Massive crowds pack downtown Raleigh for Hurricanes Stanley Cup parade and celebration

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Thousands upon thousands of Carolina Hurricanes fans flooded downtown Raleigh on Saturday for a Stanley Cup victory parade, with a celebration that was still underway after 1:30 p.m.

Read more Hurricanes fans jam into downtown Raleigh for team’s Stanley Cup parade, celebration

Raleigh city leaders forecast more than 100,000 fans at the downtown celebration, which possibly delivered that number.

Incredible images in the wake of the parade showed wall-to-wall fans filling Fayetteville Street for blocks as the end of the parade traveled toward the celebration area at City Plaza.

The festivities kicked off at 11 a.m. with the parade traveling along Hillsborough Street to Salisbury Street. Many fans filled the Championship Celebration area at City Plaza more than an hour before the parade began.

The parade featured players, coaches, and others in the Hurricanes organization traveling on flatbed trucks, fire engines, and in special open-air buses.

Along the route and during the parade, a wedding planned months ago took place. Gerard Rothfus and Sarahi Villa Arreguin were married at Sacred Heart Church on Hillsborough Street.

The happy couple spoke to CBS 17 after the wedding while crowds were still thick in the area.

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“We feel amazing — we’re married,” Sarahi said, followed by “Best day of my life,” from Gerard.

After the parade, many of the fans from the route packed into the Championship Celebration area at City Plaza for speeches from Hurricanes players and other key folks in the organization.

Hotels and restaurants were also celebrating as the Stanley Cup victory events approached — with high room bookings and busy dining spots.

Bars in downtown Raleigh and nearby along Glenwood South are also hoping the celebration continues after the official events.

Many spots said they were opening early Saturday and will be ready to keep the celebration going all day.

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