of Manatee

Community Haven for Adults & Children w/Disabilities

De Soto National Memorial

Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

Emergency Services Memorial Fund

Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT)

Junior Leadership Manatee

Manasota Association for Retarded Citizens

Manasota Lighthouse for the Blind

Manasota Operation Troop Support (MOTS)

Miracle League of Manasota

Manatee Historical Village

PACE Center for Girls

South Florida Museum

Walter Moscoso Latino Education Fund

Women’s Resource Center

WHo We are

The Hernando de Soto Historical Society, Inc. is a not-for-profit, community organization of 225 Conquistadors (volunteer members) who celebrate the historical significance of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto’s landing near the mouth of the Manatee River in May 1539. With his 600 Conquistadors, de Soto claimed possession of La Florida on behalf of the Spanish crown and later began his lengthy exploration of what is now the southeastern United States.

With its membership including many local civic, governmental and business leaders, the Society serves in a variety of community-oriented roles:

• Supports various local charities including Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, Lighthouse of Manatee, Manasota Operation Troop Support (MOTS), and many more.

• Annually provides college scholarship money to students from Manatee County.

• Financially supports a sister organization, the Conquistador Historical Foundation, which distributes to other community charities, provides educational programs including a student exchange program with Barcarrota, Spain (Bradenton’s Sister

City), funds scholarships, and maintains a museum in downtown Bradenton.

• Annually produces the largest entertain-ment events in Manatee County includ-ing our SeaFood Fest, homemade boating race, fishing tournament, a musical and fashion show, a black-tie ball, Children’s Parade and our nighttime Grand Parade.

• Provides public education on Florida’s Spanish heritage through Crewe visits to local schools and retirement homes.

The Hernando de Soto Historical Society’s premier series of fund-raising events, collec-tively called the De Soto Heritage Festival, receives considerable media attention as do the various event sponsors. Dedicated mem-bers spend countless hours preparing for the Festival – with its strong, positive influence on residents and guests simply because of their love for the community.

The modern day Hernando de Soto and his Crewe of Conquistadors are highly popular and regularly draw large crowds whether they are visiting local schools or businesses.

We hope you will join us in helping sponsor Manatee County’s premier series of events. We look forward to a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

introduCtion to tHe Hernando de Soto HiStoriCal SoCiety

Since 1939, the De Soto Heritage Festival has been recognized as the largest series of entertainment events in Manatee County, drawing visitors from across the country and Spain. The members of the Hernando de Soto Historical Society maintain close ties with Bradenton’s Sister City - Barcarrota, Spain. For almost four decades, two delegates from Barcarrota have traveled to Bradenton each year to take part in the annual Festival.

The Hernando de Soto Historical Society brings together a remarkable collection of committed volunteers who work thousands of hours to provide the community with a Festival that receives both regional and national recognition for service to southwest Florida. The Hernando de Soto Historical Society is charged with keeping alive the memory of Hernando de Soto and his Crewe of Conquistador’s landing in 1539 in what is now called Manatee County.

The De Soto Heritage Festival has been voted Best Festival/Event in the Bradenton Herald Readers Preference Awards by Manatee County residents for many years.

More than 280,000 people attend the Hernando de Soto Historical Society events each year. All major area newspapers and

radio and television stations cover the events. More than 75 groups of businesses and individuals contribute sponsorship dollars, discounts of services and volunteer time to support the Festival.

More than 20 committees responsible for planning and producing the individual events are formed by the Society. These committees consist of the 225 Hernando de Soto Historical Society members and other interested public groups, including sponsors, various officials from Manatee County, the City of Bradenton and the City of Palmetto. All join the Festival team by assisting with event site permitting and providing community emergency services support.

our eventS

SeaFood FeStivalOne of Florida’s largest outdoor festivals, this downtown riverfront event combines outstanding cuisine with multistage entertainment, a large variety of vendors and three continuous days of pleasure for the entire family.

CHildren’S parade & party in tHe parkThe kids are in charge in their own parade down the historic streets of Palmetto! Schools and organizations create the most adorable entries and lead the way to Sutton Park where activities and entertainment are held for the entire family.

eaSter egg HuntThe Easter Bunny meets our modern-day de Soto and his Crewe at G.T. Bray Park for a fun-filled egg hunt open to children ages 3 to 8. Prizes, awards & 33,000 eggs!

eaSter SunriSe ServiCeA glorious and inspirational service celebrating Easter with de Soto’s Conquistadors in full dress uniform.

de Soto Bottle Boat regattaThousands of plastic bottles and only paddles to row with...the perfect mix for teams to compete against each other at one of our most popular events! See families, friends and co-workers splash it up for prizes at Palma Sola Bay!

Queen’S Court deButSeafood Fest will be the first appearance of the Society’s Queen’s Court. Meet the 10 young women who will compete at the Musical & Fashion Show. The Queen and Princess will be announced from this group of young Manatee County ladies at the De Soto Heritage Festival Ball.

muSiCal & FaSHion SHoWBring the entire family to the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium and join the Queen’s Court performing skilled dance routines and modeling the latest attire under the direction of Tracey Vita at the glittering Musical and Fashion Show!

de Soto BallAt Manatee County’s most prestigious social event, we celebrate the crowning of the Queen and the investiture of the new Hernando de Soto. The De Soto Princess, Queen’s Court and Crewe are also honored at this event.

grand paradeAcclaimed as the most dazzling regional parade, this huge illuminated night parade boasts more than 150 entries with over 100,000 onlookers! Don’t miss it!

aFter parade partyJoin us for live music, great food and drinks to conclude the celebration.

de Soto FiSHing tournamentThis 3 day tournament features on shore, off shore, kayak and Pee-Wee divisions. Each year the event is hosted at Tarpon Pointe Marina and winners receive cash prizes!

