ARLINGTON, Texas – Red, white and blue were the colors that filled the streets of Arlington’s Entertainment District Friday as the World Series champion Texas Rangers held a parade to celebrate the team’s victory with fans.

The parade started at 12:15 p.m. and lasted about two hours. The Arlington Police Department estimated the crowd at between 500,000 and 700,000 people.

Celebrations around the Dallas- Fort Worth area started on Wednesday, Nov. 1 when the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 in game 5 of the World Series at Chase Field in Phoenix. The victory capped the franchise’s first World Series championship.

Area excitement was so high that classes were canceled in the Arlington Independent School District and other North Texas schools. Arlington Mayor Jim Ross even put together a “very official” excuse note for those who didn’t get the day off.

All the parking lots surrounding the event got packed within hours, and many people had to get creative in their parking to avoid walking long distances. Many fans parked in the grass by the sidewalks while others parked alongside railroad tracks.

Thousands of fans gathered in the streets, making it hard for latecomers to see the players and bands pass by. Many fans sought creative perches so they could get a glimpse of the world champions.

Some fans climbed atop portable restrooms, which sagged beneath their weight. Others climbed on top of trucks that were used to block the streets, while others climbed trees and light poles.

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Michelle Phillips and her three kids came to the parade with her boyfriend to enjoy the excitement of the Rangers finally winning a championship. The last time the Rangers had a chance was in 2011, when the team ultimately fell to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rangers also played in the 2010 World Series, falling to the San Francisco Giants.

“The environment is really good. It’s lively. Everyone’s in a good mood,” Phillips said. “A kid lost his parents and was able to get found again because of the crowd. So, I think it’s just a really amazing turnout for the community and everything like that.”

Phillips said she got to the parade around noon. She said the traffic wasn’t bad, but once they got to the parade route she said it was hard to find a place to see. She said her group did get to see some school bands.

Phillips said her kids got bored, so she moved to a space where kids got together and started playing football.

“All the kids over here have joined into a football game, just throwing the ball while we wait on the Rangers to come around,” Phillips said.

Eleazar Elizondo said he was not a big baseball fanatic, but added he has always been a fan of the Rangers and any Dallas-Fort Worth team. He said he has been tracking the team this whole season. The history-making championship is what brought him to the parade, he said.

“It’s been so long [since] the city had had a championship,” Elizondo said. “We just had to come and show them our love and appreciation. I’ve watched more baseball this season than ever in my life. Playoffs were just amazing.”

He said that he has become a baseball fan now due to the time he spent watching the games.

“That’s what championships do to you, I guess,” Elizondo said.

Elizondo brought his 7-year-old daughter to see and experience the parade.

“[It’s an] incredible emotion,” Elizondo said. “I was so glad to bring my daughter here, too. The last time I got to experience this was with my dad. She is 7. I was 8 when the Cowboys won a Super Bowl. I just wanted to keep the tradition going and showing her what Dallas and Fort Worth sports is all about.”

After the fans got to see all the players and the bands pass by, many started to leave to avoid traffic, while others decided to stay and pass the time.

Some of those who stayed decided to claim souvenirs, climbing light poles to pull down banners that honored the Rangers’ accomplishment and individual players.

Jamar Mosby, an eighth-grade student, was among those who attended the parade.

“See[ing] Texas happy, makes me happy,” he said. “I hope to come back in a few months for the Dallas Cowboys.”

He described the parade experience as amazing.

“It’s just like, see, bro right there just took the sign,” Mosby said regarding one of the fans who climbed and took a banner. “It’s beautiful, beautiful scenery.”

Father and son Benny Guerrero Jr. and Benny Guerrero III came up to enjoy the parade from Austin, Texas, with Guerrero Jr.’s wife, sister and daughter. They were also among those who snagged one of the banners.

“The experience was badass,” Guerrero Jr. said. “This is our first one. I mean, what do you expect? The parade was awesome, crowd was incredible, a lot of people. We got lucky and got to get a banner, [Rangers shortstop Corey] Seager MVP. That’s going home in the man cave.”

Guerrero Jr. said he has been a Rangers fan since he was 6 years old. He said his boss knows that he is a Rangers fan and permitted him to miss the day.

When he used to play baseball, the Rangers were always his team, and his son, Guerrero III, was born and raised into Rangers fandom.

Guerrero III climbed the pole to get the Seager banner for his dad. Seager has now been named World Series Most Valuable Player twice, once with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 and now with the Texas Rangers in 2023.

“It was fun,” Guerrero III said regarding his experience climbing the pole.

Two people tried to get it before him, but they couldn’t. Guerrero III had to convince his dad of how cool the banner would look in their garage. His dad said yes, and Guerrero III was the lucky one who got it. He got a few scratches on his hand, but he now wears the wound proudly.

“The blood was worth it,” Guerrero III said.