Miami Herald

Zombie Ice mobile truck throws drive-by parties

- BY MADELEINE MARR mmarr@miamiheral­d.com Madeleine Marr: madeleinem­arr

It’s bound to happen to most parents eventually. Your kid will turn a year older while we’re all still in social distancing mode.

Lots of folks have thrown drive-by birthday parties, with cars stopping by, honking and people yelling out of the windows. Some members of law enforcemen­t have even come out in cruisers to send well wishes.

Until we can all celebrate (and hug) safely again, one Weston company has come up with an idea.

Zombie Ice has created “A Drive-By Bday Experience.”

“Bummed because your plans were put on hold by the lockdown!?” reads the ad on its Facebook page. “We can bring back a bit of joy to your day and make it safe for everyone!”

The $45 experience includes six shaved ices, a video with pictures clients send of the child and festive snow shooting from the profession­ally sanitized truck for the party goers to play in. There’s even a boomerang photo booth. Touch-free, of course.

The ices, in such flavors as grape, cherry and bubble gum, are handed out via a long pole by an employee who wears a mask and gloves. Hand sanitizers are at the ready.

“We’ve been doing parties all this month and they’ve really kicked off. It’s going well,” said Zombie Ice owner Carlos Fierro. “It’s a good way to celebrate in these weird times.”

Fierro goes all over three counties and estimates he works about seven to eight parties a day to all types of neighborho­ods.

“I’ve been at a trailer park in Davie and a mansion in Golden Beach,” said the New York native.

There is a slight surcharge for how far Fierro has to travel;. It’s $15 more for parties in MiamiDade and Palm

Beach counties.

Fierro has also started doing graduation parties. Instead of

“Happy Birthday,” a song like “Friends Forever” plays.

“I come with my sirens, my lights, my music,” he said. “People are loving it.”

Reviews have been positive.

“Zombie Ice came during the ‘apocalypse’ for my husband’s birthday. They were amazing!”

“They are truly amazing especially during this pandemic. Not only putting a smile on my son’s face for his birthday, but also putting one on the entire family with their beautiful video.”

“Carlos made my 7-year-old’s shelter-inplace birthday special,” wrote a client. “All the feels!”

 ?? Zombie Ice ?? The Zombie Ice mobile-party experience includes shaved ices, a video with pictures of the birthday boy or girl, festive snow shooting from the profession­ally sanitized truck, and a photo booth.
Zombie Ice The Zombie Ice mobile-party experience includes shaved ices, a video with pictures of the birthday boy or girl, festive snow shooting from the profession­ally sanitized truck, and a photo booth.

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