CollaBorative eventS

• Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta

• Beertopia

SponSorSHip opportunitieS WitH tHe Hernando de Soto HiStoriCal SoCiety

In order to be able to organize all of our events, which enables us to support our community, we rely heavily on our Sponsors and Advertisers.

The Hernando De Soto Historical Society offers a wide variety of Sponsorship and Advertisement Opportunities which can be customized to meet and exceed your Marketing and PR goals.

The General Sponsorship package as well as our Event Sponsorship packages and other Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities will deliver great exposure for your company. Reach thousands of your customers with total multi-event coverage. Your company will be prominently advertised at these Hernando de Soto Historical Society annual events:

de Soto Heritage FeStivalSpring’s six week celebration of seafood, bottle boat races, shows & the area’s most spectacular parade!

• Seafood Festival (attendance 30,000 - 50,000)

• Children’s Parade and Party in the Park (attendance 2,000 - 4,000)

• Bottle Boat Regatta (attendance 1,000 - 3,000)

• Musical and Fashion Show (attendance - 1,000)

• De Soto Ball (attendance - 1,000)

• De Soto Grand Parade (attendance 100,000)

• After Parade Party (attendance - 1,000)

• Fishing Tournament (attendance - 1,000)

Hernando de Soto and HiS CreWe

The members of the Hernando De Soto Historical Society are collectively called “Conquistadors.” Each year Society members elect a modern-day Hernando de Soto and about 30 other members who serve as his Crewe. A queen and princess are also elected. The Crewe is the most visible arm of the Hernando de Soto Historical Society along with the one member per year who gets to don the helmet and dress of Hernando de Soto.

Perhaps the most important educational tools the Society offers are the visits to the local schools, hospitals, senior citizen homes, civic organizations and local businesses. Dressed in authentic 16th century Spanish attire, complete with chrome plated Morion helmets and plumes, full-width leather belts and corsair swords in scabbards at their sides, history lessons come to life when Hernando de Soto and his Crewe speak about the importance of our heritage.

While the Crewe of Hernando De Soto are elected by the general membership, each year’s

Hem appoints the Crewe Captain, Then the Captain and the Hernando de Soto appoint two Lieutenants and the Crewe is ready for action. Throughout the year, De Soto and his Crewe make over 100 appearances throughout Manatee County and across America representing our community. They introduce Manatee County as an area rich in cultural, historical, agricultural, and environmental diversity to thousands of people each year. They travel to 10 to 12 parades a year, including the Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, Springtime Tallahassee, and the St. Paul Winter Carnival.

HoW you Can Help… SponSorSHip, partnerSHip & advertiSing

availaBle event SponSorSHipSGrand ParadeSeafood FestDe Soto BallChildren’s ParadeBottle Boat RegattaAfter Parade PartyQueen’s CourtMusicalDe Soto Fishing TournamentCrewe of De Soto Golf Tournament

availaBle SpeCialty SponSorSHipSColoring ContestKick-Off PartyDignitary ReceptionQueen Selection BanquetDe Soto CoinsFloatVIP DinnerSunrise ServiceRiverwalk RegattaHosting & Hospitality

Hernando De Soto Historical Society, Sponsorship Benefits Chart

miSSion Statement

“To foster and facilitate an appreciation of Manatee County’s Spanish - American heritage and cultural alliances through special events, community collaborations and charitable giving.”

Join our organization

The Hernando de Soto Historical Society is open to men and women who share a passion for serving their community. For more information please visit www.desotohq.com

The 225 members of the Hernando de Soto Historical Society are some of the busiest volunteers in Manatee County. Now for over 75 years, the non-profit organization is responsible for producing the largest and most well attended events in the region.

Our annual De Soto Heritage Festival and sev-eral other annual special events are designed to unite Manatee County while educating the community about the historical significance of Hernando de Soto’s landing on the shores of the Manatee River on May 30, 1539. The Society was formed in 1939, one year after the U.S. Government appointed Swanton Commission determined that Shaw’s Point at the mouth of the Manatee River was the most likely spot for the Spanish explorer to have come ashore in Florida.

Collectively the Society’s De Soto Heritage Festival and the De Soto Fishing Tournament draw thousands of spectators and visitors from around the world. The Grand Parade, which concludes the Festival six-week run, draws over 280,000 spectators alone!

The Hernando de Soto Historical Society brings together a remarkable collection of committed volunteers representing a diverse cross-section of the community. More than 20 committees give hundreds of hours toward planning and producing events, many of which have received regional and national recognition. The Society’s modern-day Hernando de Soto and his Crewe of Conquistadors make public appearances locally, regionally and nationally on behalf of Manatee County, educating audiences about the importance of our community’s heritage. Through the efforts of the Hernando de Soto Historical Society and the Conquistador Historical Foundation, significant funds are raised and redistributed back into the community to facilitate activities in keeping with the mission of the two organizations.

To learn more about our Organization and to find out how to get involved, please call (941) 747-1998 or email info@desotohq.com

Hernando de Soto Historical Society, Inc.6404 Manatee Ave. W. Suite G., Bradenton, Florida 34209

Phone: 941-747-1998 – Fax: 941-747-7953www.desotohq.com