The roar of bass drums and trumpets preceded the sight of hundreds of bright, colorful parasols parading around the corner and down Court Street.

Marchers played jazz, twirled batons and, as always, strutted their stuff through the streets of downtown Florence.

As the parade snaked its way around downtown and back to Wilson Park around the fountain with jazz and blues emanating from four different bands, it became clear that the dark clouds hovering over the parade wouldn't dampen the spirits of the annual Street Strut.

After playing in the parade and while walking through Wilson Park, Marcus Johnson and Herb-B, two members of the Bay City Bass Brand, couldn't help but smile about playing in the W.C. Handy Musical Festival.

"I think it's beautiful," Herb-B said while holding his saxophone and showing off the band's CDs filled with authentic New Orleans and Mardi Gras-style blues and jazz.

Saturday morning's events kicked off the biggest and last day of major events in the annual W.C. Handy Musical Festival.

In the evening, crowds packed Norton Auditorium for the festival's two-headliner concert, the first featuring jazz pianist and vocalist Henry Butler and the second featuring renowned vocalist Bonnie Bramlett and the Capricorn Rhythm Section.

Even though rain set in during the afternoon, the threat of bad weather hardly stopped anyone at Wilson Park from enjoying the Street Strut, which is one of the festival's most popular events.

J.J. and Ann Fago, of Florence, say they always look forward to the annual festival, especially since their family has a special connection to the legendary "Father of the Blues."

"We like the blues, and we love watching live music," Ann Fago said.

J.J. Fago said that legend has it that it was his great-grandfather who gave Handy one of his first trumpets.

The family has autographed pictures and lots of other unique 9Handy memorabilia, J.J. Fago said.

Aside from celebrating the Handy Festival, Florence's Shirley Caperton had another reason for strutting her stuff in the annual parade on Saturday.

Like hundreds of others, Caperton was wearing pink and marching with a group of breast cancer survivors with pink umbrellas in the Street Strut.

Diane Peeples, of the American Cancer Society, said it's a tradition that Sarah Beth Vandiver started six years ago.

In that time, the number of marchers raising breast cancer awareness has grown from approximately 50 in the first year, to almost 300 this year.

Caperton said its encouraging to march with others who have survived the disease.

"It's great to walk with other survivors and to see how many there are," Caperton said.

As a whole, parade organizers were pleased with the turnout and the parade itself.

Gwen Woods, who has helped organize the event for 22 years, said this year's parade was special because it is the 25th anniversary of the festival.

Woods said this year's parade was the first time the parade featured four bands, the Bass City Brass Band, Emil Orth and the Beale Street Jazz Band. Homemade Jamz and the Courtland High School marching band.

With marchers of all different ages and backgrounds, and a number of different events, from a car and truck show to live music and the actual, parade, Woods said the event offers a nice family outing for all ages.

"We have people decorating strollers and pushing them in the parade," Woods said.

Ty West can be reached at 740-5720 or at ty.west@timesdaily.com.