LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Dodgers held a victory parade in downtown Los Angeles on Friday.
Downtown L.A. was transformed into a giant Dodger street party for the parade, with thousands of fans lining the streets as early as 4 a.m. to get a good spot.
After the parade ended, the players headed to Dodger Stadium for a rally, where the atmosphere was electrifying.
World Series MVP Freddie Freeman was emotional as the crowd chanted "Freddie! Freddie!"
"When I came back after my son got sick, you guys showed out for my family. That was one of the greatest experiences I ever had on the field. I was so touched. I did everything I could to get on this field for you guys. I'm glad I did because we got a championship now."
Dodger fan Hector is ready to cheer on the Boys in Blue at the World Series parade Friday. He and his friends found a great spot at the end of the parade route.
Hector also remembered late Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela, whose birthday is the same day as the parade.
Dozens of young children at an school near Dodger Stadium assembled on the playground Friday to recreate the team's logo, which was visible from the sky above.
The tribute to the World Series champions was organized at Albion Elementary School on South Avenue 18, located just east of Chavez Ravine.
The playground event took place less than two hours before the team's victory parade was scheduled to begin in downtown, followed by a sold-out celebration at the stadium.
More than 30 Metro buses were detoured onto alternative routes in downtown Los Angeles on Friday morning in preparation for the Dodgers' victory parade and a celebration event at Dodger Stadium.
"We are so happy for the city, for this team and all the members of Dodger nation," Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said Thursday. "I also want to uplift that we are also the City of Angels. So let's remember to respect each other, respect property and please respect our operators, and respect each other and celebrate this well deserved and well earned accomplishment for the entire city."
Detour maps are available at metro.net and service updates will be available at the agency's X account.
Metro will operate its Dodger Express to take people to Chavez Ravine for the sold-out event that will follow the parade, beginning at 12:15 p.m. Information on Dodger Express can be found at metro.net/riding/dodger-stadium-express.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Immediately after a victory parade that is expected to attract tens of thousands of fans to downtown Los Angeles on Friday morning, a celebration event is set to be held at Dodger Stadium to cap off the team's championship season.
Metro will operate its Dodger Express to take people to Chavez Ravine for the sold-out event that will follow the parade, beginning at 12:15 p.m. Information on Dodger Express can be found at metro.net/riding/dodger-stadium-express.
According to the team, parking gates at the stadium will open at 8:30 a.m. for the Friday celebration, and the stadium entry gates will open at 9 a.m. Food and merchandise will be available for purchase. In-stadium entertainment will be offered prior to the team's arrival, including coverage of the parade on DodgerVision video boards.
"All Dodger Stadium guidelines and rules will apply to this event, including the reminder not to bring in signs, bags or any other items that aren't permitted under our policies," according to a statement from the team.
The Dodgers noted that "due to logistics, traffic and timing, fans will not be able to attend both events (the parade and the stadium celebration)."
Dodger officials said a portion of the proceeds from the stadium event will be donated to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, "which is tackling the most pressing problems facing Los Angeles with a mission to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos."
The celebratory events will be held on the 64th anniversary of the birth of legendary Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzeula, who died Oct. 22.
"It's going to be emotional," Dodger manager Dave Roberts said. "Fernando was a friend of mine. I know he's smiling right now and very proud of this organization. So he's going to be missed. I'm sure it's something that he would want to have been a part of, but it's going to be emotional for all of us."
City News Service contributed to this report.
