Each year, on October 31st, West Hollywood hosts one of the most colorful Halloween celebrations in the world. West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval usually takes place from 6 pm to about 10:30 pm on Santa Monica Boulevard (between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard). Thousands of incredible costumes, stunning live entertainment, dancers, and performers gather on the one-mile stretch. This colorful event is free. However, keep in mind that it usually gets rather crowded. About 500,000 attendees participate in the Carnaval every year.
West Hollywood hosted its first Halloween Carnaval in 1987. It has eventually grown into the most massive street party in the Los Angeles area, more funny than spooky, with live acts, DJs, and other entertainment.
The best feature of the Halloween Carnaval is people's creativity. You will see lots of various costumes, some funny, some strange, and some indecent or even scary. At some point, you might get so tired from this extravaganza that you'd want to escape. Also, organizers emphasize that it's not allowed to drink alcohol in the streets. Luckily Santa Monica Boulevard area has plenty of cafes and bars where you can hide from noisy crowds and process what you've seen. It might be a good idea to leave kids at home.
For the latest updates, please check with the official websites (see External Resources below.) Also, take a look at the map suggesting the best accommodations nearby.
