Canes victory parade draws 180,000 people, brings economic boost to businesses in Raleigh
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- An estimated 180,000 people filled downtown Raleigh for a parade that left a lasting impression on fans and provided a major boost for local businesses, organizers and vendors said.
Cleanup crews worked until 9 p.m. after the celebration and were still clearing confetti Sunday morning, underscoring the scale of the event. For many attendees, it was a moment they will not forget, and for business owners, it was an opportunity to capitalize on the surge of visitors.
"It was a moment in history," the atmosphere reflected as fans gathered along the parade route. Marcus Jenkins, owner of the Spud Kings food truck, had a front-row seat to the festivities while serving customers. He said the experience stood out even amid the weekend's busy schedule.
"There was a moment I got off the truck and witnessed what happened and it was surreal," Jenkins said.
Jenkins had prepared for the weekend by stocking 600 pounds of potatoes ahead of the parade. Already scheduled to attend the Food Truck Rodeo, which was moved to Sunday, he was able to serve at both events, marking his busiest stretch yet.
"Yeah, the economy has been hard on a lot of people, and I know it's been tough for a lot of people with the gas prices and everything being high. But we try our best to accommodate the common person. So we think that this weekend was a stimulus and a boost. And I like to see more and more people come to the festivities downtown from week to week," Jenkins said. Brick-and-mortar businesses along Fayetteville Street also saw significant foot traffic.
Marika Soewandi of Sono Raleigh described the emotional impact of the event. "It was the greatest moment. I cried," Soewandi said. Sono Raleigh set up a "Sip and Stroll" bar and saw crowds pack the area. "We loved it, were filled up right in front of the street, I couldn't even see the concrete over there," Soewandi said.
Shop Local Raleigh, which helped organize the parade, said some small businesses reported up to $20,000 in sales before 2 p.m. that day. With turnout reaching roughly 180,000 people, organizers said they now have a clearer understanding of how to manage large-scale events downtown.
"Now we have a playbook. Now we know we know exactly how many square feet are from point A to point B, how many pieces of metal it takes to secure everything, to barricade things in just for safety purposes, for crowd control. And, you know, I think now that the playbooks in place, let's do it again," said Jennifer Martin of Shop Local Raleigh.
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The success of the event has fueled hopes for more celebrations in the future - and perhaps another championship parade sooner rather than later.
"Hopefully it will not be the last, Go Canes!" Jenkins said.
City officials and organizers also highlighted the extensive logistics behind the scenes, including parking, barricades, sanitation and police presence, all of which contributed to the event's execution. With the Food Truck Rodeo continuing Sunday, vendors anticipated another round of strong business, capping what many described as a standout weekend for downtown Raleigh.
