Panthers parade becomes a family affair

Miami Herald

7 hours ago

Panthers fans come in all shapes and sizes. For 2-year-old Miles Merlucci, he has only known the team as winners.
'We only win championships, right baby?' Miles' father, 36-year-old Jarrett Merlucci said to his son sporting a 'Back to Back Champs' Panthers baseball cap, while free ice cream from the Family Zone at Las Olas Oceanside Park dribbled down Miles' cheek.
While much of the footage you might see from the Florida Panthers' Championship Parade consists of rowdy, beer-guzzling fans in Elbo Room T-shirts and small red bikinis, young South Florida families also came out in droves to celebrate the Panthers' back-to-back Stanley Cup wins — many of them arriving well before the parade's official noon start to stake out a shady spot along Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard.
'We're here for the second year in a row, this time it's not raining, and we're so happy to be here,' Merlucci said, holding the hand of his older son, 4-year-old Blake, amid the chaos. 'We're creating memories with the family, and that's what it's all about.'
The Victoria Park family came with three of Jarrett's childhood friends and their families, and all of the children now attend preschool together. They set up camp early by the Family Zone, and strollers lined the curb.
To accommodate these diehard families, the Panthers franchise created an entire section of the parade experience specifically designed for kids and parents. At Las Olas Oceanside Park — just steps south of Las Olas Boulevard and the iconic Elbo Room — families found a shaded, activity-filled zone featuring Panthers swag giveaways, hockey arcade games, face painting, temporary tattoos, and free sweet treats to help beat the 90-plus degree heat.
By mid-morning, the area buzzed with energy. Kids darted among game booths, waving miniature Panthers flags, and volunteers handed out popsicles and sunblock.
To help keep families safe in the crowd of an estimated over 200,000, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department implemented additional security measures. Officers stationed along the boulevard handed out yellow and blue wristbands for parents to write their names and phone numbers on, then strap onto their children's wrists — a precaution in case they got separated during the festivities. By 11 a.m., an hour before the parade began, hundreds had already been distributed.
And the early turnout made sense: fans began arriving well before sunrise Sunday morning. Some, like 10-year-old Hannah Witenstein and her younger brother Zach, made a full weekend out of it. The Boca Raton family drove down on Saturday and stayed in a nearby hotel overnight to be sure they wouldn't miss a moment.
'I can't wait to see them walk around with the big cup,' Hannah said, perched atop a barricade outside Elbo Room before the parade began.
'We got here at 7 a.m. this morning!' 6-year-old Zach added, proudly waving his Panthers flag as Chappell Roan's 'Pink Pony Club' — ironically adopted by Edmonton Oilers fans as their unofficial playoff victory song — blared from speakers behind them.
Once the parade kicked off and double-decker buses passed by, one even holding the Stanley Cup itself, now in mint condition once again, kids like Hannah and Zach pressed up against the barricades and parents lifted toddlers onto their shoulders for a better view.
'I hope we get to do this again next year,' Zach said.