From the North Carolina State Capitol to the Governor’s Mansion, Hurricanes fans are turning the streets into Canes Country—complete with themed food at local businesses and a living reminder of how a championship photo can stretch across generations.
The first thing people notice isn’t just the route—it’s the color. Black and red are showing up almost everywhere along the parade path, from the North Carolina State Capitol toward the Governor’s Mansion and the businesses that will be open and ready for the celebration.
For some fans. it’s the sound of the crowd and the sight of the Stanley Cup champs finally in reach. For others, it’s the food. La Farm Bakery sits just off the parade route, where staff are preparing Canes Championship Croissants filled with raspberry filling. The bakery is also making 5-pound sourdough bread with the Canes logo. turning a neighborhood stop into one more way to mark the day.
“It’s about bringing people together, breaking bread, and the community (being able) to celebrate,” said La Farm COO Omar Gaye.
A few streets away, the day carries a different kind of weight. In the story fans tell, the Stanley Cup isn’t just a trophy—it’s a moment you can hold onto, even as years pass.
One man’s memory goes back to 2006, when his grandson was just 6 months old. That year, he snapped a photo of his grandson sitting inside the Stanley Cup. Twenty years later, the championship is back with the Hurricanes, and he’s hoping to repeat the shot—only now the boy will stand beside the cup.
The plan is simple and personal: he wants a new picture, not just of the team, but of time moving forward. “Twenty years later, he’s hoping to get a photo of his now 6 ft 2 in grandson standing beside the cup now that the Hurricanes are the 2026 champs,” the story says.
Fan John Sutton says he’ll be there for another reason that sounds small until you hear the details. Twenty years ago. when the Canes last won the championship. Sutton snapped a picture with his grandson. Jack Henry. sitting inside the Stanley Cup. Back then, Jack Henry was 6 months old. Now, Sutton says, he is 6’2—“so he’ll taller than the Cup.”.
Sutton remembers how it happened. He says the keeper of the Cup asked whether he wanted to set his grandson inside it, and he answered immediately—“Woah, yeah I wanna do that.”
He also remembers the day surrounding it. Sutton says that in 20 years past, his son worked part-time security at the then PNC Center, and he was able to bring the whole family to see the cup on Employee Day.
Sutton’s hope is the same as it was back then: another shot with his grandson and the cup two decades later.
And for anyone planning to watch from home as the celebrations unfold. the parade is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday. ABC11 will be streaming the Hurricanes victory parade starting at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, with viewing available on Disney+, the ABC11 mobile app, and wherever you stream ABC11.
On the streets, though, the mood is already clear. In a city turning itself into Canes Country, black and red aren’t just colors on banners. They’re showing up in bakeries, in family photos, and in the simple, shared drive to mark a win together.
Hurricanes Stanley Cup parade North Carolina Canes Country La Farm Bakery Omar Gaye black and red Capitol City Governor's Mansion ABC11 Disney+ sourdough bread Canes logo championship croissants