BY NICOLE WHITE

 Hispanic pride flowed freely along Calle Ocho on Sunday as tens of thousands of
 revelers lined Little Havana's ``Main Street'' for the annual Three Kings parade.

 An estimated 300,000 people attended the event, according to organizers. A
 kaleidoscope of vivid colors, replete with music and dance, the parade marked the
 end of the holiday season for many Hispanic families. It was also the culmination
 of the Christian tradition that marks the biblical account of three wise men who
 brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Jesus.

 Paradegoers cheered heartily for their favorite local official, radio and TV
 personalities and Grand Marshals Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat and U.S.
 Olympic baseball Coach Tommy Lasorda, as they rolled along the festive parade
 route in convertibles.

 ``This is unbelievable,'' said 13 year-old Mario Durón, watching spellbound as the
 Miami Heat star waved to the crowd.

 FIRST TIME

 Mario and his 8 year-old sister Jessica were attending their first parade with their
 father, Mario Sr., from Honduras.

 ``I know this is a part of our tradition and I want them to hold unto that tradition,''
 said Durón, in explaining why he brought his children here.

 Heat star Mourning, sidelined by a kidney ailment this season, said he welcomed
 the chance to be the first African-American grand marshal of the event.

 ``I know the Heat and myself have a tremendous following in the Hispanic
 community and I was delighted when this came about,'' Mourning said.

 REACHING KIDS

 ``As the first African-American grand marshal, I'm grateful that I'm able to touch
 kids even when I'm off the basketball court,'' he added.

 Mourning, repeatedly thronged by autograph seekers, said he was busy getting
 healthy but said his illness gave him time to participate in events like the parade.

 Paradegoers also dismissed thoughts that many Hispanics were losing touch
 with the tradition in favor of the more popular Santa Claus-themed Christmas.

 ``Look at this crowd,'' said Naomi Caldera, born in Nicaragua.

 ``This is one of the few times we forget about work and school and focus on family
 and friends and we won't let that slip away so easily,'' Caldera said.

 Her cousins, Ingrid Miranda, Sherly and Jessica Caldera, beamed as their favorite
 part of the parade -- the Budweiser Clydesdale horses, and camels symbolizing
 the desert journey of the Magi to Bethlehem -- lumbered down the street.

 MELTING POT

 And as marching bands from Miami Jackson High danced in step alongside Latin
 influenced floats, Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas said the parade was
 truly indicative of the cultural melting pot that South Florida is renown for.

 `` We are a city and community of many different cultural groups,'' Penelas said.

 ``This parade is just one of the many ways we express all those cultures.''